What does your grocery shopping trip look like in 2024? What’s in your cart? We are loving all of the HEALTHY FOOD hauls we are seeing trending on Instagram lately. This trend of shopping for whole, raw foods is right up our ally. Many customers are including RAW FARM dairy products in their hauls and even say the raw dairy is their favorite part of the haul! When it comes to eating healthy in 2024, there is so much information out there. Where do you possibly start? We thought we would help you out by giving you our take on what a healthy animal based grocery haul looks like in 2024.

DIET TRENDS

There are many different trending diets on social media - Carnivore, Keto, Paleo, Vegetarian, Vegan, Animal Based, & Whole 30. Which is the best one to choose? Really, it depends on your preference. We think whole foods are the best! And we definitely think animal nutrition and protein are important, but when it comes to following a specific diet, it is completely up to you and what you feel best eating. Animal based (our favorite), keto, paleo, and Whole 30 are all good choices, but any diet can work so long as you are getting the proper nutrients. Some people prefer to ONLY eat meat; some prefer to eat all kinds of animal foods (meat, eggs, dairy); and others prefer to have a more balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, and meat. We are all for any choice that honors your body.

IMPORTANT PILLARS OF A HEALTHY DIET

The one thing we WILL say when it comes to choosing a healthy diet is to carefully study the ingredients. Simple, fresh foods are the best option. Here are the pillars that we think makes up a healthy diet:

Minimal, clean ingredients
Whole food nutrition
Organic (when possible)
Non-GMO
Locally sourced (when possible)
Seasonal produce
Plenty of important proteins and animal fats

That is the basis of a healthy diet, but let’s go deeper.

Minimal, clean ingredients

Although we are for buying whole food ingredients, we understand that it can be more convenient to purchase pre-packaged foods and snacks on occasion. We are not against this. But, we definitely encourage you to READ THE LABELS and choose a healthier option with minimal ingredients. Avoid food dyes, conventional wheat (full of glyphosate and other pesticides), and preservatives. A healthy food option will be made with whole food ingredients, natural sugars, and will not have unnecessary additives and preservatives.

Good (packaged) snack options include:

Larabars
That’s It Fruit Bars
HU chocolate bars
RAW FARM Raw Cheddar Cheese
RAW FARM Raw Kefir
Nitrate free beef jerkey
Freeze dried fruits
Nuts (with SALT only, avoid seed oils)
Siete tortilla chips, cookies, etc.

All of these products have something in common: They are made with whole food ingredients, are minimally processed, and have no added sugars, pesticides, or other unwanted (and unnecessary) ingredients.

Whole food ingredients

Choosing whole foods is an important part of eating a healthy diet and a successful grocery haul. You don’t have to worry about unnecessary ingredients or unwanted processing when you’re eating fresh raw foods. Plus, you have more control over how you are going to use and incorporate these items into recipes. By choosing whole foods, you are taking the outcomes of your health back into your own hands! And you can make so many delicious recipes with fresh ingredients at home.

Great whole food choices to include on your next grocery trip:

RAW FARM Raw Whole Milk
RAW FARM Raw Kefir
RAW FARM Raw Cheddar Cheese
RAW FARM Shredded Raw Cheddar Cheese
RAW FARM Raw Butter AVAILABLE AT ALL @SPROUTS in CALIFORNIA!
100% grass fed ground beef
Grass fed ribeye, tri tip, sirloin, NY Strip, fajita beef
Organic pasture raised chicken
Organic pasture raised pork
Spaghetti Squash
Vegetables (green beans, broccoli, cauliflower)
Fruit (strawberries, mangoes, peaches, raspberries, blueberries, bananas)
Lemon
Lime
Fresh herbs and spices

Organic + NON-GMO (when possible)

It is important to choose organic foods when possible. The amount of pesticides used on non-organic foods vs organic foods is staggering. Avoid unwanted preservatives and hidden additives when you choose to buy organically grown foods. Pesticides may impact and harm gut health in the long term. Plus, who wants additives in their food? Another option to make sure you are buying the best, healthy products is to buy directly from your farmer. Go to the farmers market and meet a local farmer, or research online which farmers are in your area. Small farmers typically do not use pesticides or GMO’s, and they care about the importance of healthy, clean food just as much as you do. You can ask your farmer questions about their farming practices, and potentially come and see the farm for yourself! Having a great relationship with your farmer is important, and seeing where you food comes from can be a life changing experience. Note that while some farms are not CERTIFIED organic, they may still follow organic practices. Getting a certified organic label can be costly for a small farmer, so be sure to ask questions to find out more about your farmers values. We know it isn’t always ideal to buy organic. It is usually more expensive, so we encourage you to buy organic when you can. Your health is truly an investment!

SOURCE LOCALLY

📸: Cattle grazing on @raw_farm_usa pastures 🇺🇸

Another great way to ensure you are buying high quality, healthy produce is to source locally when you can. The truth is, we don’t KNOW what is in most products at the grocery store. We, often times, don’t know the farmer behind the brand. But, when you choose to shop locally (at the farmer’s market or buying directly from your favorite farm), you foster a better connection with your food and where it’s coming from. That’s deeply important. Some of your favorite brands may sell their products at the grocery store, like RAW FARM! So, when shopping at the grocery store, look for items that come from local family farms and small businesses.

SEASONAL PRODUCE

This point isn’t essential, but if you’re really trying to eat as clean and purely as possible, buying and sourcing fruits and veggies that are in season can be helpful. They will taste fresher, deeper, and more delicious! Often the farmer’s market will be full of seasonal fruits and veggies. Some even believe that eating fruits and vegetables that are in season can have a more positive effect on your body. Fun fact, we feed our cows seasonal fruits and veggies, too. For example, in the winter months they get fresh oranges as a natural source of vitamin C!

PLENTY of important proteins and animal fats

Finally, we believe this is the most important pillar for choosing a healthy diet. Whether you’re keto, animal based, carnivore, or Whole 30, we recommend eating plenty of healthy fats. Healthy fats will fuel your body, your brain, and your mood. They’re deeply important. Healthy fats can also lead to stronger nails, healthier hair, and clearer skin. Healthy fats do WONDERS for your body. Our bodies are practically made of fats; and our brain is made of more than 60% fat! Fatty acids are the building blocks of fats and are important for communication between nerve cells. And, a new study suggests that increasing omega-3 intake may limit damage to brain cells caused by a diet high in saturated fats. (Source).

Raw dairy products are rich in healthy fats. RAW FARM Raw Dairy Products unprocessed and complete with bioavailable vitamins, minerals, enzymes, beneficial bacteria, naturally occurring CLA, and omega-3 fatty acids. Absolutely NO antibiotics, synthetic hormones, or GMOs anything. Customers with dairy sensitivities have a delicious, nutritious, and natural alternative in this unaltered, wholesome product.