Does food matter?

Matt and I had a health crisis circa 2005-2006 that forced us to analyze everything we were doing so we could find answers to why his intestines were trying to kill him. And they were. Standing 6-foot-5-inches tall, and weighing less than 120 pounds, doctors said there was nothing left to do but to surgically remove his entire large intestine. They said food didn’t matter, that this disease (ulcerative colitis) was hereditary and couldn’t have been prevented, and that surgery and drugs were the only way to stop it. 

We didn’t believe it.

I hope none of you has gone through what we went through. A health crisis of epic proportions is enough to change anyone’s mind about what they put into their bodies. For us, it changed everything, from the way we eat, to the way we live and even the way we raise our children. We became farmers because we were so convinced that really-pasture-raised meats are critical to good health. 

And I am happy to report that Matt still has all his guts and hasn’t taken any medications since the summer of 2010. Praise God!

So here we are, now competing with our tiny little farm against the ever-growing and utterly convenient prepared foods industry, from fast-casual to heat-and-eat to mail-order meals delivered to your door. We can’t make it that convenient, but I can try to put some tools into your hand that will help you on your back-to-health journey. Because food does matter… and I know what you’re up against: the time, the knowledge, and the cost. There are many hurdles, but you can do this, and you may be surprised how little time it takes and how little money it costs you!

The True Cost

A lot of folks look at the cost of our meats per pound and think, “That is SO expensive!” 

And it is. 

I won’t pretend it’s not. But really–how much meat can a person eat? With quality ingredients, one tends to eat less and feel more satisfied. And of course we all know the “it’s an investment in your health” banter, and that is true, but it’s hard to reconcile that statement with having to pay a higher grocery bill. 

I want to show you what you would spend if you participate in our Cook-at-Home Challenge this month. By sticking with really basic ingredients instead of ready-made foods, and choosing homemade meals that are so simple it’s silly, you can spend less than $3.89 per serving. What fast food joint can feed you for that? And unless you have a farmer-size appetite, you probably will be able to get even more meals out of the same dish so that your final “cost per serving” is quite a bit lower! 

As part of our Cook-at-Home Challenge, I have included a complete shopping list so you will be equipped to cook everything in the package without having to take an emergency trip to the store (even more cost savings!). If you buy everything on that list at the high end of price, here’s what you’d spend:
 

Chances are you’ll find quality ingredients for less than what I estimated here, and it’s very likely you have most of what you need in your pantry already!

If you’re eating commercially-prepared meals more than a couple of times a week, please consider joining us this month for the Cook-at-Home Challenge. The Challenge will equip you with easy recipes, a meal planning strategy, a shopping list, and a ready-to-go meat meats package so you can get started right away feeding your family high quality, homemade meals. 

Bonus: Broth!

If you follow my Challenge instructions closely, you should even have enough bones and veggies left at the end to make a batch of homemade broth without spending any extra money (besides the electricity to run the crockpot)! Broth nourishes the intestines and the joints and has been found to reduce joint pain if consumed regularly. You can drink it like tea or substitute it for water in things like rice, oatmeal, and even bread! (I know… you’re probably not making bread from scratch yet, right–but we’ll win you over and teach you how eventually, I hope!)

So now it’s your turn. Check out the Cook-at-Home Challenge here, just in time for our Longview and Marshall deliveries this week. You can also schedule a time to pick up at the ranch in Jefferson during checkout.