Kitchen Stewardship | Caring for All Our Gifts

Helping busy families live well without going crazy!

  • Home
  • About
    • About Katie and Her Mission
    • Overwhelmed? Start Here.
    • Free for Readers!
  • Recipes
  • My Products
    • eBook Store
      • Healthy Snacks to Go
      • Better Than a Box
      • The Healthy Lunch Box
      • The Healthy Breakfast Book
      • The Family Camping Handbook
      • The Everything Beans Book
      • Smart Sweets
    • Kids Cook Real Food eCourse
    • Free Resource
    • Affiliates
  • Contact
    • Email Me
    • Advertise/PR
    • Media Coverage
    • Guest Posting
    • Advertising Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
  • START HERE
    • Monday Missions Checklist – you can take baby steps to real food too!
    • Back to Basics Challenge
  • Green Living
    • Natural Cleaners
    • Natural Personal Products
    • Natural Sunscreen Reviews
    • Non-Toxic Insect Solutions
    • Cloth Diaper Reviews
    • Decreasing Disposables
    • Natural Living Archives
      • Mind the Microwave
      • Analyzing Aluminum
      • Natural Cleaning
      • Natural Personal Products
      • A Safer World
      • Reducing Waste
  • Real Food
    • Pack a Healthy Lunch
    • Grain-Free Resources
    • How to Use Healthy Fats
    • How to Source Real Food
    • Preparedness with Real Food
    • Soaking Grains Research
    • Special Menus
    • Kitchen Tips
  • Kids Cooking
    • How to Teach Kids to Cook
    • Teaching Kids About Food
  • Categories
    • Natural Health
      • Healing Through Food
      • Home Remedies
      • Prevention is the Best Medicine
      • Fighting Cancer
    • Real Food Roadmap
      • Finding Real Food
      • How-to Tutorials
      • Kitchen Tips
      • Personal Stories
      • Real Food Preparedness
      • Sample Menus
    • Save Time
      • Freezer Cooking
      • Organization
      • Planning Makes Perfect
      • Quick Hacks
    • Save Money
      • “How-to” Do it Yourself
      • Eat Well Spend Less
      • Food Preservation
      • Gardening
    • Save the Earth
      • A Safer World
      • Natural Cleaning
      • Natural Personal Products
      • Reducing Waste
    • Little Foodies (Kids and Babies)
      • Kids in the Kitchen
      • Natural Babies
      • Natural Pregnancy
      • Notes from School
    • Real Food Geeks
      • Understanding Disease
      • Understanding Your Body
      • Understanding Your Food
      • Understanding Your World
      • Deep Thoughts
    • Faith Nuggets
  • The Reviews
    • Top Natural Sunscreen out of over 40
    • Comprehensive Cloth Diaper Reviews
    • Bento Boxes for Lunch
    • Best Reusable Bags
    • Blendtec
    • Nutrimilll
    • Excalibur Dehydrator
    • All (old) KS Reviews
    • Recent Reviews
  • What to Buy
    • KS Recommends
    • Kids Cook Real Food eCourse
    • Kids’ Cooking Resources
    • Kitchen Gadget Wishlist
    • Grand Rapids Local Resources

Baby Step Your Way to Better Health!

My best techniques, tips & tricks for the Instant Pot!

About Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer)

Mary is a Christian, a wife and a mother of four young children. She has a passion for real food and can help you navigate the world of feeding challenges and picky eating. She often shares real food Instant Pot recipes, gluten-free and dairy-free recipes, and about how she has helped her picky eaters overcome their challenges and heal from food allergies.

She blogs about her journey through infertility, her passion for homemade food, her knowledge about allergies and her life with young children with feeding challenges atJust Take A Bite.

Read Mary's bio.

How to Be a Mind Reader When it Comes to Feeding Your Kids

November 4, 2019 by Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) Leave a Comment

This post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.My one-year-old is a pretty good eater. He generally likes most things and really loves it when he gets to try something new.But the other day he kept spitting his food out or just clenching his mouth shut altogether, refusing to eat anything. I was getting very frustrated. I was serving foods he normally loves.Then when he started sleeping poorly and refusing to nurse I knew something was going on. After some … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Kids in the Kitchen Tagged With: contributing writer, healthy eating, healthy eating habits, healthy food, kid-friendly, kids, Kids Cook Real Food, picky eaters, real food, teaching kids about real food

{Series: Those Weird Veggies} Everything You Didn’t Know to Ask About Rutabaga + Scalloped Rutabaga Recipe

October 7, 2019 (UPDATED: October 9, 2019) by Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) 2 Comments

This post is a continuation of a series on "Those Weird Veggies." You can also read about parsnips and kohlrabi. This post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.Are you an avid gardener? Or someone that loves the idea of gardening...but just hasn't found the time for it? Or maybe you are quite content to leave the gardening to your local farmer?I'm not ashamed to admit that my husband is the gardener in our family. He grew up on a farm and has watched his own … [Read more...]

