Things You Should Make at Home Instead of Buying From Household Goods to Food, These are Natural Switches I have Made in My Home to Save Time, Money, and Our Health

Our home is a homemade home. Because we simply believe home is where the best things are made! Memories, our family, love, food, and the things we use to take care of everyone/everything in it!

I was raised in a home where 80% of all our food was homemade. So naturally that is how I feed my family. Most of you are just now joining this journey because you are hearing how much cheaper homemade food is. You are hearing how easy it can be to make out of this world amazing food at home. And you are opening your ears and eyes to how terrible our FDA is for allowing the junk they do into our food.

My personal meal plan template in our home.

Click here to simplify your mealtime decisions with our meal planning binder — over 500 dinner options and lunch ideas for every family member all made at home!

I have always cooked at home but over the last year I have made a natural switch for not only our food, but our medicines and our cleaners! Let me share a list of the changes we have made that will hopefully help you have a better home too!

Food

• Macaroni and cheese
• Mashed potatoes
• Tortillas
• Coffee creamer
• Salisbury steak
• Meatloaf seasoning
• Bread crumbs
• Peanut butter
• Cookie mixes
• Cake mixes
• Muffin mixes
• Pretty much every single dessert we eat is homemade. The last store-bought treat we had was raspberry-stuffed chocolate-covered donuts.
• Butter
• Buttermilk
• Ranch
• Dog treats
• Yogurt cups
• Pudding cups
• Popcorn chicken
• Brown sugar
• 98% of all our dinner foods are 100% homemade. I use canned vegetables from the store because we haven’t had time to do a garden over the past few years to do our own canned vegetables.

Click here to simplify your mealtime decisions with our meal planning binder — over 500 dinner options and lunch ideas for every family member all made at home!

Medicine and Creams:

• Honey and spice blend: good for inflammation, sinuses, coughing, allergies, pain, fevers, and so much more, I don’t take any pills or liquid meds anymore. Even when I had “c@vid” I only took my honey and spice mixture and I felt 70% better in a few hours. Painted my boys’ rooms and everything that week I was home.
• Acne Cream: I mix apple cider vinegar and water in a spray bottle and use cotton pads to rub it on my acne
• Eczema cream: switched to neam oil
• Black seed oil for any and every issue. It cures everything but death
• Rhodiola oil for my skin, cortisol levels, and energy levels
• I make my own dog lotion for small wounds and their pads
• I mix beeswax in all wax melts because beeswax is purifying for the air
• Quercetin for seasonal allergies
• Dry Shampoo

Click here to simplify your mealtime decisions with our meal planning binder — over 500 dinner options and lunch ideas for every family member all made at home!

Household Cleaners and Etc.

• Air freshener
• I mix vinegar with my laundry detergent
• Dryer sheets
• Surface cleaner
• Antibacterial cleaning wipes (to replace Clorox wipes)

There you have it! This is everything I make at home instead of buying! My list is building bigger and bigger and time goes on but at the moment this is where we are and we love it!

My ebook helping you detoxify your home

It truly is not that hard to make these changes in your own! Detoxifying your home can be overwhelming but once your foot is in the door, you will NOT want to go back to your own ways! I have a few sources that can help you if you want to take a look at them HERE.

I hope this helps! If you have any questions about how I make anything from the above lists, please leave me a comment! I love to help!

For more insights on budget-friendly dinner ideas, easy dinner recipes, meal plans, and the myriad of health benefits offered by natural foods, don’t forget to follow Homemaker Recipes. I’m here to help busy moms, health enthusiasts, and everyone in between discover the joys and benefits of home cooking! Home is where the best things are made!

Click here to simplify your mealtime decisions with our meal planning binder — over 500 dinner options and lunch ideas for every family member all made at home!

Eating Cucumbers Can Help You… The health benefits of eating cucumbers

 

Cucumbers are what we plant an abundance of during gardening season! They are easy to grow, delicious, and packed with a ton of health benefits!

