On Health.

I have learned so much about the health of our family these last 4 days. I don't want to spend a lot of time diving into it here but the biggest bit of information is this: after having Ivy tested by a Naturopathic Practitioner, we now know her chronic stomach aches are largely caused by a sensitivity to food additives. Artificial flavor, natural flavor, preservatives, food color and dye, artificial sweeteners and enhancers. Yep. And so it turns out finding packaged food that doesn't contain food additives is challenging. Not impossible but time consuming and more expensive to be sure. She is on board to change the way we eat, and Tim and I have decided that in order to be supportive, we are all going to say goodbye to food additives and create a healthier nutritional environment here at The Hut.

 

There is no dip Ivy loves more than ketchup and ketchup is laden with food additives. And so knowing that taking ketchup away from Ivy is like taking away the joy of eating, I asked my friend Tara for the homemade Ketchup recipe she uses. We had it on meatloaf tonight for dinner, Ivy loved it. And so here is the recipe if you'd like to give it a go.

 

Ketchup

6 oz. can of tomato paste

1/4 cup of honey

1/2 cup of vinegar (I used apple cider vinegar)

1/4 cup of water

1 tsp salt

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

 

Mix all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat until combined. 

Cool ketchup in refrigerator before serving.