Rediscovering Real Food: My Journey, One Swap at a Time

Growing up on a 2,500-acre preserve, my family lived off the land. We hunted deer, wild pigs, ducks, and pheasants. We fished in the slough and raised our own food, so everything on our table was as fresh and real as it could be. But when I moved away, I lost that connection. I was young, carefree, and didn’t think much about what I was eating.

By the end of 2014, life started giving me wake-up calls. Minor health issues made me reconsider my choices, but it was my dad’s heart attack in his late forties that really hit home. I knew I needed to make changes, but I also knew it wasn’t going to happen overnight.

In 2017, I decided to return to my roots and start raising food for my family again—food that was nutritious, full of flavor, and something I could be proud of. But I took it slow. I started by swapping out store-bought eggs for locally sourced ones until we got our own chickens. Each small step brought us closer to the way we used to eat and made us more mindful of what we put on our plates.

This journey wasn’t just about eliminating foods; it was about discovering a love for real, locally sourced ingredients. I found new local farms, tried fresh ingredients, and started to enjoy cooking from scratch again. And that’s when I realized: this experience was something worth sharing.

By the end of 2018, I began offering the meats I raised to the local community. Beef lovers became lamb lovers, and even folks who thought they didn’t like lamb came back for more. Hearing how these meats have become a part of family meals has been one of the greatest joys of this journey.

So here’s my tip: start small. Pick one thing you eat regularly—maybe it’s the meat you cook for dinner—and swap it out for something local, something raised with care. It’s not just about buying food—it’s about reconnecting with the land, supporting local farmers, and enjoying flavors you can truly feel good about.

Food tastes better when it’s real, when you know where it comes from, and when it’s raised with love. Start your journey back to real food with one simple swap, and enjoy discovering what truly nourishes you.