by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | Jun 3, 2025 | Cooking Tips
(Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way).
3 Reasons Fermentation is Fun. When we were given the opportunity to review the Fermentation Starter Kit by Fermentools, I was excited. As a Registered Dietitian, I know that probiotics are a healthy addition to your diet. I also knew this would be a great opportunity to give our 15-year-old son another hands-on kitchen experience. What I didn’t know was that this little tool creates a finished product in less than a week.
3 Reasons Fermentation is Fun
1. You get to spend time in the kitchen with your kids.
Our 15-year-old son has autism and is an introvert. As a result, it can be extremely challenging to get him to interact with us—unless it’s his preferred topic, which currently is trains.
When he knows it’s an assignment for school, however, he’s more than willing.
As you can imagine, Fermentools Starter Kit quickly became part of his high school curriculum. 😉
Thus, we all got experience and learned the process of preparing fermented food. Plus, we spent quality education time together.
And all of us learned, including my husband, who’s been cooking for 40 years. Speaking of which, my husband led with the experiments.
And the first thing he said when I asked him what he learned was, “How easy it was.” For example, the process uses very simple ingredients. All that is needed is distilled or spring (non-cholorinated) water, salt, seasoning (which you can choose based on your preference), and the chosen food itself.
Which leads to the 2nd of 3 reasons fermentation is fun.
2. You can ferment virtually anything.
Yes, that's right! We started with what we already had in the refrigerator–carrots.
A few days before we conducted our fermentation experiment, we went to the store and my hubby bought 5 pounds of carrots. The reason for this is that he was searching for yeast so that he could make homemade bread. He went to virtually every grocery store in the area until he found a large supply store that had yeast. While purchasing the yeast, he picked up some carrots. 😉
Since we had so many carrots in stock, we searched online for ideas and decided to ferment some of our carrots. Since my husband and son like garlic so much, they also added garlic. The carrots turned out great. However, I would recommend slicing them because the carrots we used were still crunchy, which I didn't care for. My hubby likes the carrots this way. However, I’m going to give it more time and taste them again. Which reminds me, it states that the longer you ferment the vegetables, the better they will taste. That’s good to know.
I wish I could tell you what my son thought of the taste of the carrots, but he was unwilling to try them. Maybe some day! What I can tell you is that he helped prepare them by cutting up some of the carrots and putting the ingredients in the jar.
My son was fascinated by the process, though! In fact, he kept watching as the bubbles started forming–the very next day, and the day after, and so on.
The bubbles continued to form until the carrots were ready to be put into the refrigerator. It was completely surprising to all of us that the bubbles formed so quickly. It was a surprise to both me and my husband that the final taste included a vinegar flavor. Especially since the jar contained no vinegar!
Everything you need to ferment a food is included in the Fermentools Starter Kit. All you need is a large-mouthed jar and the food/water/herb combination.
During our research, we also discovered that root beer and sarsaparilla, familiar drinks to most, are fermented drinks! We printed a recipe for these two drinks, but haven't tried them yet as they require exotic ingredients such as sassafras. (You can easily find a recipe online for these drinks).
Reason number 3 of 3 reasons why fermentation is fun is:
3. You can teach your family about other cultures.
Plus, you get to try new foods you've never even heard of before!
After we completed the carrots, the next three foods we considered were:
- German Sauerkraut with Bratwurst, Kielbasa, Pork
- Korean Kimchi with (virtually anything you want).
- El Salvadorian Curtido with Puposas
I’m not fond of sauerkraut and I wasn’t sure what we would eat the Kimchi with. Thus, I thought it would be more fun to create Curtido. (I didn’t know what it was called. However, while I was in graduate school, I took a class which introduced me to this unique ethnic food).
When we visited the little “Hole in the Wall” El Salvadorian restaurant in San Bernardino, California, I fell in love with Puposas and the accompanying “slaw” it is traditionally served with. But I never knew the name until now!
This is the Curtido when it was first put into the jar.
So, I chose Curtido because it would be a good excuse to encourage my husband to make Pupusas from scratch. And they turned out delicious! Again, I am amazed that the Curtido tastes like it contains vinegar when it doesn't! The only ingredients included in the Curtido are cabbage, carrots, sweet red peppers, oregano, Malaysian salt, and non-chlorinated water. Yum!
My son and husband enjoyed the puposas, but not so much the Curtido. And again my son wouldn't taste the Curtido. That is fine with me because that means I get it all to myself!
To each his own, they say!
3 Squash, cheese, and green chili puposas and homemade El Salvadorian Curtido.
Don’t forget to check out the Fermentools Starter Kit now. This cool kit not only allows you to quickly ferment your favorite vegetables, but is super simple to use.
