What Real Food Means to Me

(and Why It Took Me a While to Find It)

I used to think “real food” meant expensive, organic groceries… long recipes with several ingredients, some even rare… or beautifully staged meals that looked nothing like what was on my table. But over time, I started to question: What if real food isn’t about how it looks, or where it’s from— but how it makes you feel?

Now… don’t get me wrong. A freshly made colorful salad and organic groceries can play a part in your feasted journey, but it isn’t the heart of it. For me, real food became less about rules and more about reconnection.

It started with quiet guilt.

Every time I tossed out spoiled produce… every half used milk in the back of the fridge… every night we ordered takeout simply because I didn’t have the energy or clarity to pull something together— it all added up. Not just in money, but in mental clutter.

And I realized I wasn’t just wasting food— I was losing my connection to it. The joy. The ritual. The nourishment.

Real food isn’t perfect.

It doesn’t come from a place of stress.
It doesn’t require a label to be worthy.
It doesn’t judge you if you’re using frozen peas or leftover rice.

Real food, to me, is what you cook when you’re trying your best.

It’s a meal made with what you already have.
It’s a warm pot of soup on a Wednesday, made with love and maybe a little improvisation.
It’s the moment you sit down— even for five minutes — and say “This matters.”

Rooted Feast was born from this shift.

Not because I had it all figured out, but because I needed a better way to live, cook, and feed the people I love. I wanted to reduce food waste, yes. But even more than that — I wanted to feel rooted in the kitchen again. Grounded in something real. I had a feeling I wasn’t alone in this journey.

So what does real food mean to me now?

It means cooking with care, not pressure.
It means noticing what’s already in your pantry before you run to the store.
It means letting food nourish you — not just physically, but emotionally too.
It means progress over perfection

Rooted Feast isn’t about creating the perfect kitchen. It’s about reclaiming the heart of it.

If you’ve ever felt disconnected from food, I see you.

You’re not doing it wrong. You’re doing your best. And sometimes, all it takes is one real meal to remind you of what you’re capable of.

Thanks for being here.

Nourishing forward,
Jennifer