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Lovebird AIP Cereal Review & Recipe Round-Up

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Lovebird AIP Cereal AIPRecipeCollectionIf you haven’t heard yet, there’s a new AIP cereal in town! Meet Lovebird Cereal – it’s 100% AIP Elimination Stage Compliant and 100% AMAZING! And 20% of profits go to support childhood cancer research … walk about win-win-win!

This product is a game-changer for anyone with AIP kiddos … like cerealously … what have y’all been giving your AIP toddlers to munch on with Cheerios literally being off the table!?

What a treat to be able to enjoy a deliciously crunchy (and I do mean crunchy!) AIP cereal to your well-balanced AIP breakfast (you can use any of the 4 AIP Milk options on it – click here for more on that)! It’s also the perfect addition as a quick and easy crunchy topping to a healthy green smoothie bowl, or as an anytime snack … zero guilt – it’s a clean and healthy, gut-friendly option. 

Having tried all three, it was a challenge to choose a favorite, but Honey is the winner for me! Cinnamon was a close second when it comes to enjoying it solo, but unsweetened is wonderfully versatile for use as a breading or crunchy topping to casseroles and such – it’s what I use in my AIP Cereal-ously Crispy Baked Chicken Strips – be sure to give them a try!

There are honestly ooodles of amazing AIP recipes that use these yummy AIP “O’s” so I’ve rounded up a bunch of those below! BUT of course you’re going to want a coupon code so you can save on your purchases – am I right!? Use my coupon to save 10% off EVERY ORDER – there’s no expiry! It’s easy to remember – the code is “AIP10”

Special Offer

Save 10% Off Every Order with Coupon Code: AIP
CLICK HERE TO SHOP

About Lovebird

Lovebird has NOTHING to hide – all of the organic, nutrient-dense, whole food ingredients are clearly listed on the front of the package!

♥ Gluten-Free
♥ Dairy-Free
♥ Non-GMO
♥ Sweetened by Nature – No Refined Sugar or Stevia
♥ No “Natural” Flavors
♥ Nothing Fake!
♥ Perfect served with dairy-free milk like coconut milk, banana milk or tigernut milk (or nut milk if you’ve reintroduced them)

Lovebird cereal comes in three flavors – unsweetened, honey and cinnamon – and all are 100% AIP elimination stage compliant! 

Free of inflammatory ingredients and full of gut health boosting nutrition to support your family’s immunity.  In a perfect world, you could eat fresh whole foods but life is busy and sometimes you need some convenient options.  That’s why Parker created Lovebird foods “to clean up junk food”. 

And as if that weren’t enough, Lovebird donates twenty percent (20%) of net profits from the sale of all Lovebird products to nonprofits in support of charitable programming and research in the fight against pediatric cancer. ♥

 

AIPRecipeCollection.com lovebird cereal - apple pie bars

AIP Lovebird Cereal Recipes

My Easy AIP Recipes!

Chocolatey Cookie Clusters – No-Bake – Fast & Easy!
Chewy Apple Pie Cereal Bars
Cereal-ously Crispy Baked Chicken Strips 
Frozen Strawberry Delights

Lovebird AIP Recipe Round-Up:

Banana Cream Pie with Cereal Crust – use coconut oil not ghee
Campfire Banana S’mores – use homemade carob chips not chocolate chips and AIP Marshmallows (10% off Sweet Apricity with Code: AIPCollection) or make your own
Cereal Bars – use homemade carob chips not chocolate chips
Cereal Ice Cream Cake – use tigernut butter unless you’ve reintroduced sunflower seed butter and omit pumpkin seed topping
Chicken Nuggets (Air Fryer or Deep Fried)
Chocolate Cereal S’mores – use coconut oil not ghee, use AIP Marshmallows (10% off Sweet Apricity with Code: AIPCollection) or make your own, use homemade carob bars
Chocolate Covered Cereal Bars – use tigernut butter not almond, use homemade carob chocolate 
Chocolate Crispy Squares – use tigernut butter, homemade carob chips not chocolate chips 
Coconut Matcha Pie
Crispy Cereal Treats – use AIP Marshmallows (10% off Sweet Apricity with Code: AIPCollection) or make your own and homemade carob chips
Crunchy Cookie Cake Cereal Fudge Bars – use coconut oil not ghee, use an homemade AIP Baking Powder blend, use homemade carob chips/bar, use carob not cacao
Donut Cookies
Elivs Butter Jelly Crunch Nice Cream – use tigernut butter 
Graham Crackers
Granola – ensure dried fruits are unsulphured and do not contain non-compliant oils/preservatives/sweeteners
No-Bake Snack Bars – omit seeds, ensure dried fruits are unsulphured and do not contain non-compliant oils/preservatives/sweeteners
No-Bake Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake
No-Rice Crispy Treat “Sushi” – use tigernut butter not nut butter, use carob powder not cacao
Puppy Chow Mix – use tigernut butter and homemade carob chips
Samoa Cereal Bars – use tigernut butter not nut/seed butter, use homemade carob chips/bar
Strawberry Shortcake Puppy Chow

Lovebird Cereal Whole Food Ingredients AIPRecipeCollection.comIngredient FAQs

Cassava – Lovebird uses Organic Cassava Flour NOT grain or tapioca.  Industrialized grains and refined carbohydrates like corn, oats, wheat were clearly off the table because they cause inflammation that can damage the lining of your gut and stress your immune system. 

