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Growing up nourished

Food + Culture

Faith + Family

Homeschool + Real-World Learning

Nutrition + the Body

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Thoughtful ideas for raising kids who understand food, their bodies, their faith, and the world around them. Explore nutrition, homeschool learning, food and culture, family life, and real-world experiences designed to make learning meaningful.

Originally published 2021. Updated September 2026 with current research. If you have made it through Parts 1 and 2 of this series, you may be looking at your glass of water a little differently. We have talked about contaminants that can be present in tap water, including lead, PFAS, fluoride, and disinfection byproducts. We have […]

Originally published 2021. Updated September 2026 with current research on bottled water, microplastics, and nanoplastics. After learning more about what can be present in tap water, one of the most natural responses is: “Fine. I’ll just drink bottled water.” I understand why that feels like the safer option. The bottle is sealed. The label may […]

Plastic bottled water representing microplastic exposure

Originally published 2021. Updated September 2026 with current research and drinking water guidance. Why water quality deserves more attention Water is foundational. We drink it. We cook with it. We make coffee with it. We wash our produce in it. We bathe our children in it. Depending on where you live, you may interact with […]

Hi there! It’s Amy here. In this crazy time of covid, over-sanitization of everything we touch, election stress, homeschooling while working from home, all piled up on top of the normal cold and flu season — our immune systems are taking a hit. But the good news is that there are dietary and lifestyle practices […]

In 2012, approximately 91% of U.S. adults aged 20-64 had dental caries in permanent teeth.1 The number of children needing braces has quadrupled since the 1960’s 2, and it’s now considered a rite of passage to have wisdom teeth pulled. Why are we seeing so much dental decay and overcrowding? Is this something we merely […]

INGREDIENTS 1 lb ground sausage1 medium onion, chopped4 cloves garlic, minced6 cups chicken bone broth2 red or russet potatoes, diced (swap out with cauliflower to make RESTART-compliant)1 bunch of kale, de-stemmed and roughly chopped1 cup coconut milksalt and pepper DIRECTIONS 1.    In a large skillet, brown sausage. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, add the […]

More about Amy

I’m Amy Gonzalez, RD, FNTP, a Registered Dietitian, homeschool mom, and creator of Growing Up Nourished.

I created Growing Up Nourished because I wanted my own children to understand more than nutrition facts. I wanted them to understand their bodies, where food comes from, why our choices matter, and how food connects us to family, faith, culture, and the world around us.

The resources I create are meant to make those conversations easier to bring into everyday life through meaningful lessons, hands-on experiences, shared meals, and learning that feels connected rather than compartmentalized.

Real food.
Thoughtful learning.
Built for real life.

meet amy