Hi! My name is Heather. I am always interested in learning new things and I love to experiment in the kitchen. I am currently living in an apartment in Michigan, but I can’t wait to buy the perfect homestead and get a milk cow! My dream come true would be to live in a 100-year-old farm-house and be totally off the grid. I can’t wait! I love real, traditional food. If it didn’t exist 100 years ago, don’t eat it!
I believe that food should be organic, sustainably grown, cooked in a traditional way, not genetically engineered, nutritious, whole and unrefined, and local when possible. Most of all you should enjoy it and savor every bite!
A Real Food Lover 
Miss T said,
February 23, 2012 at 9:44 PM
Heather,
Any baby food ideas? Wanna make it myself, but not sure how. Do I just puree fruits and veggies or do I add something to it? Any suggestions?
Bluejellybeans said,
March 19, 2012 at 8:09 PM
Hi Heather!
Thanks a lot for stopping by my blog. I’m always happy to welcome new readers 🙂
I must say that your blog is very interesting, I love the recipes and those wonderful ideas for homemade toothpaste or eye cream.
Jasmine Pahl said,
March 24, 2012 at 1:51 PM
Yo Heather! Congratulations! I nominated you for two awards, The Versatile Blogger and The Inspiring Blogger. I was nominated and that means I have the privilege of nominating other blogs I love. Thanks for all your great blogging. Here’s a link to my post where I did a little write up about what I love about your blog: http://paintboxkitchen.com/2012/03/24/paintbox-kitchen-nominated/
arealfoodlover said,
March 24, 2012 at 4:58 PM
Thank you so much, that is awesome!
Jasmine Pahl said,
March 24, 2012 at 6:18 PM
:)!!
Jennifer said,
March 26, 2012 at 5:31 PM
You might get a laugh from looking at my Recipes board on Pinterest. It’s almost all you:
Thanks much for your great work.
arealfoodlover said,
March 26, 2012 at 5:41 PM
Some day I’ll join the rest of the world and get a facebook account. For some reason I haven’t got around to it yet. Thank you so much!
denlyn3 said,
March 31, 2012 at 6:15 PM
I really enjoy your blog so I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. More information at http://denlyn3.wordpress.com/2012/03/31/versatile-blogger-award/
Happy blogging.
Real Food, Real Deals said,
April 2, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Hi Heather! I nominated your blog for the Liebster Blog Award. See the details in my post http://realfoodrealdeals.com/2012/04/02/my-liebster-blog-award/. Thanks for your support in the world of real food!
arealfoodlover said,
April 2, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Wow thank you!
My Liebster Blog Award | Real Food, Real Deals said,
April 2, 2012 at 10:45 AM
[…] A Real Food Lover – Heather has a lot of good information and recipes about real food, and I appreciate her insights. […]
Living Unrefined said,
April 9, 2012 at 3:14 PM
I just saw that you were already nominated for this, but I nominated you, too! Love your blog! http://livingunrefined.com/2012/04/09/liebster/
arealfoodlover said,
April 9, 2012 at 7:16 PM
Lindsey, Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.
DM said,
April 15, 2012 at 10:56 AM
Thanks for stopping by the blog and leaving a comment! We do live in a 100 yr old house…used to milk cows 🙂 I “hear” you when you talk about the things you’d like to pursue. I have similar interests…DM
The Townhouse Homesteaders said,
May 10, 2012 at 1:16 PM
I love what your blog is about. I can relate. I also have dreams of cows. Finally, someone who doesn’t think I’m weird…
Amy said,
May 13, 2012 at 6:15 AM
This is a great blog! Love your photos (all the food looks delicious!) and content is fantastic. Way to go!
Rebecca said,
July 1, 2012 at 5:20 PM
I love your blog, and have been finding it through various searches for a while. I’ll be making your Cheese Crackers and Homemade Toothpaste for the kids today, and just wanted to say hi! Thanks for all the great stuff you’re doing!
ybertaud9 said,
July 5, 2012 at 6:14 PM
Love & appreciate your blog that I had nominated you for “One Lovely Blog Award” http://ybertaud9.wordpress.com/2012/07/06/byzantineflowers-voted-for-one-lovely-blog-award/
The Farmers Taft said,
August 9, 2012 at 11:00 PM
Hey Lady, you’d better get your butt back here and blogging because you’ve been awarded yet another Inspiring Blog Award! 😉 And because we MISS YOU! http://thefarmerstaft.com/2012/08/06/feel-the-love-inspiring-blog-award-and-15-bloggers-you-should-visit/
Victoria Taylor said,
November 2, 2012 at 8:24 PM
Hello Heather,
I just love you helping us all to making tightarsedness a new art. Let’s go with gusto.