Filed Under: How-to Tutorials, Real Food Recipes Tagged With: contributing writer, eating clean recipes, eating real food, in-season recipes, real food, Real Food Recipes, teaching kids about real food, Those Weird Veggies

Easy Breakfast for School Mornings: Granola Bar Bowl Recipe

September 9, 2019 by Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) 3 Comments

Getting a healthy breakfast on the table for your kids before school is a common struggle whether you homeschool like Mary or have kids in school like me. I have a whole post full of tips and recipes for quick healthy breakfasts and this recipe is a great one to add to your rotation! Enjoy! -KatieThis post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.We just started our fourth year of homeschooling. Each year it gets a bit more challenging to fit all of our work into the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Eat Well Spend Less, Real Food Recipes Tagged With: allergy friendly, breakfast, contributing writer, dairy-free, dried fruit, easy meals, gluten free, granola, granola bars, healthy breakfast, kid-friendly, kid-friendly meals, kids cooking, nut butter, whole grain

How to Teach Your Kids to Cook (In Just Two Weeks!)

August 5, 2019 (UPDATED: November 20, 2019) by Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) 4 Comments

If you're new around here you may not have heard of Kids Cook Real Food. That's my online cooking class for kids! My kids and I teach your kids to cook by introducing age appropriate skills in a way that builds connection, confidence and creativity! Check it out here and keep reading to hear Mary's experience using all three levels of the course to teach three of her kids to cook in under 2 weeks! This post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.Have you ever had a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Kids in the Kitchen Tagged With: contributing writer, Kids Cook Real Food, kids cooking, Kids in the Kitchen, teaching kids about real food

Do You Really Need to Take Supplements?

July 8, 2019 (UPDATED: August 21, 2019) by Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) 12 Comments

This post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.I’ll never forget my son’s last visit with the allergist. It was a new allergist as our old one had to retire. She came into the room, took one look at him, and commented that his feet were orange! A condition called carotenemia (and something we’re still working to detox from several years later! Read about it here).I guess I never really bothered to look at the bottom of his feet. But sure enough, they were … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Natural Health Tagged With: contributing writer, kids, minerals, prebiotics, prenatal vitamins, probiotics, safety, supplements, Vitamin D, Vitamin K

Allergy Friendly Healthy Breakfast Hummus Recipe

June 17, 2019 (UPDATED: August 21, 2019) by Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) 3 Comments

This post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.I have four kids. They all have individual eating styles and food preferences. But in general I know what they like.Three out of four will eat what I serve without much complaining. Sure they have their favorites. But they eat most things.Then there is my four-year old. She doesn't play along so nicely (there always has to be one, right?).I have learned that I have to always ask her what she wants for breakfast. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Real Food Recipes Tagged With: allergies, allergy friendly, breakfast, contributing writer, eating clean recipes, food allergies, healthy breakfast, healthy snack ideas, healthy snacks, hummus, kid-friendly, real food, real food diet, Real Food Recipes, snack

Low Sugar Gluten-Free Parsnip Cupcakes: Perfect for a First Birthday!

May 13, 2019 (UPDATED: August 21, 2019) by Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) 4 Comments

This post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.My baby just turned one (sniffle, sniffle)! This is the fourth time we've celebrated a first birthday in our family...and it never gets easier. Something about that transition from baby to toddler is so hard for Mama!I think this one is especially hard, knowing it is our last time. I love watching my kids grow and mature. But there is nothing quite like snuggling a little one.Over the years I've baby-stepped my way … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Real Food Recipes, Special Diets Tagged With: babies, birthdays, contributing writer, dairy-free, desserts, egg-free, gluten free, kids, Real Food Recipes

How to Stick to a Dairy-Free and Gluten-Free Diet Long Term (and not go crazy!)

April 29, 2019 (UPDATED: August 21, 2019) by Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) 7 Comments

If you're new to a dairy-free and gluten-free lifestyle, start with Katie's post with all of the rookie steps. If you are in it for the long haul I've got you covered here.This post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.I remember when I first made the decision to switch to a gluten free diet almost nine years ago. It felt pretty monumental. Especially since it wasn't as popular as it is today, and gluten free convenience foods were slim pickings.I was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Healing Through Food, Kitchen Tips, Real Food Recipes, Special Diets, Uncategorized Tagged With: contributing writer, dairy-free, gluten free, kid-friendly meals, kids, real food, Real Food Recipes, tips

How to Cook Steel Cut Oats in the Instant Pot

March 4, 2019 (UPDATED: August 21, 2019) by Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) 9 Comments

This post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.I am a morning person (don't hate me!).I kind of feel like I have to be with four kids. Getting up early is the only way to get anything done. I am also someone that wants breakfast as soon as I get up. Roll out of bed (or out of the rocking chair and lay the baby down as is the case lately), shower and EAT.This is a habit I started in college...and 20 years later it's still how I function. Up early. A healthy … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Real Food Recipes Tagged With: breakfast, healthy breakfast, Instant Pot, oatmeal

Should You Pay Kids for Chores?

