Where to start? There’s a movement toward eating real food. You’ve probably noticed. It has come about for a few different reasons, but mainly because of food contamination as a result of the industrialization of food. For example, the mad cow disease breakout in England revealed the fact that in the production of beef, cows were being fed the remains of other cattle in England and in the U.S. At the American fast food restaurant Jack in the Box, several kids contracted E. coli and died and people started to ask questions about how burgers were prepared and the conditions of slaughterhouses and crowded and unsanitary feed lots. Alar was a chemical sprayed on apples to help them ripen simultaneously, but was later labeled as a carcinogen by the EPA, resulting in an increased demand by the public for organic produce options. These kinds of events have been the springboard for more public awareness of where we get our food and how it is produced.

Consequently, many have sought out small, local farmers; grown their own gardens; raised their own chickens; and learned about pre-industrialized farming practices and traditional food preparation in order to ensure the health and safety of the food they’re eating.

Eating real food is all about eating food in its most natural form–unprocessed and whole. From healthy sources, butter is better than margarine, natural raw milk is more nutritious than its homogenized and pasteurized counterpart, eggs from pasture-raised chickens have more vitamins and healthy fats than eggs from battery cage hens, vegetables and fruits that are grown without the use of pesticides and genetic modification will be absent of negative side effects to our bodies, and properly prepared grains and beans will nourish us rather than wreak havoc on our digestive systems. Eating real food will ensure you’re nourished, help you maintain a healthy weight, and prevent many illnesses that are a result of the highly processed and unnatural modern diet.

Transitioning to a real food diet is a process. It may take some extra time in the beginning, but it’s worth it! I feel healthier and food tastes so much better. I still have a lot to learn and I’ll continuously update my blog with new information. I hope this blog can be a great resource for you in your real food endeavors!