January 5, 2026

Why Eating Pure Matters

by Janet Stott in Blog

“There’s no point in paying for ‘health products’ if you’re constantly spiking your insulin.” Candi Fraser, The Primal Bod

I love Candi because she calls it like it is. She’s radical, yes, but she’s also honest. And she knows her stuff.

She’s helped me better understand insulin, balance, and why you can’t out-supplement poor foundations. Like me, she talks about eating pure, not as a trend, but as a way to support the body properly and create real internal balance.

What Eating Pure Means

At Homegrown Primal, purity is one of our core beliefs.

Eating pure means choosing foods that support the body instead of stressing it. Foods that don’t constantly spike insulin, disrupt hormones, or inflame the system.

Pure food is as close to nature as possible:

No sprays on pastures or gardens
No unnecessary processing
No additives or lab-made synthetic ingredients

It’s food our bodies recognise.

We’re animals. And like every species, we thrive when we eat in a species-appropriate way; natural, whole, and unadulterated.

The Body Responds to Real Food

The longer I’ve eaten this way, the clearer the results have become.

I rarely get sick.
My energy is stable.
I perform better in the gym and in life.
My focus is sharp, my mind clear, my body resilient.

That hasn’t come from hacks or trends. It’s come from removing interference and fuelling my body with animal-based, pure foods it knows how to use.

Why We Say “Pure”, Not “Clean”

We use pure instead of clean intentionally.

Pure food supports balance across the entire system; hormones, metabolism, nervous system, immunity. When you eat this way consistently, the body spends less time correcting damage and more time doing what it was designed to do.

You also gain something powerful: understanding.

You learn how to nourish yourself now, and long into old age.

Simple Food. Strong Results.

One of the biggest benefits of eating pure is how simple it is.

I enjoy eating meats and seafoods, eggs and dairy, and the occasional piece of organic fruit. There’s freedom in removing the noise and returning to basics. I also enjoy the challenge of cooking new things. If you’re not sure where to start, keep it simple:

Eggs to start the day (I have mine at 11, post-fast)
Meat for lunch
Fish for dinner

Give it two weeks and you’ll feel the difference. Steadier energy. Better focus. A body working with you, not against you.

Pure Nutrition Lasts

Eating pure isn’t a phase or a quick fix.
It’s a long-term commitment to nourishment that lasts, and it’s the foundation of everything we believe at Homegrown Primal.

Pure food. Real balance. Optimal health.

January 1, 2026

Why I always pause at this time of year

The questions I ask before planning anything new This time of year has always been important to me. Not because of resolutions or reinvention, but because it offers a natural pause. A chance to slow down, look back, and take stock before deciding what comes next. Before I plan anything new, I always reflect on the year that’s just passed. What worked. What didn’t. What shaped me more than I expected. This habit (pausing before planning) has become something I rely on, both personally and in business. It brings clarity. And clarity makes everything simpler. A year that shaped us The past year has been a significant one for me, and for Homegrown Primal. A few years ago, Marty and I moved to Auckland to support our ageing parents. During that time, we leaned deeply into family life, strengthening friendships, spending more time grandparenting, and learning about grief, both our own and others’. It wasn’t always easy. But it was meaningful. And it shaped how we think about the future. This past year also brought growth and change. We moved towns, created a new head office, and welcomed a new team member into Homegrown Primal. Big steps, taken thoughtfully. What I’ve learned is this: without taking time to pause, it’s easy to drift. When you slow down and reflect honestly on where you are, you’re far more likely to move forward with purpose. Why planning starts with looking back I don’t believe planning should start with goals. It should start with understanding. Understanding what the year actually asked of you. What it revealed about your limits. What it showed you about what matters, and what doesn’t. Reflection helps cut through noise. It brings you back to what’s real. Before I plan the year ahead, I ask myself a few simple questions. They’re not complicated, but they’re grounding, and they’ve shaped how I approach life and business year after year. The questions I ask before planning the year ahead: Where am I right now? Not where I hoped I’d be, where I actually am. The wins, the challenges, the reality of the past year. What did this year teach me? About my boundaries, my relationships, and how I move through the world. What am I proud of? The things I did that truly mattered, even if they weren’t visible or celebrated. What am I ready to let go of? Habits, beliefs, or ways of operating that no longer serve me. Who am I becoming? What qualities do I want to nurture more deliberately? What am I grateful for? Often the clearest signal of what’s worth protecting as you move forward. These questions don’t give you a rigid plan. They give you clarity, and clarity makes planning simpler and more intentional. How I apply this approach to business I approach business planning the same way. Before we plan anything at Homegrown Primal, we take time to look at: Where we are right now. What we’ve built. What we’ve learned. How we can grow without losing what matters. There’s always space for brainstorming next steps, and for learning. Each year, I choose something new to study. Not to rush ahead, but to deepen my understanding of the world around me. What I’ve noticed over time is this: when I grow with clarity and enjoyment, the business tends to grow that way too. Reflection is better when it’s shared This exercise is one I love doing with a partner or a friend. Talking things through, hearing another perspective, and slowing down together often brings insights you wouldn’t reach on your own. It doesn’t need to be complicated.It just needs honesty and time. As we move into the year ahead, my encouragement is simple: Pause first.Look back before you move forward. Thank you for being part of the Homegrown Primal tribe. We’re grateful you’re here, walking this path with us.