These humble veggies are packed with surprising health benefits that make them an excellent addition to your diet. Not only are cucumbers low in calories but they are also loaded with essential nutrients. Let me show you! Men, women, and children need to read this!

1. Hydration Powerhouse!
Cucumbers are composed of about 95% water, making them an excellent source of hydration. Eating cucumbers can help maintain your body’s water balance, especially during hot weather or after a workout. They have natural electrolytes in them which makes for an actual hydrating source. Your electrolyte intake is actually what keeps you hydrated. Read my blog “How to Stay Hydrated in 2024” to see what all foods you can eat to help!

2. Rich in Nutrients
Despite their low-calorie count, cucumbers are rich in vitamins and minerals. They contain Vitamin K, essential for bone health, as well as Vitamin C, which is vital for immune function and skin health. Cucumbers also provide small amounts of other nutrients like magnesium, potassium, and manganese.

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3. Supports Digestive Health
The high water content and dietary fiber in cucumbers are beneficial for digestive health. Regular consumption can help prevent constipation and maintain a healthy digestive tract. Great for children who are picky eaters and not getting the right fiber intake to help their bowles move regularly.

4. Antioxidant Properties
Cucumbers contain antioxidants, including flavonoids and tannins, which prevent the accumulation of harmful free radicals and may reduce the risk of chronic disease.

5. Promotes Weight Loss
Due to their low calorie and high water content, cucumbers are a perfect food for those looking to lose weight. They can be a satisfying snack without adding extra calories.

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6. Heart Health
Cucumbers contain potassium, which is associated with lower blood pressure levels. A diet high in potassium can help prevent hypertension and related conditions like stroke and heart disease.

7. Skin Health
Cucumbers have a cooling effect that can soothe irritated skin. When used topically, they can reduce swelling and inflammation and even alleviate sunburn. Eating cucumbers also contributes to overall skin health due to their vitamin C content. A natural dietition I follow says cucumbers are nature’s botox!

8. Detoxifying Properties
Cucumbers can help flush out toxins from the body and support healthy liver function. Their high water content aids in removing waste products from the body and maintaining hydration. Ladies, did you know your liver health can be tied to those dark circles we can’t get rid of?

9. Fresh Breath
Chewing cucumber slices can help freshen your breath by eliminating odor-causing bacteria and moisturizing the mouth.

10. Easy to Add to Your Diet
Cucumbers are incredibly versatile and can be added to salads, sandwiches, and stir-fries. They can also be enjoyed as a snack with dips or hummus. I use my blender and make a hydrating juice mixture of cucmbers, pineapple, giner, honey, and cinnamon!

Cucumbers are much more than just a salad ingredient. With their range of health benefits, from aiding in hydration to supporting heart health, they’re a vegetable worth incorporating into your daily diet. Next time you’re looking for a nutritious snack or a way to add some extra crunch to your meals, don’t forget about the cucumber.

Need cucumber snack ideas?? Pinterest and TikTok are your BEST FRIEND!

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How do you enjoy cucumbers in your diet? Do you have any favorite recipes that feature cucumbers? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below! Let’s share our ideas this 2024!

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How to Stay Hydrated in 2024 Without Water!

 

We are all taught to drink X amount of water throughout our day. Drink your body weight, drink this many bottles, drink his, drink that, yet we drink none of that. WE TRY! But how many of us actually drink the amounts of water we are told to?

We all know we have to drink water every single day to stay hydrated and healthy. Were you also aware that doctors say we can’t drink JUST water because that is bad for our bodies as well? So us women living on coffee and water, we aren’t doing ourselves any favors like we think we are. We need to intake daily amounts of electrolytes to truly be hydrated.

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Surprisingly, many foods can provide hydration and essential electrolytes, making them perfect for maintaining your body’s water balance. This blog I want to explore some of the best food sources for hydration and electrolytes, helping you stay refreshed and hydrated without solely relying on water.