Your recipe for Magnesium oil does not have definitive volume for water; is it 1/4 pint, cup, litre??? Victoria
arealfoodlover said,
January 29, 2013 at 4:51 PM
It is equal parts magnesium flakes to water. If you are using a 1/4 cup of water you would also use 1/4 cup of magnesium chloride flakes…
Schnucki21 said,
November 8, 2012 at 1:59 PM
Hi there! Just stumbled on your blog and absolutely love it! I am a MI girl living in New Olreans.:) I’m wondering if you could recommend where to buy the essential oils, glycerin, bees wax to make your recipes. Thank you.
arealfoodlover said,
January 29, 2013 at 4:46 PM
I really love Mountain Rose Herbs. There is a link on the homepage of my blog…
ybertaud9 said,
November 27, 2012 at 1:25 PM
Where are you lately? Miss & love your posts 😉
ybertaud9 said,
December 10, 2012 at 3:18 PM
I had nominated you for One Lovely Blog Award… http://ybertaud9.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/one-lovely-blog-award/
Pam said,
January 19, 2013 at 8:39 AM
Hi can you explain about phytic acid in grain nuts and beans I am super sensitive to phytic acid so whenever I eat anything that has it in it I feel terrible
I want to be able to bake but do I have to use sprouted seeds/grains and then ferment them also?
I like burritos should I eat sprouted tortilla? how should I cook beans? I am trying gluten free but I ate some quinoa/buckwheat pancakes and I feel terrible what should I do?
Thanks Pam
arealfoodlover said,
January 29, 2013 at 4:02 PM
visit phyticacid.org for a ton of amazing really thorough information. She explains the whole situation sooo much better than i ever could 🙂
Pam said,
January 19, 2013 at 8:41 AM
Hey I meant to say I want to bake with gluten free/grain free so I tried quinoa/buckwheat should the flour be sprouted? It wasn’t and I feel terrible
clresu said,
May 6, 2013 at 8:49 AM
Hey, Heather . . . I was so glad to find your blog . . . Here’s my question: do you have any practical tips on how to eat raw meat and/or organs? I eat raw salmon (sushi form) when I can, but otherwise, I still have difficulty stomaching the idea of organ meats, etc., . . .
Thanks,
R.
arealfoodlover said,
May 25, 2013 at 5:12 PM
Reece, Sally Fallon as a delicious recipe in her book Nourishing Traditions for steak tartar. Really, the secret to eating raw meat is in the dipping sauce 🙂 You can eat just about anything with some gravy right? Make sure you are purchasing high quality 100% grass-fed red meat, freeze it at 0 degrees for at least 14 days, and then enjoy. If you cut a flank steak into thin bite-sized strips and eat it well-seasoned, it is delicious. You don’t have to eat a lot either, just a few ounces to get a ton of nutrition!
Recipes From Home said,
June 8, 2013 at 4:58 AM
Hi
I run a website called Recipes From Home (http://recipesfromhome.net ). I feature, share and promote recipes from home cooks and independent bloggers etc.
I wanted to let you know, I stumbled across your recipe: https://arealfoodlover.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/perfect-barbeque-dipping-sauce-sugar-free/ . I thought it looked so good I did a quick post about it on my website here: http://recipesfromhome.net/the-perfect-barbecue-dipping-sauce-also-sugar-free/ . I hope you don’t mind but I also used your image, as it is obviously vital to the recipe. I have linked to your original post and credited the image as yours.
My website is currently getting 1000+ visitors a day. We also have a Facebook page with over 12,000 fans (http://www.facebook.com/Knowledgeweighsnothing). I always let my Facebook fans know when there is a new post on the website; as a result, you should get a WHOLE LOAD of new visitors (100s) to your website over the coming days, plus many more over the coming months.
I thought it would be nice to connect and also just check it was ok to use the image to help promote your recipe. Any problems or comments, let me know.
You have loads of great recipes on your website, would it be ok to feature some more of them (and photos) again in the future?
Best wishes
– Deb
http://recipesfromhome.net
arealfoodlover said,
June 9, 2013 at 7:20 PM
Deb, that would be fine.
