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About Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer)

Mary is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, feeding expert, and a homeschooling mother of four (used to be) selective eaters. She has a passion for real food and can help you navigate the world of feeding challenges. In her world, there are no picky eaters! Mary often shares real food Instant Pot recipes, gluten-free and dairy-free recipes, and about how she has helped her own children as well as others overcome their feeding challenges and work through food allergies.

She blogs about her passion for homemade food, her knowledge about allergies and her life with young children with feeding challenges at Just Take A Bite. Mary strives to give hope to moms that feeding kids well can be done. Learn how with her Eating Styles eCourse.

Read Mary's bio.

Gluten-Free Oven Pancake Recipe that Kids Can Make!

January 4, 2021 (UPDATED: January 20, 2021) by Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) 2 Comments

gluten-free oven pancake

Is it possible to be a morning person and at the same time hate making breakfast? The answer is YES! That sums up my mornings. I get up way too early every morning to have quiet time before the kids are up. It sets the tone for my day. During my morning time, I eat in peace, spend some time in God's Word, answer emails, and do my best to get in some work time before the busyness of the day begins. But I have a confession...I hate making breakfast in the morning. Gluten-free … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Real Food Recipes Tagged With: baking powder, breakfast, brown rice flour, butter, contributing writer, eating clean recipes, eggs, healthy breakfast, kid-friendly, kid-friendly meals, milk, pancakes, prep, psyllium husk, real food, Real Food Recipes, recipe, salt

Healthy Holiday Breakfast Banana Split Recipe

December 21, 2020 by Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) Leave a Comment

Christmas morning is often a flurry of excitement, giggles, and presents. But what about those hungry bellies? Shouldn't the morning excitement include good food? Shouldn't your kids have a special holiday breakfast to start the day? A few years back we had quite an unusual Christmas. We woke up to a house without power. The kids didn't mind. My oldest three were one, four, and seven at the time. They thought it was fun to wear headlamps, light candles, and snuggle in blankets to open our … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Real Food Recipes Tagged With: bananas, breakfast, Christmas, cocoa, coconut flour, coconut oil, healthy breakfast, healthy substitutes, holidays, kid-friendly, kid-friendly meals, maple syrup, real food, real food diet, Real Food Recipes, strawberries

Healthy Air Fryer Veggie Fries Recipe

November 16, 2020 by Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) 4 Comments

air fryer squash fries

For many people fall includes visiting an orchard to pick or buy apples. Maybe throw in a few donuts while you're there for your once-a-year fresh cinnamon-sugar treat. Then there is my family. Fall means running our small, eighty tree apple orchard. We step outside and pick apples on a daily basis for a month straight. We love chatting with friends, family, and new faces that visit to pick no-spray apples and get a little taste of life in the country. It truly is the highlight of our year, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Real Food Recipes Tagged With: allergy friendly, butternut squash, eating real food, fats, kid-friendly, kid-friendly meals, olive oil, real food diet, Real Food Recipes, Real Salt, salt, squash

Five Minute Dairy-Free Caramel Sauce – Perfect for Dipping Apples!

October 19, 2020 (UPDATED: December 17, 2020) by Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) 2 Comments

dairy-free caramel sauce

Living on an 80-tree apple orchard, we eat a lot of apples! Thankfully my kids are on board with my love of keeping Real Food as simple as possible. They are content to eat the apples right off the tree. It really doesn't get any easier! But a couple of years ago I thought it would be fun to make homemade caramel sauce for dipping our apples. I found a relatively simple recipe, and it turned out so well! The kids loved it. There was just one problem...my oldest son is dairy-free. So, while … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Real Food Recipes Tagged With: dairy-free, desserts, eating real food, healthy eating, healthy food, honey, kid-friendly, maple syrup, real food diet, Real Food Recipes, vanilla

The Most Effective Way to Start Your Homeschooling Day

September 7, 2020 by Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) 1 Comment

family looking at globe

As more parents begin their homeschooling journey, it's important to understand how to make the transition and the most effective way to start your homeschooling day. Let's talk about what morning time is and why you'll want to add it to your routine! Every weekday morning I have a goal in mind: 7:00. I want to have myself ready and the kids up by 7:00 so we can get a good start to our homeschool day. When this happens, we can usually knock out several subjects by 8:00! But our … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Notes from School Tagged With: back-to-school, contributing writer, homeschool

How to Cook Steel Cut Oats in the Instant Pot

August 28, 2020 (UPDATED: November 29, 2020) by Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) 9 Comments

Spoonful of Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

What's better than pressure cooked oatmeal? Cooking steel cut oats in the Instant Pot! Instant steel cut oats are a lifesaver for this family. Read on to learn why.  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 … [Read more...]

