Meal Plan 45: Where Is Your Food Coming From?

Where do you buy your food? One of the obstacles many people have to overcome when beginning the paleo lifestyle is switching over from conventional foods, which often come in boxes and bags, to healthy, whole, unprocessed foods. And when you make that change, it's a good idea to venture beyond baby carrots, salad in a bag, and pre-made burger patties. These items may meet your dietary requirements--and no doubt they speed up your meal prep, but in a couple of weeks (if it takes that long) your plate will be BORING and your tummy will be yearning for some variety. Since adopting a paleo lifestyle, we have tried veggies I had never even seen before, such as chard, collard greens, hakurai turnips, and celeriac. In most cases, local organic foods are your best bet. We have also switched completely to grass-fed meats and free-range chickens (and eggs). We are fortunate to have found great local providers for all of our foods. But it took quite a bit of research and a little bit of luck (especially with the eggs).

My husband, nephew, and some of their very talented friends own Amagisoft--you may know them as the WODHOPPER team. Along with WODHOPPER (CrossFit affiliate management software), our friends Rob and Max have been diligently working on a system that will change the way people who care about their food and food sources find their food: FarmMatch. FarmMatch enables you to enter your personal profile identifying exactly what you are interested in buying--be it grassfed beef, organic chickens, or wild game. They've got all of the bases covered. You can also find local organic fruits and vegetables, nuts, honey, etc. This comprehensive matching program then identifies local farmers, farmers markets, buying clubs, and restaurants that offer the foods you want. At this point, farmers and consumers like you are populating the database so the farm food revolution can begin. I encourage you to go to FarmMatch and let your voice be heard. If you are a farmer or know a farmer, buying club, restaurant, or farmer's market that would benefit from this free matching service (because who wouldn't?), please send them to the www.farmmatch.com (the FarmMatch badge on the right will get you to the site). In the future, FarmMatch will include additional features, like a shopping cart that will enable you to pay for your farm foods online.

Now that you know where to find your food, here are five great paleo-challenge-ready recipes to help you figure out what to do with it. Enjoy!

Shopping List for This Meal Plan

Warm Pear and Salmon Salad

Sausage Ravioli with Pesto

Coconut Ginger Chicken and Rice

Beef with Broccoli

Bratwurst with Warm Cabbage Salad