However, there was a decision of Cassava Root vs. Tapioca.  Cassava is meaningfully better but it’s 33% more expensive than tapioca.  So it’s a decision to use the best ingredient or the cheap ingredient – Lovebird will ALWAYS choose the best. 

Lovebird uses organic cassava because it uses the entire cassava root, meaning it is a whole food flour.  Unlike tapioca flour, cassava flour uses the entire root; so cassava keeps the fiber, protein, starch, vitamins, and minerals that would otherwise be lost in making tapioca flour.  Cassava flour is a good source of prebiotic fiber and is a rich source of nutrients compared to many other starches: vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K, and folate. 

Some have asked about lead levels in the Cassava that Lovebird uses, so we want to assure you that 1) Lovebird tests for heavy metals and as of the time of writing uses Medallion Labs, 2) Lovebird selects suppliers that follow California’s Prop 65 guidelines (which is the leader in the USA) with third-party testing for heavy metals, and as mentioned above is certified USDA organic. They use a specific formula which you can learn more about here.  

Collagen – Lovebird uses grass-fed, pasture-raised collagen to help boost gut health and provide protein.  Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies and holds everything together.  The word collagen literally means “glue” in ancient Greek.  Collagen supplementation has been shown to improve bone, joint, tendon, skin, muscle, and cardiovascular health.  

Given the rise in popularity, not all collagen is created equal. Parker at Lovebird spent a lot of time researching suppliers and questioned their processing techniques to ensure that their collagen was effective and safely processed.  The collagen Lovebird uses is of the best quality and safest processing techniques they could find.  The collagen is from grass-fed and grass finished cows that have eaten nothing but grass and foraged their entire lives.  It is heavy metal tested, pasture-raised, Kosher, hormone free, pesticide free, Non-GMO, antibiotic free, RBGH-RBST free, and does not use any carriers or solvents.

Sweeteners – Lovebird uses nature to lightly sweeten – NOT science.  Honey is an ancient nutrient-rich superfood with healing properties.  Honey has anti-diabetic effects that help control blood sugar, antimicrobial properties that help kill bad bacteria, prebiotic properties that help boost gut health, and cardiovascular benefits that help reduce blood pressure.  You may walk around grocery stores and see claims of “made with real honey” don’t fall for that marketing “trick”.  In fact, products only need a very small amount of honey to use that claim.  When you check the ingredient label, you will find a whole gang of “sweeteners” that are actually driven the sweetness such as refined sugar, “natural” flavors, and natural/artificial high potency sweeteners. 

Refined sugars and artificial sweeteners drive inflammation and wreak havoc on your health making it easy to avoid using in the recipe.  However, “natural” flavors and “natural” high potency sweeteners sound innocent – right?  Not exactly and they are often FAR from “natural”.

Natural flavors are defined “as those that derive their aroma or flavor chemicals from plant or animal sources that are manipulated in a lab.  In short, they are engineered to not just replicate those “aromas or flavors” but amplify those sensations to trick your body to eat more.  Legally, a “natural” flavor can contain up to 20 different ingredients/chemicals/stuff.  Nobody really knows what’s in these “lab manipulated” chemistry experiments.

High potency sweeteners such as Stevia and Monkfruit are certainly better than refined sugar – BUT – Lovebird avoids them because they are a “trick”:

  1. Designed to trick your body: our bodies are not designed to handle calorie-free sweeteners.  Experiencing a sweet taste from a food that is not going to provide glucose disrupts our body’s sugar-handling process and damages our health.
  2. Created in laboratories: Lovebird prefers chef aprons to science lab coats.  Stevia/Monkfruit can contain many other ingredients to boost sweetness and fuel cravings.  
  3. Can cause digestive discomfort:  it’s very easy to consume too much given that it’s designed to trigger cravings but not satisfy them which can cause bloating and diarrhea.
  4. No real research on their effects: all of the above combined with limited to no research on the negative effects of Stevia causes Lovebird to stay away.
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Araza Natural Beauty – Product Review

This post contains affiliate links.  Click here to see what that means.