And if you grab one before June 30, 2020, you will receive a 15% discount if you use coupon code CREW2020
And don’t forget to read the other reviews by our awesome Homeschool Review Crew members.
by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | May 16, 2025 | Nutrition and Health
You have heard that you need adequate magnesium. However, have you been wondering why? Magnesium is good for what? Keep reading and find out, including a delicious recipe.
Magnesium (Mg) is WAY MORE important than most people realize.
Magnesium is Good for What?
- It is a mineral that is responsible for numerous bodily processes.
- This mineral is the fourth most abundant mineral in our bodies.
- Magnesium is essential for carrying out over 300 reactions within the body.
- Magnesium deficiency can lead to potassium deficiency, an important mineral for healthy heart and fluid balance.
Building block for RNA and DNA synthesis.
- RNA and DNA are the building blocks of life and are important for healthy genes.
- Not enough Magnesium in your diet can lead to increased risk of genetic damage (mutations) in the adult as well as in the unborn.
- This can lead to increased risk of cancer and other diseases, as well as increased risk of birth defects.
Proper transportation of certain nutrients in the body
- This mineral is needed for transport of calcium, silica, vitamin D, vitamin K, and mg.
- So, even if your diet is sufficient in these other nutrients, they won't get to their destination without magnesium.
- This means the bus that takes your kids to school will breakdown on the way if there is not enough magnesium to help run the bus.
Muscle Contraction
- This mineral is important to proper muscle and nerve function.
- Therefore, insufficient magnesium can lead to muscle weakness, fatigue and cramping of the legs
Prevention of Excess Blood Clots
- Magnesium is important to maintain calcium balance in the blood.
- Too little Magnesium can lead to excess calcium in the blood. This could lead to life-threatening blood clots in the lungs.
Strong Bones
- Magnesium is just as important as calcium for strong bones.
- When too little is in the diet, the body will leach out magnesium from the bones in an attempt to function.
- Insufficient magnesium leads to weak bones.
Creating Energy in the Body
Acts as a Precursor to Serotonin
- Serotonin is a neurotransmitter important for many things including mood regulation.
Prevention of Depression
- Proper neurotransmitter function helps prevent depression in susceptible people.
- Necessary to help ensure neurotransmitters are working correctly.
Important for Digestion of Food
- Magnesium is important for the digestion of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in the diet.
Detoxification
- Important mineral in helping the body to rid itself of toxic substances taken into the body.
What are the signs of low magnesium in the body?
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and/or Vomiting
- Fatigue and weakness
- Numbness and/or Tingling
- Muscle contractions and cramps
- Personality changes
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- High blood pressure
- Blood clots
- Headaches
Many more conditions are being treated with magnesium therapy. Here are couple well-written and researched article by trusted sources:
I just ordered the below package of dark chocolate almonds tonight from Amazon.com because I love almonds and dark chocolate. Plus, each serving of these almonds has a whopping 66 mg of magnesium! That is 15% of the US Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for an adult. And it is a really good deal!
These are a new product, and are most likely going to be in the grocery stores soon. They may already be there, in fact.
For further reading, here are my most popular posts:
Diet and ADHD in Kids Part 1
Why a Zinc Deficiency Can Lead to Pickiness
What is Turmeric Good For?
by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | Apr 20, 2025 | Education Materials
(Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way).
Today, I'm going to tell you a bit about an historical adventure my son and I have been reading for the past several weeks. It's a book published by YWAM Publishing and is part of the “Heroes of History” series. We both read the book independently and then came together to discuss it.
The Publisher is YWAM Publishing. “YWAM” stands for “Youth with a Mission.”
Generally speaking, YWAM is an organization with a focus on missions, evangelism, and discipleship. Thus, their books are written primarily with this in mind. Since the person Daniel Boone did not to appear to be openly Christian, this book doesn't have strong Christian themes. However, it is clean, wholesome, and is written as a story, even though it is based on true history.
Needless to say, Daniel Boone was an interesting character, particularly as an adult. For example, once the introductory themes were passed (birth, childhood, etc.), and Daniel started his wilderness adventures, especially as they apply to his contact with the Indians (Native Americans), it became quite suspenseful.
The subject and title of the book is “Daniel Boone – Frontiersman.”
You have probably heard of the name Daniel Boone. However, you may not realize that Daniel Boone was a real person and not just a tall tale. I now understand where the idea of Daniel Boone being a “Tall Tale” came from. The reason why is because of the way the first published book about him was written.
On October 22, 1784, Daniel's 50th birthday, a book was published about his life thus far. The Title was, “The Discovery, Settlement and Present State of Kentucke..To which is added An Appendix, Containing the Adventures of Col. Daniel Boon,” by John Filson. Apparently, though most of the facts in Filson's book were correct, it was written like an “epic myth.” So, people reading the book got the idea that Daniel Boone was the hero who had single-handedly opened up the west.