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December 23, 2025

Food is the bridge to connection at Christmas

Christmas for me has always been about connection. And food has always been the bridge. I love this time of year, all the chatter about who’s bringing what on Christmas Day, the shared planning, the anticipation. Food naturally pulls us together. Being animal-based gives us a chance to bring something meaningful to the table, and to make it a little festive too. This year, Marty and I are both heading to a family lunch. We’re bringing a roast leg of lamb, slow-cooked with garlic and rosemary. It’s one of my favourite meats, because it really is the gift that keeps on giving - hot on the day, then cold the next. We’ve grown used to eating cold meat, without bread, just adding some pickle or some kraut. Delicious. Shared meat has always brought humans together. Our family knows how we choose to eat, and it’s always a conversation starter. We both look and feel healthy, and that opens the door to good discussions; sometimes curious ones. Sometimes lively ones - especially when there are vegetarians around. And that’s okay. Our food becomes a conversation starter, a subject for debate, a path towards connection. Sharing food from the same platter is what humans do. For most of our history, celebration and feasting went hand in hand.When there was something worth marking - a successful hunt, a season of abundance, a gathering of family - people didn’t pick at plates or try to balance things out. They ate well. Together. Meat was central, not because of trends or rules, but because it was the most valuable, nourishing food available. It took effort to source and prepare, and that effort made it meaningful. Feasting wasn’t reckless; it was intentional. Christmas carries that same energy. It’s a pause in the year. A moment to gather, to rest, to reconnect. And historically, moments like that were always marked with abundance, not restraint. Somewhere along the way, especially in our summer Christmas culture, we swapped feasting for keeping things light. Plates full of salads, breads, and sweet treats that look festive, but often leave us unsatisfied. Grazing all day, crashing later - still searching for something. An ancestral banquet is different. It’s generous cuts of meat.Food that anchors you.A table that invites people to sit, slow down, and actually eat, not just snack between conversations. This doesn’t mean heavy or complicated. It means intentional. Choosing foods that truly nourish the body, so you can enjoy the day without crashes, cravings, or that familiar Boxing Day regret. Our bodies still recognise what a feast is. And Christmas is one of the few moments left in the year when we have the time to eat together, linger at the table, and leave feeling satisfied, both physically and emotionally. So, if your Christmas table looks a little more meat-heavy this year, you’re not doing something extreme. You’re doing something very old. Very human. A celebration deserves real food.A gathering deserves abundance.And Christmas deserves to feel as good as it looks. Christmas Eating FAQs Do I have to be strict on Christmas Day? No, and that’s not the goal. Animal-based eating isn’t about white-knuckling your way through Christmas. It’s about staying anchored in foods that nourish you most of the time, even on special days. Start with meat. Eat until you’re satisfied. From there, you get to choose — without guilt or urgency. One day doesn’t undo anything, and Christmas isn’t a test of discipline. It’s a celebration. Isn’t animal-based eating too heavy for a summer Christmas? Heavy isn’t about meat; it’s about unstable blood sugar. Protein and fat are actually what keep energy steady in the heat. Most people feel worse after a “light” Christmas of salads, bread, and sugar because they’re constantly grazing and crashing. A meat-centred plate keeps you satisfied, clear-headed, and able to enjoy the day, without needing to eat every hour. What if my family doesn’t eat this way? That’s okay, they don’t need to. You don’t have to convince, explain to, or convert anyone at the Christmas table. Often, the simplest approach is to quietly fill your plate with the foods that work for you. If you’re hosting or bringing a dish, make it generous and delicious. Let the food speak for itself. Connection matters more than agreement. What about Christmas desserts? This is where intention beats rules. If you’re well-fed on meat and fat, dessert becomes a choice, not a compulsion. Some people skip it entirely and feel great. Others enjoy a small amount and move on. There’s no prize for deprivation and no benefit to guilt. Eat in a way that lets you enjoy the day and how you feel afterwards. What if I “fall off” over the holidays? You haven’t failed, you’re human. One meal, one day, or even one week doesn’t erase anything. The most animal-based thing you can do is return to nourishment without drama. No punishment. No restriction. Just real food, again. The body responds very quickly when you give it what it needs. A Final Christmas Reminder Animal-based eating at Christmas isn’t about perfection.It’s about presence, nourishment, and staying connected to yourself and the people around you. Eat the meat. Enjoy the day. Let Christmas be Christmas.