By now you know that the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) is about much more than food, it’s a lifestyle, a shift to a healthy, holistic way of living which includes ditching the toxins from our lives and using quality, non-toxic clean beauty products, like Araza Natural Beauty.

For as long as I can remember skin care has been an important part of daily life. My older sister suffers from a rare skin condition that she’s had from birth, so my mom was pretty proactive to make sure her three girls used quality skincare products.

Unfortunately, when it came to makeup, we were pretty much left to our own devices, and if we wanted to wear it we bought it ourselves. During my mid to late teen years and then into my 20’s and 30’s my skin got worse because I didn’t make good choices. I used low-quality, toxic, cheap makeup from the drug store and it became a vicious cycle of make-up, clean-up, cover-up, make-up and start all over again – every day! It makes me cringe to think about all of the garbage I slathered on my lips every day (the thinnest, most vulnerable skin on our bodies)!  Even before I started wearing makeup, I was all about the flavored, scented lip balms and gooey lip glosses.

For a LOT of years I was slowly poisoning my body. I wasn’t nourishing my skin from the outside or the inside. Cystic acne came cyclically – it was embarrassing and painful and I wish I had been in tune enough with my body to start looking into root causes back then, because going gluten and dairy free really turned things around for me.

Fast forward to when my health took a major crash and I finally got it through my head that I had to get serious about the toxins in my life!

Clean beauty products for me was a tougher aspect of the AIP to tackle. We keep to a pretty strict budget, so I’ve never been one to spend a lot of money on myself for frivolous things, and having never paid a lot for makeup it was a bit of a shock to see what quality costs. But, in the end I knew it had to be done – it’s important to address ALL the areas of the AIP lifestyle in order to see real results.

Unfortunately, not all clean beauty is created equal – some claim to be clean but aren’t, some measure up on the ingredient list but fall down on performance. Today I’m thrilled to share with you a product line that delivers on all fronts – meet Araza Natural Beauty, the World’s First Paleo Certified Makeup!

Araza makeup follows similar guidelines to that of the Paleo Diet, meaning it’s strictly tested and certified to be free from legumes, dairy, gluten, grains and anything artificial and harmful.

Araza products are crafted with healthy fats, organic plant-based ingredients, and minerals which work together to feed and nourish your skin. 

The Araza Fruit grows in the jungles of the Amazon and boasts some pretty impressive skin loving benefits; like reversing the visible signs of aging and boosting collagen production. It’s highly regarded for its nutraceutical properties like a high polyphenol, carotenoid and Vitamin C content.

Instead of conventional makeup ingredients, which contain everything from endocrine-disrupting chemicals to toxic pigments, Araza’s makeup line allows you to play with modern, fun color while feeding and nourishing your skin.

Araza ingredients are 100% natural, ethically sourced and most are Certified Organic and non-GMO.

 

 

A Special Offer!

As an Araza Ambassador, I’m pleased to provide you with an exclusive offer from my partners – woohoo! 

SAVE 15% off your first order
Coupon Code: AIP15 – click here to shop!

 

Product Performance:

I want to share my personal experience with just a few of Araza’s products, but first I want to tell you that you shouldn’t fret about choosing the right colors (which is always a worry no matter if you shop in person or online).

Araza offers fantastic sample sizes for purchase so you can properly test before committing to a full-size product, and I was thrilled with the help they provided in selecting just the right shades for my skin tone. If you’re struggling to know which is best, reach out to Araza directly and leave it to the experts, they did a fantastic job and matched my skin precisely.  

Now … on to the review!

All In One Coconut Cream Foundation – I LOVE THIS STUFF! “It’s Skincare + Makeup. A light-weight foundation that offers sheer to medium coverage depending on application. Similar to a bb cream with slightly more coverage.” When I first received my order and looked at it I thought it was going to be heavy and oily and thought there was NO WAY it would stand up to a super active day or be enough coverage for me … I was wrong! It really is light-weight, it feels like you have no makeup on, it’s natural looking providing enough coverage without looking too “made-up,” and it lasts all day! 

I’m not one for selfies, but here I am in my less than 5 min Araza face.

Primer + Finishing Translucent Clay Powder – Since I have had oily to combination skin all my life, I’ve always worn a liquid foundation PLUS a translucent finishing powder to set my foundation. Araza’s clay powder is very fine and very light in color, so it doesn’t work for me like my old products – but it’s even better! Since it’s a primer, I very lightly dust my face with a tiny bit of it before I apply my All In One Coconut Cream Foundation. THEN, over my T-zone I very lightly apply a tiny amount of powder with a big fluffy brush, just as you’d powder your nose – this off-sets the lovely dewy appearance provided by the foundation and eliminates any look of shine – it’s perfect!

