About Real Food Tales ‘Tales, Talks, & Tasting’ demonstrations – the cornerstone of the mission to help people make better food choices while introducing healthy real food alternatives and converted recipes.
@ Dennis Center for Active Living (DCAL) – Real Food Tales Demonstrations
Whether you’re looking to simplify your diet, try healthy ingredients and foods, learn new skills, or connect with others – Real Food Tales at DCAL is your invitation to grab your wooden spoon, roll up your sleeves, and reclaim joy in the kitchen. Let’s make food that tells a better story – one where wellness, flavor, and community are well-blended.
Discussions about nutrition, real food, and ultra-processed foods, with practical guidance, recipe demonstrations, engaging educational content, and life stories. Real Food Tales empowers people to embrace a healthier, more sustainable approach to food for better overall health and wellness.
Videos available to view on recipe pages (below when available) or the video page.
Each week on Friday mornings at the DCAL Cafe, 9am-11am, Kim from Real Food Tales prepares and serves unique recipes that are fresh as well as ‘surprisingly delicious.”
Schedule of ‘Talk Show/Demos’
Every week at the Dennis, MA, Senior Center (DCAL), recipes are created with samples offered for people interested in eating real foods while discussing better choices over refined sugars and ultra-processed foods. Alternative ingredients are presented and sampled to open the tastebuds, usually with ‘flavorable’ results.
TOPIC: “Too Much Sugar Awareness” 8/29/25: Date-Nut Bon Bons
Discussing the evils of white cane sugar adding up in our bodies daily and what to look for on labels. Sampling the Bon Bons, which were clearly my best recipe creation yet, showed with the reaction from everyone who tried them.
Yes, it is a candy made with dates, oats, almonds, peanut butter, and chocolate. No added sugar, plenty of fiber and protein, and absolutely fantastic! A huge hit in the neighborhood, with the DCAL participants, and in a certain physical therapy office. Compared to a Snicker’s bar, which contains 28 grams of added sugar, this candy has 0 grams added sugar. A Snickers cost $3.29 vs. approximately $ .55 for homemade goodness.
TOPIC: “Fiber, Fiber, and More Fiber” 8/22/25: Lentils & Rice
Fiber, particularly lentils, can taste good and be packed-full of nutrients. Lentils & Rice made with onions, celery, carrots, fennel, garlic, tomatoes, and love can go a long way on a budget as well as its weight in gold nutritional value.
TOPIC: “Don’t Buy Dressings, Easy to Make” 8/15/25: Dressings & Salads
Make the dressings at home, avoid the over-processed salad dressings purchased in the stores that contain harmful oils, sugars, salt, etc. Mix up extra virgin olive oil & vinegar or lemon and go from there. Add fresh or dried herbs & spices, fresh garlic, ground mustard seed, coriander seed, Tamari, fresh orange juice… just to name some of the additions to make the dressing pop.
Serving at DCAL, ‘Bikini Fennel Salad‘ with Mandarin Oranges & Mint, ‘Green Beans & Honey Mustard‘, and ‘Creamy Cucumber Dill Salad‘ made with yogurt-dill dressing.
TOPIC: “Edamame, Peanut, Chicken: Protein x3” 8/8/25: Thai Peanut Chicken Lettuce Wraps
A delightful blend of marinated sautéed chicken, edamame, cucumber, and an array of fresh veggies, topped with a peanut sauce, floating in a lettuce boat. In a word… YUM.
TOPIC: “Chocolate Cake Does Not Need Refined Sugar or Flour” 8/1/25: Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Discussing sugar awareness, how much is consumed daily vs. ~30 grams maximum RDA (recommended daily allowance). Sugar hides well in nutritional labels. Learn about how to measure your own sugar intake. Discover apps on your phone that can help unlock some of the food manufacturer’s mysteries.
TOPIC: “Alternative Pasta can be Good Tasting” 7/25/25: Chickpea Pasta with Marinara Mia Sauce
A quick, flavorful marinara sauce rich with vegetables and fresh herbs. Choose Chickpea Pasta with this delicious sauce for better health rather than spiking the Glycemic Index with wheat pasta.
TOPIC: “Zero Sugar Treats” 7/18/25: Banana Date Bread
Discussing use of fruits as a natural sweetener with ZERO sugar or sweetener added. Tasting the sweet goodness of bananas and dates full of fiber and nutrients, a perfect way to start the day.
TOPIC: “No Butter or Salt Whole Grain Popcorn” 7/11/25: Cheesy or Dirty Popcorn
TOPIC 6/27/25: Rainbow Beet Salad
TOPIC: 6/20/25: Hummus Rolls
TOPIC 6/13/25: Chopped Veggie Salad
TOPIC 6/6/25: Oatmeal Date Bars