Karen said,
June 13, 2013 at 6:57 AM
I’ve been searching for a site just like yours! All I want is good-old-Midwestern Recipes, made Healthy. Thanks! You have a new follower. I hope you get your homestead someday.
Amron said,
June 25, 2013 at 3:11 PM
Hi Heather! My blog and work focus a lot on strategic eating for fat loss, and I would like to repost your BBQ sauce recipe, image and a link to your blog, on my facebook page and in my newsletter. (web:GreenHealthPDX.com) I wanted to get your permission first. Please send me a note if there is an issue or preference for any of this. I think the only effect is that my notes will drive more traffic your way, but as a fellow solo-blogger, I want to ask your permission first, as I do not yet know the etiquette around reposting. Love your style and your curiosity!!! ~amron
arealfoodlover said,
June 25, 2013 at 7:29 PM
Amron, That is just fine with me and Thank you
propertia said,
December 12, 2013 at 11:14 PM
Hi sweetie, Found you from a link on Pinterest. I’m pretty sure we must have been separated at birth (just kidding). Seriously, I learned a lot of what you know because of being diagnosed with lupus in my 20s. If I hadn’t switched to all-organic/local or grow it myself, and mostly raw, always healthy foods including lean meats and lots of veggies, seeds & nuts, I don’t think I’d be here. Additives in makeup, cleaning products, etc. are just as dangerous to me. So I am grateful to find your blog and to find recipes and things I hadn’t known before to add to my healthful repertoire. I am fascinated with your tooth research and am sharing with my 2 grown daughters & 3 teenagers (yes, I had five)!! We love sharing good ideas & natural solutions to everyday challenges. Best wishes to you and yours & I look forward to reading and learning more from you. 🙂
arealfoodlover said,
January 10, 2014 at 8:05 PM
Propertia, welcome sister!
Jeanette said,
February 22, 2014 at 4:50 PM
Thank you for all your hard work and experimenting and in turn freely giving all this information out to all who are seekin!
Patricia said,
July 14, 2014 at 10:49 AM
Hi Heather!
I found your site via Pinterest. What a great find! I love how you give really good information on using commercial ingredients versus natural ones. We are like blind mice that followed the piper. We believe that if it is on the store shelf, it is safe to eat or use. Thank you Heather for all you do. Keep up the great work!
Ann said,
March 12, 2015 at 11:06 AM
Heather – I read your story with interest. I have just had all of my amalgam fillings replaced & there is a tooth the dentist said has some decay in although it does not currently hurt, he said it certainly will in time & recommends a root canal. Given what I have learned about root canals this is something I really want to avoid! So I’ve been researching about remineralizing teeth. My question is, I have a number of health issues currently including adrenal fatigue, Graves Disease (overactive thyroid) and rheumatoid arthritis, do you think that having these health challenges would prevent the tooth cavity from remineralizing? does the body need to be well before it will health teeth? I’m trying hard to get well with natural methods but I’m not seeing much progress. My ND believes I need to get rid of the mercury toxicity now before I will improve
Lisa said,
May 18, 2015 at 12:36 PM
Hi Heather! I’m all about this too! I would love your thoughts on you eye cream! Does it help with dark circles? Do you have any experience with it in warm locations? It gets so warm that my current recipe melts in the summer! I also have a guy friend who spends WAY TOO MUCH on commercial eye creams because he has dark circles. I would love to help him out! Thank you! Hope to hear from you!
derrick said,
August 6, 2015 at 1:48 AM
I stumbled on to you when I searched caffeine’s damaging affects on the body and was very motivated to break the addiction. I regularly consume 3plus litres of soda a day and am going to try the dlpa therapy. Thank you so much. I’ll let you know how it goes.
arealfoodlover said,
August 19, 2015 at 12:34 PM
Derrick, great! It is such a hard addiction to break, because it’s so easily available. Let us know how it goes, we’re rooting for you
Marsha said,
August 7, 2015 at 1:34 PM
I want to make the bug spray for my grand-kids. one has very sensitive skin should i dilute ths if so how much
arealfoodlover said,
August 19, 2015 at 12:33 PM
My sister slathers this all over her kids, but you are welcome to try it diluted first if it makes you more comfortable. It certainly can’t hurt to try!
Marsha said,
August 20, 2015 at 8:20 AM
Thank you I will try it first then if he reacts I’ll dilute it. Have a great day.