Fresh Mineral Cheek Color – While I was skeptical about this loose powder blush, I have to say it performs! In my old makeup I’d end up totally washed out by the end of day, but Araza’s fresh earth pigments look natural and the color stays. I was concerned about spilling the product, but it comes with a perfect little powder dispenser so you can shake the container to dispense a small amount into the container for your brush. 

Sweet Mint Healthy Lip Balm – Okay, what’s there to get excited about? … it’s just lip balm after all! Well, for me, I have developed an EXTREME sensitivity to products I put on my lips ever since I had a severe allergic reaction to lanolin of all things (yes, we’re talking swollen lips like the worst bo-tox job you’d ever seen) and then just about every lip balm since (even quality ones) have caused problems, so I was super excited to try Araza! I’m so happy to report that this lip balm is perfect for me … no issues at all! I love the sturdy lipstick style packaging that holds up better in pockets. It has a slight fragrance and is smooth, not waxy or oily on application. My lips thank you Araza!

Rejuvenating Coconut Lip Color – “A lip-smacking hybrid somewhere between a gloss and a lipstick ~ Creamy and never sticky!” Again … I LOVE THIS STUFF! I haven’t tried any darker colors yet so I can’t speak to how the deeper colors last but I’m all about the Sugar Poppy .. it’s the perfect, subtle peachy pink shade that wears more like a hydrating lip balm than a lipstick (as I’ve aged, I tend to like a more muted shade on my lips),.

Citrus Illuminating Raw Beauty Oil – Having struggled with oily, blemish-prone skin for many years I am always hesitant to use oils on my skin and have tended to lean toward moisturizing creams and lotions instead. That said, this girl turned the big five-oh last year and I’ve welcomed the addition of healing, nutritive oils like this one. This smells AMAZING, feeds and nourishes my skin and doesn’t block pores.

Araza Gives Back!

Not only are their products amazing, so are their hearts! ♥
Araza gives back by donating 1% of their profits to help victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence recover and heal via The Jonah Project.

They also give back to our environment by using sustainable packaging options and they offer a recycling program for 6 of their product types which are typically not recyclable. Learn more about Araza’s Recycling Program, what’s eligible and what you get in return when you send in your empty product containers – just click here. 

Don’t Forget Your Discount …

SAVE 15% off your first order with Coupon Code: AIP15 – click here to shop!

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Serenity Kids Product Review

I’m really excited to introduce you to an awesome product – Serenity Kids – nutrient dense baby food pouches that are AIP elimination stage compliant (with the exception of a couple of flavors). Now, if you know me, you know I don’t have kids … so you might be wondering why am I so enthusiastic about this product!?
 
First of all, I’ll tell you I keep referring to them as Serenity FOODS instead of Serenity KIDS, because while they were initially created for babies and kids, they’re actually suitable for EVERYONE! I’ll tell you more about that, including why Serenity and these adorable food pouches resonate with me personally (keep reading to find out) … but first let me share a little about the Serenity Kids and their line up of products!
 
  • Nutrient Dense, Simple Ingredients
  • Ethically Sourced Pastured Meats
  • Sustainable Organic, Non-GMO Vegetables
  • Healthy Fats
  • NEW Line with Gut Friendly Bone Broth! (turmeric chicken is elimination stage – others are reintros)
  • Low, Low Sugar Content
  • AIP Compliant (only a couple of their flavors are not elimination stage compliant)
  • Shelf-stable BPA-Free Pouches (recyclable lids and a free RECYCLABLE POUCH PROGRAM since most city recycling programs don’t accept them)
  • Winners of the Clean Label Project Purity Award – Kind of a BIG deal!
  • In addition to making babies healthier, they’re committed to leaving them a healthier planet

Serenity Kids Product Review, Serenity Kids Organic Baby Food, Paleo, AIP, AIPRecipeCollection.com

Learn More About Serenity:

I encourage you to take a moment to visit their website where you’ll quickly learn about the nutrition behind their products, where they source their ingredients, their environmentally focused mission and how they’re giving back.

Special Offer!

🧡  15% Off 1st Order with Code: AIPRECIPES
🧡  Click Here to Shop at MySerenityKids.com
🧡  FREE Shipping on orders over $35
 
 

Why Serenity “Kids” is for Everyone!

First of all, they’re an extremely convenient way to carry a healthy, nutrient dense snack with you (they’re meant to be consumed at room temperature but you could warm them a little by immersing the pouch in a cup of hot water if you prefer). 
For adults – Really? Yes – absolutely! Check out the nutritional value on these products … their simple ingredients make them perfect for AIPers (think grab-n-go breakfast, snacks, if you’re in hospital or dealing with medical procedures), backpacking, camping, road-tripping, camping and get this – even dogs can use ’em (my dog eats a whole food, homemade diet and would wrestle me for these)! And, since they’re shelf-stable for up to 18 months, you can easily stock up so you have them on hand when you need them.
 