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

Is a Restricted Diet Necessary When Breastfeeding a Baby with Food Allergies?

August 24, 2020 (UPDATED: September 30, 2020) by Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) 5 Comments

After my fourth child was born (via my fourth c-section), I couldn't have anything to eat at first. It's the rule right after surgery, even though I hadn't eaten in almost 24 hours and my gurgly stomach needed something to settle down. But they did let me have some fluids. I remember asking for chocolate milk (it was all I could stomach at the moment) and thinking, "I hope this little guy tolerates dairy because I have to get something down." One week later I was 100% dairy-free. That may … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Natural Babies, Special Diets Tagged With: allergies, babies, breastfeeding, food allergies

Salad Bar Ideas for a Kid-Friendly Dinner

July 6, 2020 (UPDATED: November 1, 2020) by Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) 2 Comments

You can tell a lot about our culture by the way kids eat. Recently we had some friends over, and my kids gave a little farm tour. When we stopped at the garden, we offered our guests a taste of fresh lettuce. The kids looked at us like we had just asked them to eat dirt. Then I looked over at my two-year-old who was joyously shoving leaf after leaf into his mouth, followed by, "more ettis!" Unfortunately, the dirt face is the more common reaction to lettuce or most things green. This … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Kids in the Kitchen, Real Food Recipes Tagged With: dinner, easy meals, healthy lunch, kid-friendly, kid-friendly meals, Kids in the Kitchen, lunch, real food, real food diet, Real Food Recipes, salad, salads, summer, summer foods, teaching kids about real food

What to Do With Fresh Strawberries and How to Freeze Strawberries

June 8, 2020 (UPDATED: June 9, 2020) by Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) Leave a Comment

Every June it sneaks up on me – strawberry season. I’ve spent the last few months working through our freezer stash and home-canned goods. The weather is getting warmer, and we all want to live outside and forget about complicated meals. Then it hits me – it’s time to start preserving again! The first item on the list is strawberries. And, boy, am I thankful! Strawberries are one of the easiest foods to preserve! Today I’m going to share how you can easily preserve strawberries for the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Eat Well Spend Less, Food Preservation, How-to Tutorials, Real Food Recipes Tagged With: canning, contributing writer, dehydrator, dried fruit, freezer, fruit, how-to tutorials, preserving fruit, real food, Real Food Recipes, strawberries

Signs of Dehydration in Children: How to Tell if Your Kids Are Dehydrated and What to Do About It!

May 18, 2020 (UPDATED: May 20, 2020) by Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) 2 Comments

Do you know the MOST important nutrient in the human body? There are a lot of really good ones like magnesium, calcium, and Vitamin C. But those are not at the top of the list. It's WATER. Plain and simple water. It makes up about 55-60% of your total body mass! You can go a long time without proper nutrition. But you can only go a few days without water. What are the Roles of Water in the Body? Water has so many roles in the body. They include: flushing toxins removing … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Understanding Your Body Tagged With: contributing writer, health, minerals, natural health, Real Salt, water

Symptoms of Low Blood Sugar in Kids (and How to Avoid “Hangry” Meltdowns!)

April 20, 2020 (UPDATED: June 29, 2020) by Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) 2 Comments

That uncomfortable feeling, the cross between hunger and anger, it's "HANGER"! It can be triggered by low blood sugar in kids - and adults too. Here's what you need to know - and how to keep that 'hangry' feeling at bay.  Do you have a "witching hour" at your house? You know, that time every single day when your kids turn into grumpy little monsters that want to eat everything in sight...while you're trying to make dinner? At our house, it's 4:30 pm. It's like someone flips a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Natural Health, Understanding Your Body Tagged With: blood sugar, contributing writer, healthy breakfast, healthy snacks, kids, snacks

What is Diastasis Recti and What Can You Do About It?