1. Cucumbers: Nature’s Water Bottle
Cucumbers are made up of about 95% water, making them a top choice for hydration. They’re also rich in potassium, an electrolyte that helps regulate fluid balance.

2. Watermelon: A Sweet Hydration Treat
Watermelon isn’t just a delicious summer fruit; it’s also packed with water and nutrients. It contains vitamins A and C, magnesium, and other electrolytes, perfect for a hydrating snack.

3. Strawberries: Juicy and Hydrating
Like watermelon, strawberries have high water content and are rich in vitamins and minerals, making them an excellent choice for a hydrating, healthy snack.

4. Celery: Crisp and Refreshing
Celery is another high-water-content vegetable, consisting of about 95% water. It’s a good source of fiber, vitamins A, C, and K, and folate, contributing to overall hydration.

5. Yogurt: More Than Just a Dairy Delight
Yogurt, especially Greek yogurt, is not only hydrating but also a great source of electrolytes like potassium and sodium, as well as protein.

6. Bell Peppers: A Colorful Hydration Boost
Bell peppers, especially the green variety, are high in water content and rich in vitamin C, B vitamins, and several antioxidants.

7. Oranges: Citrusy Hydration
Oranges and other citrus fruits are renowned for their high water content. They also provide a significant amount of vitamin C and potassium.

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8. Spinach: A Leafy Hydrator
Spinach is made up of over 90% water and is also a powerhouse of nutrients like iron, folate, and vitamins A and K.

9. Pineapple: Tropical Hydration
This tropical fruit is not only juicy and hydrating but also contains enzymes like bromelain that offer additional health benefits.

10. Coconut Water: A Natural Electrolyte Drink
While not a food, coconut water is worth mentioning for its exceptional hydration properties. It’s a natural source of electrolytes like potassium, sodium, and magnesium.

11. Broth-based Soups: A Savory Route to Hydration
Broth-based soups, particularly those with vegetables, can provide hydration and essential nutrients. They are a great way to increase your fluid intake deliciously. Extra bonus if it is a bone broth!

12. Zucchini: Hydrate with Every Bite
Zucchini is another vegetable high in water and nutrients, perfect for adding hydration to your meals.

There are many ways to intake these foods: simply eating them, making smoothies, fruit bowls, or putting them through a juicer and creating delicious drinks!

Hydration Juice:

• Pineapple
• Cucumbers
• Ginger
• Honey (optional)
• Put all ingredients in your juicer
• Divide into your desired proportions
• ENJOY!

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Refreshing Hydration Boost Smoothie

- 1/2 cup cucumber, peeled and chopped
- 1 cup watermelon, cubed and seedless
- 1/2 cup strawberries, hulled
- 1 orange, peeled and segmented
- 1/2 cup plain or Greek yogurt
- Optional: A few mint leaves or a slice of pineapple for extra flavor
- Ice cubes (optional)

1. Prepare the Ingredients: Wash all the fruits thoroughly. Peel the cucumber and orange, hull the strawberries, and cut the watermelon into cubes.

2. Blend the Fruits: In a blender, combine the cucumber, watermelon, strawberries, and orange segments. If you’re using mint or pineapple, add them in this step.

3. Add Yogurt: Add the yogurt to the blender. The yogurt will give your smoothie a creamy texture and add a dose of protein and additional hydration.

4. Blend Until Smooth: Blend all the ingredients until smooth. If the mixture is too thick, you can add a little water to reach your desired consistency.

5. Add Ice (Optional): If you prefer a colder smoothie, add a few ice cubes and blend again until smooth.

6. Serve: Pour the smoothie into a glass and enjoy immediately! You can garnish with a strawberry or mint leaf for a decorative touch.

As we move forward in 2024, let’s remember how we have an entire arsenal at our fingertips to remain healthy, happy, and hydrated. By incorporating these hydrating foods into your diet, you can ensure that your body gets the fluids and electrolytes it needs to function optimally. This approach is not only effective but also adds variety and enjoyment to your hydration routine.

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