Why Serenity Resonates With Me

When I first started researching Serenity I was extremely excited by the possibilities for adults! Why? Because the first autoimmune disorder I was diagnosed with was Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis (EGE/EGID) – a rare inflammatory disease that effects the entire digestive system, starting at the esophagus all the way through the colon and intestines. (A similar condition, Eosinophilic Esophagitis or EOE for short, a disease of the esophagus also exists and is most often diagnosed in children.)
 
What’s so scary about EGE/EGID/EOE?  1) You very often can’t swallow food without extreme pain, panic or choking which can lead to extreme food fears, 2) This often leads to extreme malnutrition and/or is accompanied by nutrient absorption issues, and 3) Traditional medical treatment protocols include liquid steroid concoctions and can involve horrific liquid or elemental diets containing synthetic vitamins or in some cases tube feeding!
 
After being hospitalized a number of times and finally receiving my diagnosis I was completely depleted. I had ZERO energy to prepare foods and was extremely malnourished (massive hair loss, all of my fingernails and toenails fell off, an abrupt 40lb weight loss, incredible rashes and more). The smell of food prep created extreme nausea and vomiting and the stress and anxiety of simply sitting down to try to eat brought me to tears before I even began. I soooo wish I’d known about Serenity Foods back then – it definitely would have made life a lot easier.
 
I’m thrilled to say that the AIP has helped improve my condition tremendously, and I’m no longer in a position to need a product like this for meals, but I will tell you that these are amazing to keep on hand when you’re needing a nutritious snack on the go. They’re perfectly tasty at room temperature, but I personally prefer them heated – simply immerse a pouch in a cup of hot water for a few minutes and you’re good to go. (You can read more testimonials, and how Serenity is helping adults and kids alike on their blog – click here)
 
Before I wrap up, I want to suggest one final demographic that also resonates with me for this product – the elderly. All too often older ones fall into the horrible belief that meal replacement shakes are great, fast options to give them all the nutrients they need when they’re too tired or don’t feel like cooking for themselves … because after-all the labels tout how many “wonderful” vitamins they contain and the doctors recommend them! YIKES! I won’t get into the details about these products, but rest-assured that we did a TON of research on them and their contents when the doctors handed me my diagnosis and a six-pack of these things and tried to tell me that I might have to rely heavily on them. (If you don’t believe me about these meal replacement shakes, feel free to do a little digging on the internet about them if you like – and read this cancer patient’s blog, it’s staggering and will stick with you.) Now, I’m not recommending that Serenity Kids is going to replace every-day adult meals, but they can certainly be used in confidently as nutrient-dense snacks or the occasional meal replacement.
 
Disclaimer: Serenity Kids was kind enough to provide me with samples of their product. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 
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Why Choose Pique Tea

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Your Secret Weapon for Gut Health – Pique Tea Crystals

If you haven’t heard of Pique yet, or you’re a little confused about why I’d consider promoting tea while for those on the AIP, allow me to explain.

  • First of all, black and green tea (read my post about Matcha vs. green tea here on the blog) are allowed in moderation during the initial elimination stage of the Autoimmune Protocol
  • Secondly, finding quality beverage options on the AIP can be a challenge. Sure we may find some good herbal, green or black tea options on the market, but often times they’re not as pure as we might think. Some are laden with pesticides, toxins and artificial flavors, additives and even gluten!
  • Pique Tea crystals are free of sugar, grains, dairy, gluten, artificial additives and fillers.
  • Pique Tea is TOP QUALITY and TRIPLE TOXIN SCREENED for pesticides, heavy metals and mold (all things that those with autoimmune disorders have to watch out for)!  Pique Tea contains TWELVE TIMES the antioxidants of regular tea in tea bags … that means WAY more healing power!

Gut Health:

When it comes to autoimmune disease, you’ve likely heard it over and over again that immunity starts in the gut, and without a healthy gut, it’s pretty much impossible to start healing.

Your gut contains over 100 trillion bacteria that play a vital role in your overall health. It controls 80% of your immune system, mood, metabolism and more.

Since we’re trying to heal our gut, it won’t surprise you to hear me say that Quality Matters – not just of the tea itself, but in the delivery method – so you’re not going to want to drink just any old tea!

Did you know that a recent study found that those silky, fancier-looking tea bags/sachets release approximately 11.6 billion microplastics in a single cup of tea!  Crazy, right!? How about paper tea bags? Well, they can be a problem too because of the chemicals used to keep them from breaking apart (aka glue). 

Pique checks all the boxes again – no bags, just powders!

