Eating Real Food

There are some preconceptions about “whole food” diets that are not quite accurate. Often people think it means a vegetarian diet, or a diet high in whole grains and legumes. Although those diets can be “whole foods”, so are many others.

So I prefer to call it a “real food” diet, which can encompass the full range of foods. Sean Croxton of Underground Wellness coined the phrase JERF – “Just Eat Real Food” and at this stage of your nutrition journey, that may be all you need to focus on.


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Real foods are:

  • Animal proteins:
    • Meat, poultry, fish
    • Broths
    • Eggs
    • Dairy, preferably unpasteurised or fermented
  • Fats that can be found in nature:
    • Fat gathered from your roast
    • Butter or ghee
    • Coconut oil, olive oil
    • Most other plant oils should be avoided – ask yourself “could my great grandma have made this oil in her kitchen?”
  • Plant foods that haven’t been messed with:
    • Fruit
    • Vegetables
    • Fermented veges
    • Nuts & seeds (prepared properly)
    • Whole grains and legumes (prepared properly)
    • Herbs & Spices
  • Drinks that are not full of either sugar or artificial sweeteners

They will ideally be fresh, local and organic, and will be free of GMOs and any artificial additives.

You may feel that you can start with this step on your own, and there are many resources to help you. First is my 15 step cooking course, which will help you identify real foods, and teach you how to prepare them for maximum nutrition

For more guidance, read my page on Whole Foods on my DietNet site (note that this site is currently being updated, so apologies for any layout issues). Also check out recipe sites that focus on WAPF (Weston A Price foundation), Paleo or Primal diets.

But before you start, some extra tips:

  • Start a food diary – this will help you see how you’re progressing. Also, if you later decide to come and see me, it will contain ve=aluable information, so I can help you with the next step.
  • Start slowly. Make changes gradually, so you can adapt more easily physically and logistically.
  • Make sure you eat a balance of foods. At this stage, aim to have some protein, fat and carbs with each meal. The next step is to look into your metabolic type.