3-Day Reset // Review

Sugar. 

I've definitely shared my ups and downs with what I consider to be some addiction there. Even though I know WHAT to eat and WHY I should be eating it, sometimes it's still hard to break that cycle. Pooja Mottl's The 3-Day Reset is certainly an easy to follow guide to help all of us with our individual vices, and the information is like starting from square one.


Above all, I like the tone of the book. It isn't clinical. It isn't mean. It's, instead, like a friend guiding you and reminding you of some important stuff you've decided to, well, forget. I so conveniently forget the nutrition DOs and DON'Ts when they all of a sudden don't apply to my cravings, but Mottl puts them in black and white.

Here's an excerpt from the section I followed:

"Sugar goes down like water, and we’re consuming it with reckless abandon. Accord- ing to the USDA, the average American eats about twenty-two teaspoons of sugar, or about 13 percent of our total calories, each and every day. Okay, let’s think about this for a second: That’s like opening up your kitchen silverware drawer, grabbing a teaspoon, jamming it into your sugar bowl, and sticking it straight inside your mouth twenty-two times a day."


So, yes. I did the sugar reset and was actually quite pleased with my ability to stick to it. I would say that some of the ingredients in the recipes inside the book (for example, some delicious salads!) are a bit expensive and beyond my normal Aldi budget . . . but I made fitting substitutions to make them work for me.

When it was time to eat sugar again, I followed these guidelines


Try to eat whole, unrefined sources of sweetness, in moderation, about 80% of the time. The best sources for healthy sweetness are:

• Whole, ripe, fresh fruits 

• Dried fruits and vegetables such as dates, pineapple, and tomatoes 

• Raw, unpasteurized honey 100% maple syrup 

• Whole dried cane sugar or coconut palm sugar granulated crystals

And I'm pleased to report that my sugar cravings even after this short stint has been dramatically lessened. I can't credit the book entirely. I had already decided it was time to make some major changes to my routine. Still, I like having this resource to refer back to again when I feel myself wavering. I may try the Salt Reset next. I know I need sodium, but I seem to be sprinkling it on everything lately!

If all of this interests you, be sure to check out The 3-Day Reset -- as well as the rest of the TLC Book Tour. And if you'd like to connect with Pooja, you can find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

* I was given a copy of this book for review purposes. I have not been compensated in any other way. My opinions are my own.

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The 3-Day Reset // Pooja Mottl + Giveaway

When I started my most recent quest to eat better, I was surprised to find an email in my inbox asking if I'd like to review a new book by healthy living expert Pooja Mottl. The 3-Day Reset is a wonderful tool meant to help you "Restore Your Cravings For Healthy Foods in Three Easy, Empowering Days."

And with a quick glance so far (a full review is forthcoming), if you're in the same spot with craving those healthier eating habits -- this book might also interest you.

Check out the book trailer:


Resets include: sugar, wheat, salt, chocolate, yogurt, chicken, beverages, breakfast, salad, and takeout. The book is packed with delicious recipes and nutritional information to support why you should eat whole foods like quinoa instead of processed, frozen, or packaged foods.

Really, it's full of useful reminders for those of us who know what to eat, but sometimes need a little urging in the right direction. Or for those who are totally new to eating this way.

Take, for example, this helpful sugars chart. Sugar is in . . . well . . . everything!


I love how Pooja's goal is to help readers "enjoy eating the way Mother Nature intended." As much as I try my best to eat whole foods, I do find it easy to slip -- which is why a reset is such a common theme on this blog. So, I'm excited to make my way through this new book and wanted to let you guys know about it.

By framing the experience in just three short days, I feel like it's all very doable.

I'll report back soon!

// GIVEAWAY

Oh, and you can WIN a signed copy of The 3-Day Reset! Simply leave a comment below with the words "RESET ME!" Also tell me a bit about your vice (sugar, salt, carbs, etc.). 

• This giveaway is open to USA/Canada only.
• I'll need an email address or some other way to contact you if you win!
• I'll choose the winner on Tuesday, May 13th.

For more stops on this book tour, check out this page. And if you'd like to connect with Pooja, you can find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

* I was given a copy of this book for review purposes. I have not been compensated in any other way. My opinions are my own.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Stephen's Annual Pickles

I've written a lot this week. So, today's a bit less wordy and brought to you by . . . Stephen. He's made his annual batch of pickles! I was just there to document the process. These guys will sit -- covered -- on our counter for about two weeks until we can enjoy them.

As with the last time Stephen made pickles, he followed the recipe -- step by step -- that appears in one of our favorite books: Put 'Em Up!: A Comprehensive Home Preserving Guide for the Creative Cook. It describes methods from freezing to drying, canning to, well, pickling. I'm scrambling to re-read more as our CSA kicks into high gear before fall.

And here's more about the nutritional benefits of cucumbers for runners, along with some of our favorite recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

PS: Tomorrow I'll be bringing back my favorite series: Weekend Things!

What's your favorite way to preserve food?

Like what you just read? Browse more of our posts + recipes on Pinterest. You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Tiny Food Party: Review + Giveaway

I recently had the chance to review another great Quirk book, Tiny Food Party by Teri Lyn Fisher and Jenny Park (you might know them from one of my favorite food and photography blogs: Spoon Fork Bacon). The book is full of "bite-size recipes for miniature meals" and gorgeous photos to inspire even the most hesitant host or hostess.

We thought the most fitting party for these tiny treats would be Ada's first birthday bash. We had 23 guests, 6 of them were toddlers. (For more party scenes, check out the post on Writing Chapter Three.)

Here's a bit of what we made.

Many of the recipes in the book are vegetarian, like the caprese skewers, potato samosas, and fudge puppies you see above at our party. There are so many dishes to choose from, but I like how the authors provide many sample menus combining different recipes around various themes.

I'd love to throw a desserts-only party sometime with the mini pop-tarts, chocolate-raspberry tarts, homemade hostess cupcakes, funnel cakes, and Boston cream cakes. Or maybe even a dinner party with the mini deep dish pizzas, "onion" rings, mac & cheese bites, and a vegetarian version of the sliders.

There was plenty to choose from for a birthday party. And I know this book will be getting some heavy use in our house for parties to come.


The recipes range from extremely simple (toasting mini waffles and dipping them in chocolate and toppings) to more complex (making from-scratch pie dough, making filling, baking, decorating, etc.). So, they can be appreciated by the novice and advanced cooks alike.

And, who am I kidding? I don't need to throw a party to enjoy these treats. I've made these waffles for dessert several times now.


If you'd like to pour over the tasty treats in Tiny Food Party, Amazon.com has it on a steal for only $12. OR You could take your chances at winning a copy.


How to enter? Simply leave a comment below with the words TINY FOOD and some way to contact you (whether it be a blog address, email, etc.). I'll be choosing three winners at random on Friday, December 14 via some type of online number generator -- since the old one I used is gone.

Thanks to Quirk Books for sending us a copy of the Tiny Food Party cookbook to review so we could throw our own tiny food party and try out bites from the cookbook.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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