Recommendations:

Not only have I done my own research about Pique Tea and tried it myself (BTW, it’s delicious and so convenient – soluble in hot or cold water, no bags, no loose tea and tea ball messes – just convenient single serving completely dissolvable tea crystals in packages you can take with you anywhere!), I HIGHLY trust the opinion and advice of Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, The Paleo Mom who’s the expert behind the science of the AIP. She has this to say about Pique Tea:

“There’s emerging evidence that tea polyphenols can improve your gut microbiome by supporting the growth of probiotic strains like Lactobacillus and suppressing the growth of pathogenic bacteria like C. difficile, even reversing obesity-related changes in the microbiome caused by high-fat diets!

But, not all teas are created equal – Pique Tea delivers up to 12X the antioxidants of regular teas and are also triple toxin screened! That’s why I am absolutely in love with the superior quality and taste of Pique Tea!”

You Get What You Pay For:

As you might expect, top quality tea with this kind of healing power doesn’t come at bargain brand prices, but you can save with bundles, collections and purchases of 5 boxes or more.

Important Note:  Not all Pique tea varieties are suitable for the AIP Elimination Stage (and Pique is continually adding new products), so keep an eye on this – stick to herbal offerings: things like Mint, Ginger, Hibiscus, Oolong and Rooibos  and watch out for adaptogens like Chaga, Reishi and fermented teas to name a few (these might not be right for you during eliminations, but they’re great options to add as you reintroduce more foods and beverages back into your life).

Learn more about our affiliates at Pique Tea on their website – click here – and read additional testimonials from the health experts. 

Your Health Is Worth It!

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Paleo On The Go – AIP Meals Delivered

This post contains affiliate links.  Click here to see what that means.

From Farm to Chef to Your Doorstep!

Paleo on the Go is a delicious frozen meal delivery service specializing in chef-made meals that cater to those following the AIP diet … Real AIP Food – Delivered!

They’re more than just a company that makes food. They help people heal and thrive when their lifestyle doesn’t allow for them to cook everyday. Their founder’s own health issues were the catalyst for this company. They’re the real deal.

They blend the Farm-to-Table movement with the convenience movement (think Amazon for real food). This is a service that is revolutionizing the real-food and AIP/Paleo movement. They truly are farm to doorstep.

Paleo on the Go seeks to support all of the foundations of health: nutrition, sleep, good digestion, exercise, and community in order to help people enjoy a healthier and more productive life.

Everything they offer is made with high-quality ingredients and they even tell you where they source their ingredients!

  • Certified Gluten & Grain Free
  • GMO Free
  • Nut Free
  • Soy Free
  • Dairy Free
  • Grass Fed Meats
  • Organic Produce
  • Quality AIP Ingredients

Lots of AIP-ers use Paleo On The Go whenever they go on vacation (so they actually get a break from cooking), and they’re great to keep a few on hand in the freezer for emergencies, or when you’re just too tired to cook.

Paleo On The Go makes a great gift for a loved one that might be ill … or yourself … so don’t be afraid to drop some hints.  I find lots of folks want to help but don’t know how!  Paleo On The Go will let them help without worrying how to cook for you.

Visit the Paleo On The Go Website with this link and use discount code “AIPRecipes” to save $15 off your first order.
Save even more when you purchase bundles and more again when you sign up for a monthly subscription (10% off your first monthly subscription and 5% off every month after that – PLUS subscribers get free gifts each month related to our AIP lifestyle!)

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This App Could Save Your AIP Sanity

This post contains affiliate links.  Click here to see what that means.

Nothing can de-rail a dietary plan faster than not having a plan at all!  If you’re like me, I tend to procrastinate about cooking and prepping meals, so I often get caught short of ingredients or inspiration.

If you’re on the AIP and struggling because you pretty much have to plan and prepare every single meal you consume then the Real Plans app just might save your sanity!

RealPlans is the perfect partner on the AIP, a great source of recipes and a great way to store your personal favorites (from my searchable AIP Recipe Collection Facebook group, this blog or old family favorites you’ve modified)!  It’s actually the ONLY app that caters specifically to the AIP.

You’ll hear me say it over and over again:
“Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail!”

_______________________

RealPlans is NOT Your Average Meal Planner!

