How to get started with a real food lifestyle
All throughout history, humans have survived and thrived on a diversity of diets. Diets referred to as ‘high carb’, ‘high protein’, ‘high fat’ – the list goes on. After thoroughly examining the various diets and food groups consumed throughout history, researchers found these cultures had one thing in common – they all ate REAL FOOD. It’s safe to conclude that no one way of eating suits everyone and that is why it’s our mission to inspire you back into the kitchen with real food so you can find out for yourself, what suits your body best.
To begin, we should define what real food is. Real food is:
Fresh and nutritious – fresh fruit and vegetables don’t have a long shelf life. When you shop for and eat real food, your pantry will be a lot smaller and more refined, as it won’t be filled with packaged biscuits, lollies and sauces – instead, your fridge will be packed with fresh fruit and vegetables.
Predominantly local – select food that is local to your area. If you’re not sure what’s locally available, visit your farmer’s markets, or a good grocer who should be stocking local food. Taking the time to get to know your local butcher and other suppliers is a great investment in not only your health but sense of community.
Seasonal - Just like the seasons change, so do our palates. Eating seasonally not only keeps the cost down but means you are eating a variety of foods which support your nutrient requirements. There is no accident that in Winter we have an abundance of citrus fruits available, a time of year when we are more likely to be struck down with a cold. Or that berries are more available in summer, providing a natural source of energy.
Grass-fed, rather than grain-fed meat – The quality of feed provided to the animals we eat is essential as it directly effects the meat and egg quality we consume in the food we purchase. Grain-fed meat often promotes a high omega-6 and therefore inflammatory environment in our bodies.
Grass-fed meat comes from animals that have only grazed on grass. The type of grass varies depending on climate and region.Grain-fed meat comes from animals that are fed grass for part of their lives (variable duration) and then given a grain-based diet for the remainder, depending on market requirements and seasonal conditions. This is also referred to as “grain finishing”. Livestock are grain-fed for several reasons, including: maintaining a consistent supply of meat; meeting market demand for marbled meat; increasing animal size; and providing sufficient feed when pasture is limited by conditions such as drought.
As mentioned, the main nutritional difference between the two is that grass-fed meat has a higher concentration of desirable omega-3 fats and potentially fat-soluble vitamins A and E.
Free of synthetic chemicals – The difference between organic and non-organic (conventional) food has to do with how food is produced. For example, organic food like vegetables, fruit, eggs, milk and meat is produced without:
The Australian Certified Organic Standard prohibits the use of synthetic agricultural chemicals including pesticides, fungicides and herbicides.
Certified Organic products are non-GMO. The crops that are most likely to be genetically modified are corn, soybean, cotton and canola.
Processed foods likely to be genetically modified are corn syrup, corn starch, corn oil, soy lecithin, soy protein, vegetable oil, farmed fish, and animal by-products.
Products wearing the Australian Certified Organic logo don’t use synthetic colouring agents and fragrances, ethoxylated ingredients, silicones, paraffin and petroleum products. We like ingredients that are naturally effective.
Whole or minimally processed – foods in their natural state, foods that aren’t out of a package. Choosing foods that are off a tree, from the ground or from an animal.
The price tag on real, whole foods such as grass-fed meat, pasture-raised chickens and organic vegetables is often higher than those placed on the artificial ‘food like’ products that you’d find packaged on a grocery shelf. However, the truth is, none of us can truly afford the cost of these ‘food like’ products in the long term. Non-communicable diseases (e.g. heart disease, cancer, diabetes) are now the leading cause of death, and many of these diseases come from a poor diet and poor nutrition knowledge.