February 4, 2019 (UPDATED: May 23, 2019) by Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) 8 Comments

This post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.Growing up I did not have any chores. It's kind of sad since I was the kind of kid that loved to help. Even though my parents never assigned me any tasks I often vacuumed, took out the trash, made snacks for my siblings, and dusted. My parents missed a huge opportunity to teach me life skills when I was very willing.Once I was in junior high I started mowing our lawn. Not because I was asked to do it. I just wanted to. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Stories Tagged With: cleaning, kids

Every Parent’s Goal: Raising Responsible Kids

January 7, 2019 (UPDATED: August 21, 2019) by Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) 4 Comments

This post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.Ah, January...Christmas is over. Winter is really setting in. The second semester of school is starting. Time for routines and a fresh start.Everyone is making resolutions. Maybe you want to eat healthier, lose weight, get stronger, pay off debt, cook more homemade food, start meal planning, get organized or simply slow down life a bit. Or you're like me and you don't really make resolutions, but adhere to these goals … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Kids in the Kitchen Tagged With: kids, Kids Cook Real Food, kids cooking, Kids in the Kitchen, teaching kids about real food

Gluten-Free Sweet and Salty Snack Mix Recipe Kids Can Make

December 10, 2018 (UPDATED: August 21, 2019) by Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) Leave a Comment

This post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.Without fail, every day right around 3:00 pm my kids rush up to me asking, "What can we have for a snack?!" I'm usually trying to feed their little brother or he's sleeping on me (which despite six months of me trying to tell them that's not the best time to ask me for things they continue to do it daily anyway).I've been teaching my kids to cook for quite a few years now. They are very capable in the kitchen. I think … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Kids in the Kitchen, Real Food Recipes Tagged With: allergy friendly, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten free, healthy snacks, Kids Cook Real Food, kids cooking, Real Food Recipes, snack, snacks

Family Favorite Grain-Free Avocado Taco Bowl Recipe

November 5, 2018 (UPDATED: August 21, 2019) by Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) 2 Comments

This post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.As a homeschool family learning is incorporated in all things. To help my four-year-old learn her letters we do one lunch a week that we call a "letter lunch." We make something that starts with the letters she's working on.For letters C and D we did Crazy Designs. I gave my kids an assortment of veggies, cheese, dips, etc. and let them make a design on their plates. For letters S and T we did Sea Turtles. I used half … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Kids in the Kitchen, Real Food Recipes Tagged With: avocado, beans, beef, dinner, grain free, ground beef, keto, kid-friendly meals, Kids Cook Real Food, kids cooking, Kids in the Kitchen, Real Food Recipes

What you Need to Know About How Food Dyes and Behavior are Connected

October 8, 2018 by Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) 4 Comments

This post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.I'm not sure if it's my over-tired postpartum brain, or simply the fact that as I get older I've stopped caring what people think - but after last month's post about living the way God intended I'm back with another blunt post about how the way we feed our kids needs to change.Today I want to discuss how food dyes and behavior are connected. And why the 80/20 rule does NOT apply here.When my oldest (now ten) was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Natural Health Tagged With: ADHD, food coloring, food dyes, healthy eating, kids, nutrition, teaching kids about real food

How Does God Want Us to Live?

September 10, 2018 by Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) 28 Comments

This post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.I've been living a real food lifestyle for about ten years now. I started my journey when struggling with infertility. I found Nourishing Traditions and have been learning all I can ever since! It took a lot of baby steps to get where I am now. But it wasn't until my family moved to a farm two years ago that I realized just how important it is to care for our bodies and the Earth and to raise animals well.And with all … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Faith Nuggets Tagged With: contributing, contributing writer

The Benefits of Slowing Down Life

July 9, 2018 (UPDATED: May 23, 2019) by Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) 2 Comments

This post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.Ah, summer. Don't you just love it? No more school work. No more soccer. No more robotics. No more dance. No more packing lunches. No more early mornings. No more...you fill in the blank.Summer break is great because it is just that - a break. A break from the chaos we call life most of the year.It's a time to slow down, spend time as a family and enjoy the freedom of actually having free time!Living a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Save Time Tagged With: contributing, contributing writer