THE OVERVIEW:
  • It’s perfectly tailored to meet the needs of those on the AIP (gluten free, dairy free, nut free, grain free, egg free, soy free, refined sugar free and nightshade free) and even ACCOMMODATES ADDITIONAL FOOD SENSITIVITIES or family preferences – it shows you ONLY the recipes you should have! (It can be especially helpful if you’re avoiding FODMAPs, coconut or are having to consider macronutrients).
  • It’s completely ADAPTABLE AS YOU PROGRESS FROM ELIMINATION STAGE THROUGH REINTRODUCTIONS as you add individual ingredients back in.
  • It does all the math for you – tell it how many you’re cooking for and it adjusts!
  • LEFTOVER LOGIC & SCHEDULING LOGIC are new for 2020 – makes a provision for using leftovers for other meals (if you wish) and when/how you want to use them (e.g. – left over dinner for lunch), batch cooking days, big cooking (that’s what I like to call it) where you make additional portions for the freezer.
  • COOK ONCE eat often! Since the app asks you how many times you want to cook, it helps you formulate a batch-cooking plan to best utilize your time.
  • Gives you the option for SEASONAL RECIPES so you can eat what’s in season to you locally which SAVES YOU MONEY!
  • THE ONLY SHOPPING LIST YOU’LL NEED! Not only is it a smart list which shows you which recipe the ingredient is for when you hover over the item (helpful if you can’t find an item and need to considering omitting it), you can use it for everything since it allows you to add additional household items and provides the option of multiple lists for different stores.
  • BULK SHOPPING – the shopping lists allow you to customize the date range you’re shopping for – perfect if you’re going on vacation, or planning for emergency situations.
  • Due to the COVID-10/Corona Virus pandemic many have LIMITED SUPPLIES – so, they added a feature allowing you to search for recipes based on the number of ingredients so you can locate simple recipes quickly AND a new feature called PANTRY which allows you to meal plan based on what you already have in your house – it’s genius! (See more features below that will help you during the pandemic or any emergency that leaves you short of supplies).
  • There are OVER 300 AIP RECIPES in the regular plan and add-on options that open up the recipe world even further – you’ll never run out of options!
  • You can use it to IMPORT RECIPES you find here in the group & have the app incorporate them in your meal plan.
  • You can UPLOAD FAMILY FAVORITES or recipes from cookbooks you have if you take the time.
  • It has a TIMELINE for REMINDERS WHEN TO THAW INGREDIENTS, optional emails and so much MORE!
  • It’s truly the ULTIMATE APP FOR THE AIP!!

For my full review of the app and for information on using the app in cases of emergency where food supplies may be limited (like hurricanes, power outages and even COVID-19), please see below.

Subscription Options:

GRAB a Subscription:
Purchasing for yourself – sign up here

GIVE a Subscription:
Purchasing for someone you love – send a gift here

STILL not Sure?
RealPlans offers a 10-day money back guarantee – there’s really no risk!

FEELING A LITTLE CHEEKY?
Share this post to social media with a little extra attention placed on that “GIVE” a subscription link as a subtle hint of what your loved ones could get you for Valentines Day … or your birthday … Mother’s Day …. Father’s Day …. or JUST BECAUSE you’re AWESOME Day!

Wishing you all much healing … and I hope you love this app as much as I do! 

_______________________

My Full Review of RealPlans

I first saw information about RealPlans MONTHS ago, and I ignored it, figured I didn’t need help with recipes and meal planning, I was doing just fine … “I’ve got this” … or so I thought!

That said … I was an idiot!  I wish I’d jumped on RealPlans as soon as I saw it, and I certainly wish it was around when I first started on AIP! OMG … It’s AWESOME!

Who’s the App For?

Whether you’re a novice AIPer or a seasoned veteran, this app is for you! First of all though, let me say, I’m not into apps and gadgets, so for me to get excited about this, that’s really saying something.

So, what is it? Just another fancy app that you’ll look at a few times and never go back to? HECK NO! You’ll use it every day!

RealPlans is a Meal Planning app that was created with specialty diets like the AIP in mind but it’s really suitable for everyone no matter what dietary plan you’re following. For AIP and anyone with food allergies or sensitivities this is the best thing since sliced AIP plantain bread!

What Is It?

RealPlans is a specialized app that can be used on your computer, mobile device or both (I utilize it on both – some set up needs to be done on the computer so keep that in mind), it helps you plan your AIP meals (it’ll even tell you when to get those frozen goods out of the freezer so you’re ready to get cooking according to your plan), provides recipes, allows you to make more when you want left-overs and creates shopping lists to help you get the job done with ease!

Not interested because you already use a grocery list app? No worries – this app will allow you to add ANYTHING to your grocery list, and it’ll even set up more than one list, allowing you to decide which store to purchase items at.

How Does It Work?

 

 

This is a subscription app, and it’s available by the month, quarterly or annually (of course you save more by committing to quarterly or monthly subscriptions) AND there’s a money-back guarantee, so you can’t lose!

Once you sign up you can either go it alone or enlist the help of the experts (their customer service is excellent!) which makes the app perfect for everyone, regardless of your techno-savvy or lack there of.

