Getting Started With Real Food
After decades of battling a weakened immune system and many food allergies, it wasn’t until I observed those same symptoms in a few of my children did I realize that being chronically ill wasn’t a normal way for anyone to live.
Because my concern for their health was at the forefront of my mind, I knew something had to be done immediately. Real food became my responsibility in an entirely new way. My desire as the keeper of my home was to be the instrument that helped heal my family’s bodies.
What Is Real Food?
At its simplest, real foods are traditionally prepared, whole, the least processed foods. Real foods are free from food additives like flavors, colors, and artificial preservatives. Also, real foods are particularly rich in micronutrients like vitamins, minerals, and naturally occurring phytonutrients. Real foods are sustainably produced and are prepared in ways that raise their nutrient value.
These Foods Include:
Eggs from pastured hens- poached, fried, scrambled, and in baked goods
Full Fat Dairy Products- raw or cultured
Fruits- fresh, raw, or fermented
Vegetables- raw, steamed, or fermented
Meats (including organ meats) from animals raised on pasture- grilling, stewing, poaching, or slow roasting
Fish from the wild- salmon, oysters, clams, or mussels
Pulses- lentil, chickpeas, split peas, dry beans soaked overnight or sprouted
Nuts and Seeds- almonds, walnuts, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax, chia
Whole Grains- sprouted, freshly milled, and used in sourdough recipes
Unrefined cooking fats- butter, tallow, lard, olive oil, coconut oil, ghee, cold-pressed nut and seed oils
Unrefined, minimally processed sweeteners- honey, maple syrup, maple sugar, molasses, cane sugar, stevia
This is not an exhaustive list, but it is a list that I use to shop for my family year round.
I encourage everyone to try and grow as much of your own food as you can. It’s not only healthier to grow food in your backyard, but it saves money too!
For instance, we have a small vineyard and enjoy making grape jelly and juice from that harvest. We have a small chicken yard to house our egg layers. We also have an area where we bee keep on our property. If we work hard, and the bees do their job, this brings in just enough honey to use for our family each year. Our gardens aren’t huge, but we do what we can to grow what we need. It certainly helps off set the grocery bill each month.
Where To Find Sustainable Sources
Join a CSA
Visit local orchards
Ask around for local farmers who are willing to sell raw milk
Create some space in your backyard so you can raise your own hens
Make sure the tools you have in your kitchen will help you work most efficiently
Visit your local farmer’s market- you will be able to cook seasonally for your family
Pick up grass-fed meat from your local farmer that pastures his animals on green grass and hay
If anyone is interested what our overflow pantry looks like, you can click the link here to see how our family stocks our home.
Natalie