Obviously reality is often less exciting, though not always. It is true that Daniel Boone had his share of adventure. And it is also true that he was a strong leader and a courageous adventurer. But it is also sadly true that he experienced tremendous hardship and loss as did the settlers (and Indians) around him.
If you've read biographies and stories from 200 years ago, then you already know that people often died too soon.
Daniel and his wife lost all but one of their daughters, and at least two of their sons. Daniel also lost one of his brothers to Small Pox when he was still young. As a result, Daniel raised his nephew.
I've always been disturbed by the lackadaisical attitude that humans had towards animals in the Old West. And this book is no exception.
For example, at one point Daniel mentions that he killed 150 bears in one month for the bear grease. This was the way they survived, but I still find it unsettling. Daniel Boone also discusses the fact that some of his men couldn't resist the temptation to use buffalos for target practice. They would often kill a buffalo for only the tongue or rump and then leave the rest to rot. As a result of this disgusting behavior, after living in one location for a month, they often had to travel for days to find a buffalo.
Reading about this stuff makes me steaming mad.
However, true history is reality. So, like it or not, it's important to know it so that we can learn from it and hopefully not repeat it. This is why these books are so perfect for kids to read. They teach history in an interesting way, while sticking with the facts, whether good or bad.
YWAM Publishing provided us with supporting materials to go with our book as well. As a result,
I have also been giving my son assignments which came with the Daniel Boone book.
Below are a few examples of the work he did. My son is 14 and is on the Autism Spectrum. If you knew him, you would know that he is making great strides in his willingness to write down answers with an actual pencil. The final draft is neater and doesn't have the pictures. Daniel Boone also isn't all marked up.
Rough draft of one of my son's assignments.
Rough draft of timeline. Note that I added the letters to make it easier to write the facts. Though the letters worked really well because they take up less space. My son worked on this Timeline for about a week. He processes very slowly, but he finished! 😀
These are words he was required to look up. I took the words out of the unit study given to me with the book. The page numbers were provided as well. He has done all of the words except the last five and has the definitions written in another Word document.
This the main area where Daniel Boone lived (the white area). I added a couple of the states (pencil) for context. He used blue pen to add the letters in white.
A major highlight of the “Heroes of History” book series is the supplementary material available to complement the books. The supplementary materials provide the teacher and/or parent with numerous ideas to use with students. These materials can be used with homeschooling kids as well as with kids in a classroom.
Another really cool thing is that YWAM Publishing published these awesome “Heroes of History” books but didn't stop there. No!
YWAM Publishing has also published education resources, including outlines, suggestions, and curriculum to go with each of the books in the “Heroes of History” series.
Several style of full unit studies are provided. For example, homeschooling, classroom, and group overviews are provided. These are designed to be directive for any book in the series.
For example, “Using the Heroes of History” to teach US History, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Character Development. Pages of Tables are provided with theme ideas related to each individual book in the series.
These unit studies are excellent tools and will provide hours upon hours of assignment ideas.
In addition, I received a unit study focusing on Daniel Boone alone. This unit study includes numerous activities for every single chapter of the book. An excerpt will illustrate what to expect:
“It provides the schoolteacher and homeschooling parent with ways to use the book as a vehicle for teaching or reinforcing various
curriculum areas, including the following:
-
- History
- Geography
- Essay writing
- Creative writing
- Reading comprehension
- Public speaking
- Drama
- Art”
So, in addition to reading excellent books, your children can study the YWAM Publishing “Heroes of History” books in historical context.
Also, these materials can be used to fulfill language arts curriculum requirements. Also, history, social studies, and character development.
Like I mentioned above, YWAM Publishing has an entire collection of 72 “Heroes of History” books besides Daniel Boone. For example, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Harriet Tubman, Alan Shepherd, Ben Carson, Clara Barton, Louis Zamperini, and more!
YWAM Publishing also has another series titled, “Christian Heroes: Then and Now.” Thus, if you are interested in learning about famous Christians such as C.S. Lewis and Corrie Ten Boom, you need not look further.
And because these books are written for a younger audience, the stories are gentler, making them more appropriate for young kids. (Though it always a good idea to review a book before giving it to your child to read, especially if you have a sensitive child).
There are so many interesting “Heroes of History” books to choose from, I had a hard time choosing just one!
The reason I chose Daniel Boone is because I knew virtually nothing about him and because I thought my son would enjoy learning about him as well. I have a couple of YWAM Publishing books that I previously purchased before my son was born. I have been waiting for the right time for my son. After reading Daniel Boone, I am looking forward to reading the other two books we own. Since we now have the complementary unit studies, we'll be able to do more than just read, which is just SO COOL!
Make sure you visit YWAM Publishing website to see the selection of “Heroes of History” books.
To see what the rest of the Homeschool Review Crew thinks about the “Heroes of History” and “Christian Heroes: Then and Now” series, click the image below.