  1. You tell the app who you are – how many people are in your family, where you shop (so it can set up your grocery lists), what unit of measurement you want your recipes to appear in (imperial or metric), which gadgets you use … like the instant pot or slow cooker.
  2. You tell it what you like to eat, so in our case you’d select our specialty diet – AIP – it then automatically eliminates the top 8 food allergen groups from the options. IMPORTANT: The app allows for ALL stages of the AIP diet, from Elimination through Reintroduction, and allows you to easily add individual foods back into your diet or whole food groups. The app is also customizable for folks that are on Paleo, Whole30, GAPS or Keto, or maybe just vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten free or dairy free and even traditional diets … so keep it in mind … it makes a great gift for anyone that needs help planning meals!  UPDATE:  They’ve even added macro tracking for those that need or want that … these guys think of everything and welcome customer feedback to help make their product better!
  3. You then customize your food selections by telling it what additional foods you need to avoid … you can exclude additional groups of food or individual food items, so for me I excluded all variations of pineapple since I’m allergic.
  4. Tell the app which meals you REALISTICALLY plan to prepare (you make your selections with the use of easy slider buttons) … we’re not superheros folks, so count on those cherished left overs (UPDATE FOR 2020 – they’ve added a feature for scheduling left overs and which meals you want to make extra portions of for this reason), schedule days off if you’re visiting friends or family or eating out, and tell the app how much work you want to do … it’ll figure out the rest. You can even ask it to only show you recipes that take under 30 minutes to make!
  5. Once the app populates your calendar with recipes (all of which are recipes YOU CAN EAT … it’ll never show you something that you shouldn’t have – talk about a fail safe … especially for newbies on the AIP!) you can go about customizing it to suit your family’s needs. Do your kiddos insist on Taco Tuesday? It can do that! Just drag and drop recipes, add items here and there, it’s amazing!
  6. Want to use recipes you’ve collected from our Facebook Group, or an old family favorite … yup … it can do that too! It’ll even allow you to customize the existing recipes from the app to your personal taste – you can edit the recipes to your preference! The sky is quite literally the limit with this amazing app, and the recipe box is amazing!
  7. Want even MORE recipes that you don’t need to go searching for or import? You can upgrade your app and purchase a recipe package from some of the big names in the AIP community, like The Paleo Mom, Meatified, Nom Nom Paleo and the Autoimmune Wellness girls. SCORE!  Life just got easier again!
  8. Once you’re done planning your recipes for the week, the app populates a shopping list and you’re ready to hit the ground running! You can even edit your shopping list to add things not in the meal plan (like tooth paste and toilet paper). As I mentioned earlier, you can add more than one store that you shop at, and indicate where you want to purchase various items, which makes life a breeze once you get to the shops.

Initially there’s a bit of set up with the app (you can even tell it what type of pantry items to leave off of your grocery list, like spices and condiments), but once you’ve got it customized to your liking, you’re golden! Did I mention you can even tell it you want to have the same recipes in weekly rotation? A great feature since I know a lot of us like consistency in our routines.

Having a dinner party – no worries, it allows for that and you can adjust the serving sizes of any recipe at any time! It’s like magic!

Once you sign up, you’ll get several emails from RealPlans in the days ahead … it’s NOT SPAM … the emails are super useful and will help you get the most out of the app with tips and instructional videos.

So – that’s my review of RealPlans! In case you hadn’t guessed, I highly recommend this for anyone struggling to keep up with AIP meal planning, for those who don’t have time to keep looking for recipes … and especially for newbies … what an AMAZING tool to help you keep to your AIP goals! If you use the app, it won’t let you eat something you shouldn’t (though you do still need to watch the labels on ingredients).

There’s seriously so much to this app I can’t cover every last feature … you really need to jump in and get your feet wet … it’s extremely useful, and trust me, I’m not one to suggest spending money on things frivolously!

I find there’s always a holiday or special day right around the corner, so why not show yourself a little self-care and give yourself this amazing gift!

In Case of Emergency:

Important TIPS:  In light of the COVID-19 outbreak (or any state of emergency that leaves you short on supplies – think tropical storms and hurricanes folks) and concerns over grocery shopping, limited supplies and meal prep, consider some general tips and ways you can use RealPlans to help you SHOP SMART!

1. Freezer meals are the perfect plan to make fresh ingredients last longer.
2. Meal planning helps you to shop smart and stick to your healthy eating.
3. Use the RealPlans for inspiration or clear the plan and be inspired by the recipe box.
4. Use the filters in the recipe box to find great meals that you can freeze, or batch cook for leftovers.
5. Modify recipes to cater to what is left in the stores (or your house).
6. RealPlans has adapted their app to allow you to search recipes by the number of ingredients – a great feature when supplies are running low.
7. The new pantry feature will help you find recipes based on what you have on hand!
8. Add additional items to the shopping list to make it fit for your real life (paper goods, trash bags, etc).
9. Use the shopping list to shop for more than one week if needed to prepare for any necessary isolation.

Looking for a little encouragement dealing with COVID-19 and the AIP – Click here to read my encouragement post.
Want more tips for emergency planning for a specialty diet? Click here.