March 30, 2020 (UPDATED: May 12, 2020) by Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) 1 Comment

It happened to me. The thing no mom ever wants to happen. I heard those words: "I didn't know you were expecting!" Then the uncomfortable silence and a quick mumbled response, "I'm not." I was at the orthodontist for my oldest (trying to help her with mouth breathing!). That sure started the appointment awkwardly! And as someone that has dealt with the pain of both infertility and loss, those words really stung. I felt like saying, "Do you know what my body has been through?" Of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Understanding Your Body Tagged With: contributing writer, exercise, pregnancy, Real Food Weight Loss and Exercise

What’s on Your Kids’ Feet Impacts How They Eat | Why Minimalist Shoes are Important for Digestion

February 17, 2020 (UPDATED: October 1, 2020) by Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) Leave a Comment

Does your posture affect your digestion? It isn't something we think about, but our posture impacts our entire body, including how we eat. Since our feet are the foundation of our posture, our shoes can impact digestion. Add this to the benefits of minimalist shoes! Do you ever watch your kids while they eat? No, just me? I do it - a lot. It's my nature. I observe people. I even have a whole guide to teach other people how to observe their kids to figure out how they eat best! It's my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Understanding Your Body Tagged With: constipation, contributing writer, digestion, indigestion, kids

Minimalist Footwear for Kids: What is it and Why They Need It

January 13, 2020 (UPDATED: October 1, 2020) by Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) 15 Comments

How do you feel about shoe shopping for kids? On the one hand, there are some insanely adorable shoes for little kids. It's hard to choose just one pair. On the other hand, children's feet seem to grow three feet overnight every time you buy new shoes, and they can destroy them in one day. But cuteness and growth spurts aside, do you put a lot of thought into your child's shoes? Do you simply go for what will fit their feet and your budget (without them throwing a fit)? If you've … [Read more...]

Filed Under: The Reviews Tagged With: contributing writer, health, kids

Why Weight Loss SHOULDN’T Be Your New Year’s Resolution | Digesting Well is More Important Than Losing Weight

December 27, 2019 (UPDATED: June 26, 2020) by Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) Leave a Comment

Why Digestive Health Should be Your New Year's Goal Instead of Weight Loss

Do you know what is happening on January 1, 2020? Nothing! Absolutely nothing. Maybe you're going shopping or watching football with a favorite game day appetizer dip and some chips. Maybe you're kicking off a new exercise routine after some holiday indulging. But me? I'm doing nothing. (Well, at least that's the plan in my head.) That is when my in-laws are leaving after I host the whole relation (which includes ten kids, ages 1 - 11) for several days for Christmas. So on January … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Healing Through Food, Natural Health, Real Food Recipes, Understanding Your Body Tagged With: avocado, beets, butternut squash, chickpeas, cucumber, digestion, extra virgin olive oil, garbanzo beans, indigestion, lettuce, mayo, peas, salt, squash, stomach pain, walnuts

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

November 4, 2019 (UPDATED: September 7, 2020) by Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) 3 Comments

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 investigating, I realized he's cutting his two-year molars. #ouch Knowing … [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: July 19, 2020) by Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) 3 Comments

This post is a continuation of a series on "Those Weird Veggies." You can also read about parsnips and kohlrabi.  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 father garden for many years. I'd love to learn more...someday. But I … [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 (UPDATED: October 26, 2020) by Mary Voogt, NTP (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! -Katie We just started our fourth year of homeschooling. Each year it gets a bit more challenging to fit all of our work into the day as my kids get older and we add more work and more kids 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: May 9, 2020) by Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) 4 Comments

Can you believe a mom of 4 could teach her big kids to cook in just 2 weeks?? I love that Mary used my online cooking class for kids, all three levels, every single day for two weeks, even while the toddler was underfoot! In the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, my kids and I teach your kids how to cook by introducing age-appropriate skills in a way that builds connection, confidence, and creativity. I'll help you decide if Kids Cook Real Food is right for your family, but first, prepare to be … [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: July 19, 2020) by Mary Voogt, NTP (Contributing Writer) 12 Comments

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 eliminate 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 yellow/orange. Since we had to cut out a lot of foods from his diet due to … [Read more...]

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

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