I received these products from LuckyVitamin.com for review in my Clean Eating Pantry series; all opinions are my own.
Today I’m starting a new feature, “What ‘s in my My Clean Eating Pantry?” Every few weeks, you get to take a look at what’s in my kitchen – the foods we cook with on a regular basis – so you can get an idea of what to cook with for your own family as you strive to clean their meals.
Feeding kids on a diet that is gluten/dairy/soy free, is certified nonGMO and/or USDA organic, free of junk like artificial dyes and MSG, and that tastes good – to a kid’s palette – is NO JOKE. This really true if your children prefer foods with lots of flavor or kick.
Not only that, but naturally you want to maximize the nutrition on their plate: veggies or fruit and seasonings or sauces that are good for them. I always advocate for quick stir fries with meat, veggies and sauce served over rice, pasta or squash.
Easy and nutritious.
And of course, the firs thing you think of what you hear “stir fry” is homemade Chinese food. In fact, I love this kind of meal because it’s easy to make, everyone enjoys it, it’s loaded with hearty nutrition and it creates leftovers that are even better the next day.
The problem is the base ingredient of so many great Chinese dishes is soy sauce and, contrary to popular opinion, it is my firm belief that soy is not healthy for you. In fact, it can be dangerous.
The Dangers of Soy
I was first alerted to the problems of soy when I read “The Unhealthy Truth” by Robyn O’Brien. Not only does she connect genetically engineered soy with the rise in allergies (even peanut allergies), she also enlightened me about the havoc soy can play on your hormones. Back in 1998, two FDA officials actually raised concerns over an “abundance of evidence” linking soy to problems in “estrogen-sensitive tissues.” Soy contains isoflavones, a micronutrient, which can be good for you – or it can have consequences as it boosts estrogen levels, and high estrogen levels have been associated with cancer.
O’Brien also writes that soy can additionally block our absorption of essential minerals, because it contains high levels of phytic acid, an enzyme inhibitor which blocks that absorption.
Coconut Secret writes soy also contains goitrogens, which are compounds that inhibit the thyroid’s ability to use iodine properly. This will be particularly draining on anyone who is hypothyroid.
Soy is also often grown with gluten-containing crop, so you cannot be sure unless it’s certified that it is gluten free, and it’s highly likely to be a GMO crop here in the U.S., unless it’s labeled Non-GMO Project Verified or USDA Organic.
And finally, soy is also on the list of top 8 allergens in the U.S., so if you are raising a child with disorders that are frequently comorbid with allergies or food sensitivities, like autism or Down syndrome, you’ll also want to avoid soy. Learn more at
I have firsthand experience in dealing with the troubles that soy can bring.. A few years ago I tested out my kids’ reaction to soy after they had been off it a while. I made chicken with a Non-GMO Project Verified soy sauce brand for my daughter. Her aggressive behaviors last 3 long days. I’m not kidding – I felt like I had to peel her off the ceiling. We don’t allow soy into our home since then and to this day, have not seen that reaction again.
Food is powerful!
Clean Eating Pantry Recommendation: Replace Soy Sauce with Coconut Secret
If you LOVE Chinese food but you are wary of soy or your kids are allergic or reactive to it, you know how difficult it is to give up soy sauce. Unfortunately, chicken, broccoli and soy sauce over rice was one of our most popular go-to dinners, especially on a busy night. And what kid doesn’t love Chinese food? Is there a substitute. Turns out there is, and it is good for you, as long as you don’t have a coconut allergy. It’s called coconut aminos and it’s a staple in my pantry.
For years, I had heard of coconut aminos but finding it was a challenge. The few places I did find them had them had exorbitant pricing for this amazing sauce but fortunately, I have found a place where I can stock up on one of my favorite brands: Coconut Secret at LuckyVitamin.com.
That’s why I was thrilled to find that Lucky Vitamin carries the Coconut Secret – Coconut Aminos Teryaki Sauce – 10 oz.
, for example, are only $4.49 for a 8oz. bottle right now. You probably can’t beat that price anywhere! This brand is USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, soy and gluten free, contains no MSG and has 17 naturally-occurring amino acids, which have all those benefits I listed for the coconut nectar. And it qualifies for their Autoship Program, so that whenever you run out of a staple like this, the product will automatically ship right to you so that you never run out!
I was so excited to be selected as a Lucky Vitamin ambassador, that I decided to try the other delicious Coconut Aminos cooking sauces from Coconut Secret, like Coconut Aminos Teryaki Sauce
and Garlic Sauce. Guess what? They are awesome too! Anyone of these sauces, served with pastured USDA Organic chicken, organic broccoli and mushrooms and served over our favorite, Lundberg Organic California White Jasmine Rice. is delicious – your kids will love it too, and you’ll save all that money from buying MSG loaded soy sauce.
And here is my easy, peasy go to recipe, that I cook in my Lodge cast pan.
Soy Free Easy Chicken Stir Fry Recipe
- 1 lb. USDA organic and Non-GMO Project Verified chicken, preferably locally sourced
- 1 tbsp. sustainbly sourced red palm oil, mild organic coconut oil other non-GMO oil
- 1 head organic broccoli, chopped
- ½ cup Coconut Secret Non-GMO Project Verified Coconut Aminos
- ½ lb. organic mushrooms, sliced
- 1-2 cups non-GMO white rice
Sauté the chicken in a tablespoon of the oil, until the outside is no longer pink. Add the coconut amino sauce, then broccoli and mushrooms. Sauté until cooked. Add more sauce as needed. Prepare rice as directed. Serve over rice, or add cooked rice to the mixture and sauté together!
