Our Food Philosophy

Forget about a universal approach to nutrition. It doesn't exist. A single way of eating can’t meet everyone’s needs. Embracing real food is a flexible journey—it may involve following a recipe, while other times, it's about crafting a meal with what's on hand, free from a plan. We believe in prioritizing quality food, as often as possible, all while embracing special moments of indulgence and pleasure, like Friday night carry-out.

We don't strictly adhere to a single dietary regimen. Instead, we've discovered what aligns best with our family and lifestyle while embracing the simplicity of our JERF motto. Paying close attention to how food makes us feel, we limit the intake of ultra-processed and packaged foods. Our approach to constructing meals revolves around simplicity, centering our meals around food predominantly derived from plants and animals.

A reliable strategy for identifying real food is to read the label (if there is one). Look for ingredients that are familiar, easy to pronounce, and were commonly available to our ancestors. In general, a shorter ingredient list tends to be better. We view time and money spent in the kitchen as an investment into ourselves.

The more familiar you become with the kitchen, your perspective will shift from viewing cooking as a difficult, time-consuming and dreadful chore, to an essential part of being human and a vital source of nourishment. We hope to eliminate confusion and simplify the cooking experience.

Kitchen Staples

Amidst a market cluttered with confusing labels and misleading phrases, our goal is to cut through the noise. While we are by no means experts or professional chefs, our experience has taught us that maintaining a healthy lifestyle doesn't require a Ph.D. in food science. Our perspectives and opinions are shaped through years of study, practice, refinement, and personal preference.

As you embark on your own journey, discover what aligns with you and your priorities. Opt for high quality foods as often as your budget allows. Individual selections will vary based on personal preferences, location, and potential sensitivities. To serve a diverse audience and give readers an array of options, our recipes include several variations. It's important to note that each variation may yield slightly different textures and flavors.

As a general practice, we purchase food items in bulk for cost efficiency and prepare meals in bulk, streamlining the cooking process. We aim to use a minimal number of pots and pans to reduce clean-up. Adhering to the "first in, first out" philosophy, we prioritize using the oldest items in stock first to prevent any loss of freshness or expiration of products.

To assist you, here are some keywords to look for when selecting high quality ingredients, along with a list of items in each category we consistently keep stocked in our kitchen. When possible, sourcing local and buying organic are good practices. Search online for the Clean Fifteen and Dirty Dozen lists, which offer guidance on which organic produce items are best to prioritize. Connect with us on social media @feedingthenobles to discover more brands that we use and love.

  • Raw, grass-fed, minimally processed (virgin or extra virgin, unrefined, unfiltered, and cold-pressed)

    Salted butter, ghee, coconut oil, avocado oil (best for high-heat cooking), sesame oil, flaxseed oil, extra virgin olive oil (best for dressings or drizzling)

  • Raw, grass-fed, unsweetened

    Plain yogurt, cream, milk, parmesan cheese, goat cheese, coconut milk cream solids

  • Raw, unsalted, without added oil or sugar

    Almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, almond butter, mixed nut butter, peanut butter, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, flaxseeds, chia seeds

  • Pork, Poultry, and Eggs: pasture-raised

    Beef: grass-fed

    Fish: wild-caught

  • Aluminum-free baking powder, baking soda, active dry yeast, organic unsweetened cacao powder, pure vanilla extract

  • Grain: whole wheat berries

    Gluten-Free: popcorn kernels, rolled oats, 1:1 gluten free all purpose flour, rice, quinoa, + the list below

    Gluten-Free & Grain-Free: almond flour, tapioca flour

  • Pure maple syrup, raw honey, coconut sugar, stevia, dark chocolate at least 70% cacao (the higher cocoa content, less sugar)

  • Without added sugars, oils, or additives

    Ketchup, mustard, mayo, coconut aminos, tamari, balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, red/white wine vinegar, rice vinegar

  • Fresh, frozen, pickled, and canned

Q&A

  • As I began to make small changes in the kitchen, what resonated with me was the idea of keeping things simple. In moments of being overwhelmed, I realized I was over-complicating the cooking process. I began asking myself a pivotal question. “How can I simplify this recipe?” The answer to this question completely changed my approach to cooking. I started by eliminating unnecessary and unfamiliar ingredients. I honed my skills by practicing and mastering simple methods of cooking, which allowed me to breeze through directions instead of meticulously studying each step. Early on, I discovered a valuable cooking skill: the ability to identify which ingredients in a dish were essential and which ones could easily be swapped for our preferred substitutes. This skill streamlined the planning process and allowed me to use a core set of ingredients in a variety of ways. Someone once described my cooking as the "capsule wardrobe" of meal planning, and I couldn't agree more. Soon after, I found myself questioning the nutritional content of the foods we were consuming and also wondering where they came from. To my surprise, as I flipped over the package and read the label, most ingredients appeared unrecognizable and excessively numerous. Confused by this, I decided to make a shift towards higher-quality foods with fewer ingredients, or, better yet, foods that were ingredients themselves whole foods. This transition brought about a surge in vitality, improved energy levels, and a newfound enjoyment in the cooking process. I discovered the fundamental truth that a healthy life finds its roots in the kitchen. By adhering to simplicity in our meals, I found a sustainable way to maintain this transformative lifestyle. Thus, the guiding mantra for Feeding The Nobles emerged: keep it simple and just eat real food (JERF).

  • Although my love for food was evident growing up, I had zero interest in connecting with the cooking process. Throughout my college years, I never once touched the stovetop or oven. Instead, I lived on cheap, ultra-processed meals. I drank diet pop for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and was completely detached from the origins of my food. Viewing food as nourishment and information to my body never crossed my mind. Caleb and I married in 2016. Despite my lack of cooking experience, I was eager to express my love for him through home-cooked meals. Not only did I have no idea where to begin, I felt an added pressure being married to someone who highly valued health and fitness. With so many conflicting opinions regarding healthy food choices, I found the entire cooking process extremely intimidating. At Caleb's urging, I ventured into creating a platform to showcase the meals we made at home. Uncertain of the outcomes, I was excited to have a space where we could share our love for food and document our exploration of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. Sharing a glimpse of our lives has always been a joy. My hope has been that it would inspire you to take small yet meaningful steps in your own health journey and enjoy the process along the way.

  • Join our community on social media @feedingthenobles for a peek into our kitchen, home, and beyond. I share grocery hauls and the brands that we use and love.

follow along