30 Day Fermented Foods Challenge – starts March 15, 2014
Welcome to the 30 Day Fermented Foods Challenge!
I have wanted to do this fermented foods challenge for a long time, but not by myself! I need others to hold me accountable and to share recipes and tips with! Are you interested in fermented foods, but not sure how to get started? You are in good company!
But first… Why do a fermented foods challenge?
Fermented foods and beverages are found in every traditional culture in the world. Before the invention of refrigeration and the advent of modern preservatives, fermenting was the only way to store food. Fermentation is the process of good bacterias feeding on the naturally occurring sugars in the foods. The end result is a slightly more sour food or beverage with lots of probiotics and increased vitamin content. In western culture we have replaced fermentation with other methods of food preservation and our health has suffered as a result. To learn more about fermented foods and why they are so essential to life and good health, check out these articles:
Fermented Foods for Natural Gut Health
The Science and History of Culturing Foods
Why You Should Eat More Fermented Foods
Six Reasons Probiotics Boost Your Health
Okay, I am convinced I should do the Fermented Foods Challenge. What’s next?
It’s easy! I have created a Fermented Foods Challenge Facebook group that you can join. The challenge starts on March 15th, 2014 so hopefully that is enough time to gather any supplies or try out any recipes you want to use. The purpose of the Facebook group is to share tips, recipes and keep each other accountable.
Requirements to participate in the fermented foods challenge:
- Must eat (or drink) at least one fermented food (or beverage) per day. More is better, but one a day is the minimum.
- Must share with the group what you ate at least twice a week.
That’s it. Pretty easy, right? If you are worried about what finding or making fermented foods to eat and drink, we will step each other through it. You can ask your questions in the group and we can troubleshoot together! If you are curious what kinds of foods you can include, check out these 25 fermentation recipes, to get an idea. Each week until the challenge starts I will post recipes that are easy for beginning fermenters to make.
Let’s do this!
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DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor and the statements on this blog have not been evaluated by the FDA. Any products or techniques mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. I am just a mom who shares what works for me!
February 14, 2014 @ 5:58 pm
I want to join your facebook challenge. I went to the page and clicked on the join sign but when I check out those who have joined, I’m not on the list. Can you tell me what else I need to do?
February 14, 2014 @ 6:09 pm
Vicki, I just approved your request to join! I chose to manually approve all requests to cut down on spammers trying to join the group! Thanks for your patience and welcome to the challenge!
February 15, 2014 @ 10:09 pm
Hi Kirsten-
This is a fantastic idea! I would love to see the recipes, but I am not on facebook. Do you have any plans to re-post the shared recipes?
Thanks!
Ara
February 16, 2014 @ 4:11 am
Yes, I will be using recipes from my site and gathering recipes from other food and fermenting blogs. Will post as many as possible on here.
February 16, 2014 @ 3:28 am
Hell yes, I am trying to do this now ….. I have learnt how to make kimchi (well one bottle’s worth so far) and hit and miss on the kefir and have managed to keep sourdough starter alive for a few weeks and a few loaves LOL Will love some help with my kefir (both water and milk) and I am not sure my milk one is actually active or alive …. and a bit scared to try it.
Here’s to fermenting 😀 😀
February 16, 2014 @ 4:10 am
Would love to have you join the challenge!
February 17, 2014 @ 10:15 pm
I’m in! Great idea 🙂
February 18, 2014 @ 12:06 am
Great idea! 🙂
February 18, 2014 @ 1:34 am
I need to add more fermented foods to my diet. This challenge will be perfect for me to do.
February 18, 2014 @ 3:22 am
I’m in. We are trying to do this right now anyway.
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February 19, 2014 @ 1:13 am
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February 19, 2014 @ 2:01 pm
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February 22, 2014 @ 9:16 pm
This wouldn’t be much of a challenge for our family, we have kimchi and kombucha on the daily, and ferment any grains that we eat. Good luck everyone, you are going to feel great!
February 22, 2014 @ 9:59 pm
Katie, my family does too. I have often thought it would be fun to do a challenge where everything you ate was fermented. That would be much more challenging… but perhaps not very accessible to beginners, lol!
February 28, 2014 @ 6:46 pm
Sounds like a lot of fun! Eat something fermented or cultured almost daily, but this time of year have gotten lazy. Same old, cabbage crout, yogurt, sour cream . Though I did come up with an awesome beet and fermented red cabbage salad. Might have to join Facebook . Need some motivation !
Nettie
February 28, 2014 @ 10:36 pm
We would love to have you! There are tons of experienced fermenters as well as newbies in the group.
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May 2, 2014 @ 12:52 am
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March 8, 2015 @ 3:05 am
have sent a request to join. I am into fermenting and would love to be part of the 30 days challenge. Thank you.
March 15, 2015 @ 5:24 pm
We will be excited to have you!
April 20, 2015 @ 5:03 pm
You’re ended your challenge and I just made my first fermented sauerkraut on Saturday and Kombucha on Sunday when I came across you on Pinterest today. Are you going to keep the group going??
April 21, 2015 @ 5:58 pm
Yes, the group actually started last year, but we have kept it going because we love it!
February 8, 2016 @ 11:42 pm
How about this year? I’m gearing up for the next challenge for my diet. I’d love to follow this challenge on MyFitnessPal – do you have an account?
February 8, 2016 @ 11:43 pm
How about this year? I’m looking for the next challenge for my diet. I’d love to follow this challenge on MyFitnessPal – do you have an account?
February 9, 2016 @ 1:06 pm
We aren’t running a current one this year.
August 29, 2017 @ 5:49 pm
This is such a great challenge! I think this is a great way to influence people to get those fermented foods into their diet on a daily basis. I hope the challenge went well and many people participated!