I always say, “You are what you eat”. And it’s so true.
Looking at the giant food production system with massive factory farms, hormones and chemicals, you can’t help but wonder, “There must be a better way…” I’m here to tell you that there is!
But where to start on the path to eating clean? It can be overwhelming – I know old habits are hard to kick!
I’ve put together a list of 9 ways to take the overwhelm out of starting to eat clean. Make one change at a time – your brain will appreciate you for doing this 😊
I’d like to congratulate you for already accomplishing #1. Source local grass-fed & pasture raised meat!
I am honored to be able to supply you with healthy grass-fed & pastured raised meat! If there is anything I can help you with on your clean eating journey, please let me know!
- Source local grass-fed & pasture raised meat. Eat less meat? NO! Avoid factory farmed meat? YES! Factory farmed animals are fed hormones and antibiotics for the majority of their life. Why? Well, hormones speed up the rate at which the animal gains weight, making the meat super cheap to produce. And antibiotics are a must in factory systems because without them, the animals would get sick because of the crowded living conditions. This is the meat you buy in the grocery store. Cheap and cheerful, but it comes with a huge price tag to animal welfare, the environment, and ultimately human health. With grass-fed and pasture raised meats, you know that what you’re eating is healthy for the environment, animal and ultimately YOU!
- Read labels. If there are ingredients listed that you cannot pronounce, denounce it! Chances are they are preservative or man-made additives.
- Sugar is a drug. Did you know that sugar is more addictive than cocaine? The food system knows this and uses it to their advantage. Sugar is a silent killer – it feeds cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Switch to natural sweeteners, like raw honey, maple sugar, and even cane sugar.
- Fats – there’s good and bad. We were mislead to believe for so long that butter is bad. Vegetable oils and margarine are produced via chemical extraction and are highly toxic trans fats which increase the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity. Butter is produced by churning cream – how simple! Healthy fats are necessary for skin health, hormone regulation, the absorption of fat soluble vitamins and growing brains. Healthy fats include grass-fed butter, coconut oil and pastured lard.
- Take care of your gut. Research shows that 70-80% of your immune system is found in your gut. My sister recently had a brain tumor removed, and her specialist told her that the ‘happy hormone’ is produced in your gut. So take care of your gut. Eat fermented foods, yogurt or probiotics daily.
- Say NO to GMO. The main chemical created for GMOs, Round-up, is a ‘probable carcinogen to humans”, stated by the WHO. And its not only bad for humans – it also is very detrimental to the ecosystem. This is why we source GMO-free feed for our pigs and chickens. So just say no and look for GMO-free.
- Whole Grains & Sourdough. Carbs! I’m Dutch so definitely guilty of eating too many carbs. Swap refined flour for whole grains or ancient grains and choose sourdough bread instead. Also, if grains are sprouted or soaked, they are much easier for our bodies to digest.
- Bone broth. It’s high in minerals, packed with nutrition, and is considered a super food by many. It’s easy to use in soups, sauces, even smoothies!
- Dirty Dozen. There are 12 foods that you should buy organic: celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries, nectarines, sweet bell peppers, spinach/kale/collard greens, cherries, potatoes, grapes, and lettuce.
Healthy eating!
Farmerette Marsha