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December 16, 2025

Nourishing the whole body

Your body doesn’t heal in isolation. Nothing in the body works on its own. Each system is connected, constantly supporting and responding to others. When we look at nourishment through this lens, it changes how we think about food and supplements. Instead of isolating one nutrient or trying to fix one thing at a time, we start paying attention to how the body functions as a whole. This is how we’ve always approached nutrition at Homegrown Primal. When you look at an animal in its entirety, you see the same interconnections. Bone and marrow provide foundational fats and minerals. Organs are dense with vitamins and cofactors. Muscle supports strength and structure. Liver, for example, is incredibly nutrient-rich, yet the amount the body actually needs is relatively small, roughly the equivalent of 100g of raw liver a week. It’s not about more. It’s about balance. That way of thinking naturally carries through to how we approach our products. Pairing Is Caring One of the most common questions we’re asked is which of our products work best together. It’s a fair question because modern nutrition can often feel overwhelming, especially when you’re run down or short on time. Our bundles exist to simplify that decision. Every pot or blend in a bundle has been chosen for a reason. We look at how the body absorbs nutrients, how systems connect, and what tends to be missing when someone is depleted, low on energy, or just not feeling quite right. The goal is simple: support the body in a way that makes sense, because when nutrients work together, the body responds. The Iron Bundle Take iron support, for example. It isn’t just about iron on its own. It’s about absorption, balance, and supporting the systems that help the body actually use it. That’s why the Iron Bundle combines Blood+, Thrive, and Bone + Marrow. Together, they support iron stores, energy, and overall strength in a way that takes the guesswork out of what to take when. The Gut Bundle The same thinking applies to gut health. Digestive issues are rarely one-dimensional, so our Gut Bundle reflects that reality. By pairing South Island raw, organic colostrum powder with Bone + Marrow and Thrive, the focus is on nourishment, repair, and daily support. Because when the gut is supported, other systems begin to settle too. The Wellness Bundle Feeling a bit off or a little run down is often a sign that the body needs broader support. The Wellness Bundle is designed to support the cardiovascular system through the gut, because that’s where everything starts. And as always, real food matters too. Adding liver alongside this bundle can make a real difference. Making Nourishment Simpler At the end of the day, these bundles are simply there to make things easier. They’re built for consistency, not perfection. When supplements are paired thoughtfully, routines feel manageable rather than rigid, especially at this time of year when work, family life, and holiday commitments fill up our days. Have a look through our bundles here and see what feels right for where your body is at right now. There’s no rush, just support when you need it.

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Why Eating Pure Matters