Real Food in the Real World: Tiffany Workman at Less Than an Acre

It’s time for a fresh perspective!

Every Thursday I share an interview with a real-food-lover, a real person living in the real world just like you and me. Today we will hear from Tiffany, who blogs over at Less Than an Acre. She has kindly consented to share her wisdom and experience with us! Thank you Tiffany!

Name: Tiffany Workman

Blog Name (if applicable): Less Than an Acre 

About You: (Are you single/married? Do you have children? Anything else you would like to share?)

I am married, and have been for almost two years. I do not have any children yet, but plan to within the next couple of years. My husband and I fully intend to follow a traditional six month fertility diet prior to becoming pregnant, too. I look forward to it! In addition, my husband and I also tend a garden in the summer. We have less than an acre of property, but we tore up nearly our entire back yard to make space for growing our own food. My husband also just recently took up hunting, and brought home a beautiful deer for us to eat this past season.

1. Tell us about your passion for real food. Why do you eat the way you eat?

I eat the way that I eat for one main reason: health! I love knowing that the animals I consume were raised and fed in the best manner possible, and that the plant-life I consume are free of pesticides. The old phrase “You are what you eat” is always ringing in my ears, and I know that consumption of pure foods means that we develop pure bodies. In addition, I know that eating real food can reverse a lot of different problems. I’ve read several testimonials on the topic, and I for one can say that I successfully re-mineralized my teeth through eating real food. About 8 months or so ago, I had some serious sensitivities in some of my lower back molars that I knew were cavities. I didn’t want to go to the dentist, so I ignored the pain and began eating real food. Today I have ZERO sensitivities in any of my teeth and absolutely no plans to visit my dentist any time soon.

2. What, in your opinion, are the top five “healthiest foods” that you include regularly in your diet?

I would say that the top five “healthiest” foods that I include regularly in my diet are cod liver oil, raw milk yogurt, kefir, and cheese, fermented condiments like sauerkraut and sour beets, pasture-raised animals (I am working hard on developing a taste for liver, as it is a superfood!), and coconut oil. Oops. I didn’t stay under five!

3. What, in your opinion, are five of the most unhealthy foods/food types?

I would say that the five most unhealthy foods/food types are vegetable oils like canola oil and pretty much any other refined or processed oils, items that are cooked in unhealthy oils, white sugar and items made with white sugar, white flour and other items prepared with white flour, and grain-based items that were improperly prepared, meaning that they were not sprouted or fermented prior to use.

4. Say someone is interested in making healthier food choices but is overwhelmed with all the information. What first step/steps would you recommend?

As first steps, I would recommend replacing all vegetable oils with coconut oil, tallow, or lard for cooking, begin taking cod liver oil and a high-quality probiotic on a daily basis, and find a local farmer that will be able to supply you with pasture-raised animals to eat and start buying from them.

5. Cooking from scratch can be time consuming! What are your tips for keeping things easy and manageable for the modern on-the-go lifestyle?

I would recommend, first of all, to get a slow-cooker if you don’t already have one. You can easily make all sorts of different meals in your slow-cooker without any fuss at all. A dutch oven is also nice to have, as it works in nearly the same way that your slow-cooker does, you just use it in your oven. Lastly, planning is very important. The day that I go grocery shopping is the day that I make my meal plan for the week. I go through each recipe I am going to use and, if possible, prepare it ahead of time if the day I will be eating it is going to be too hectic to cook. Planning ahead is also helpful because you then will never have a day during the week where you just don’t know what to eat and decide to order a pizza or use some other convenience food to fill your stomach.

6. Eating real food can also be expensive. What tips do you have for keeping costs down?

Number one, buy directly from your farmer. If there is no middle man (like a store), there is likely no additional cost. We purchased 1/8 of a side of beef this past summer, and averaged out, each cut was only $2.50/lb! Even for the NY strip and tenderloin! That’s quite a deal for pastured meat, if you ask me. Although it was pretty expensive to pay for all of the beef up front, in the end it was the best decision we could have made. Another tip that I have for keeping costs down is making soup out of your leftovers. For instance, if I roast a whole chicken, the next day I will take the remaining meat off of the bones, make stock in my slow-cooker with the bones, and then add in more vegetables and the remaining meat for a hearty soup and several more inexpensive, easy meals.

7. Do you have any favorite recipes (or links to recipes) to share?

I know the season has ended for eggnog, but I could drink this any time of year! Raw Homemade Eggnog

One of my favorite soups: Butternut Squash Soup

Chocolate ice cream: My Favorite Ice Cream

Red Flannel Hash: Red Flannel Hash

8. What is your biggest motivation to putting the time and effort into this lifestyle?

My biggest motivation for putting the time and effort into this lifestyle is definitely the payoff in health. There is nothing more I could ever wish to be than perfectly healthy. That should be the ideal for everybody! In addition to my own benefit, by choosing pastured animals over grain-fed animals and organically grown produce over conventionally grown produce, I am supporting a sustainable system that will successfully nourish the human race for not only us, but all of the generations to follow.

Now I want to hear from you! Yes you! You don’t have to be a great cook, have all the answers, have a blog, or eat right all the time. You just have to love real food and have an opinion about it! Copy these questions and send your answers to unmistakablyfood@gmail.com so that I can share them with the rest of my readers!

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