Easy Gluten Free Nut Free Breakfast Mudball Recipe

June 11, 2018 (UPDATED: August 21, 2019) by Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) 11 Comments

This post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.Breakfast. It's the one meal of the day that I don't typically "cook" for my family. At least not on a weekday. Mom and Dad are up early. The kids get up a bit later. Sometimes we're relaxed. Sometimes we're rushed.But that doesn't mean breakfast isn't important to me! Quite the contrary. I know that a balanced, nourishing breakfast can completely make or break our day. A starchy breakfast without healthy fats and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Real Food Recipes Tagged With: allergy friendly, breakfast, dairy-free, gluten free, healthy breakfast, healthy snack ideas, healthy snacks, snack, snacks

Nutrient Dense Dairy-Free Smoothie Recipe

May 14, 2018 (UPDATED: August 21, 2019) by Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) 4 Comments

This post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.I love dairy. In all forms. If I could choose one food group to never have to give up...it would be dairy. And yet I or someone in my family (or a combination) have been dairy free for anywhere from six months to two or more years at a time during the past seven years. Which means I know a thing or two about eating dairy free and still enjoying food! You can even make delicious dairy-free frozen treats everyone will … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Real Food Recipes Tagged With: breakfast, contributing, contributing writer, dairy-free, healthy breakfast, smoothies

Easy Sheet Pan Dinner your Kids will Love to Make

April 16, 2018 (UPDATED: June 9, 2019) by Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) 5 Comments

This post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.Confession time. When it comes to making dinner I'm actually NOT looking for quick hacks in the kitchen. I may be in the minority, but I actually love to cook!! I'd spend half my day in the kitchen if I could.BUT...my reality is that I don't often have much time for it. I'm a work-at-home and homeschooling mom of three...with number four coming any day now! Which means my time in the kitchen will soon be non-existent … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Real Food Recipes Tagged With: contributing, contributing writer, dinner, eating clean recipes, gluten free, grain free, in-season recipes, Kids Cook Real Food, kids cooking, Kids in the Kitchen, Paleo, Real Food Recipes, Whole30

How to Make ACTUAL “Smart” Water for Your Family

March 12, 2018 (UPDATED: August 17, 2019) by Mary Voogt (Contributing Writer) 7 Comments

This post is from contributing writer Mary Voogt of Just Take A Bite.Although much of our nation is still stuck on the SAD (standard American diet) way of eating, there is one healthy habit that has actually caught on. Drinking water!I'm happy to see kids carrying water bottles instead of neon-colored drinks. Or worse yet, soda. One more baby step towards raising a healthier generation! Water for the Win? Before you start cheering too loudly, I've actually warned against the dangers of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Real Food Recipes Tagged With: contributing, contributing writer, kid-friendly, water

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • Next Page »

Looking for something?

About Kitchen Stewardship
Rookies Start Here
Grab the Freebie!
Stuff I Use

My Cooking Class

We teach kids to cook - Kids Cook Real Food online course has over 4,000 members and growing
Healthy Breakfast eBook

Stay Connected!

Follow on Facebook
Follow on Pinterest
Follow on Instagram
Subscribe by Email

Shop at Amazon

Real Food at your Fingertips

Kitchen Stewardship eBooks

Readers’ Favorite Posts

  • How to Make Easy Homemade Yogurt (Photo Tutorial)
  • How to Make Timeless Homemade Chicken Stock
  • How to Cook with Dry Beans
  • Easy Homemade Substitute for Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • How to Make Yogurt Cheese and Whey
  • Homemade Hamburger Helper
  • How to Dehydrate Fruits
  • How to Dehydrate Vegetables
  • 10 Basic Instant Pot Techniques (including hard-boiled eggs)
  • How to Sprout Seeds & Legumes
  • How to Bake with Coconut Flour
  • Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe
  • How to Dilute Essential Oils
  • Cream of Potato Soup Recipe
  • How to Stop Bug Bites from Itching
  • Cauliflower Mac and Cheese (Grain-free!)
  • Homemade Electrolyte Drink
  • How to Store Fresh Ginger
  • How to do a Parasite Cleanse
  • How to Make Slow Cooker Recipes in the Instant Pot

Please remember that I’m just a gal who reads a lot and spends way too much time in her kitchen. I’m not a doctor, nurse, scientist, or even a real chef, and certainly the FDA hasn't evaluated anything on this blog. Any products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please talk to your health professional (or at least your spouse) before doing anything you might think is questionable. Trust your own judgment…I can’t be liable for problems that occur from bad decisions you make based on content found here.

Some posts on this blog contain affiliate links which generate commission if you purchase anything starting with those links. KS also accepts private sponsorships and we are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. More info here.

Contact · affiliates · ad disclosure · privacy policy · ebooks
Copyright © 2019 Kitchen Stewardship