ribeye steak grilled with olive oil and salt, steamed potatoes topped with sour cream, and a cucumber salad with garlic, olive oil, salt, and lime juice

A recent tweet by wellness enthusiast Ryan Nelson (@realrnelson) offered a refreshingly simple dinner idea: ribeye steak grilled with olive oil and salt, steamed potatoes topped with sour cream, and a cucumber salad with garlic, olive oil, salt, and lime juice. “Just keep it simple,” he wrote, “No seed oils or gluten and stick with organic so no glyphosate.”

It may seem like just another wholesome meal post, but this simple plate reflects a much bigger shift happening in kitchens around the world. From suburban BBQs to city apartments, people are waking up to the value of real food, intentional sourcing, and saying no to processed shortcuts.

Let’s unpack why meals like this are more than clean eating, they’re part of a lifestyle that’s gaining serious traction.

Free-Range & Organic Isn’t a Buzzword—It’s a Standard

The meat on your plate isn’t just protein, it’s a product of farming methods, animal welfare standards, and environmental choices. “Free-range” means animals had access to pasture and a more natural diet. Combine that with "organic" certification and you're avoiding synthetic hormones, antibiotics, GMO feed, and harsh chemicals like glyphosate.

Why it matters:

  • You reduce toxic load. Organic meats don’t carry the residue of industrial farming chemicals.
  • You support ethical farming. Animals raised outdoors under humane conditions live better, and the meat tastes better too.
  • You get better nutrition. Studies have shown organic meat often has higher omega-3s and antioxidants.

If you’re going to eat meat, choosing free-range and organic is a small decision that makes a big difference, for your health and for the planet.

Ditch the Seed Oils: Why This Simple Swap is a Game-Changer

For years, oils like soybean, corn, sunflower, and canola have been kitchen staples. But behind their neutral flavor and long shelf life is a complex process involving high heat, chemicals, and extensive refining.

The result? Oils high in omega-6 fats that promote inflammation when not balanced with omega-3s.

Chronic inflammation has been linked to heart disease, joint pain, and even mental health issues. And yet, these oils are everywhere, restaurant kitchens, packaged foods, even health bars.

The solution? Use real oils from whole sources:

  • Olive oil – heart-healthy, antioxidant-rich, and perfect for salads or low-heat cooking.
  • Avocado oil – high smoke point and loaded with monounsaturated fats.
  • Grass-fed butter or ghee – nutrient-rich and more stable for cooking.

A simple switch in the oil you cook with can dramatically shift your health over time.

Steamed Potatoes and a Salad: What Simplicity Teaches Us

A side of steamed potatoes may not be flashy, but it’s nutritionally solid. They’re packed with potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and resistant starch, a prebiotic that supports gut health and blood sugar regulation.

Topping them with full-fat sour cream? That’s not indulgent, it’s smart. Natural fats help slow down the absorption of carbohydrates, keeping blood sugar steady and appetite balanced.

Then there’s the cucumber salad: garlic (antibacterial), lime juice (alkalizing), sea salt (electrolyte-rich), and olive oil (healthy fat). No preservatives, no additives, no artificial flavors, just real food that supports real health.

Clean Eating Isn’t a Diet—It’s a Return to Common Sense

The beauty of meals like this is that they aren’t trying to be clever. There’s no fake meat, no trendy powders, no 20-ingredient sauces. It's an intentional return to what your body actually understands and knows how to use.

Think of it as subtractive cooking:

  • Remove synthetic ingredients.
  • Remove refined oils.
  • Remove the guesswork.

What’s left is clarity. Energy. Satiety. And food you actually feel good about.

How You Can Start Simplifying Your Plate Today

Want to eat this way but not sure how? Here’s a guide:

 Shop with purpose
 Stick to the perimeter of the store, produce, dairy, meat, pantry oils. Avoid the boxed and bagged center aisles unless you’re reading labels carefully.

Upgrade your oils
 Start with one change. Ditch the vegetable oil bottle and get extra-virgin olive oil. It’s flavorful, versatile, and far less processed.

Cook with fewer ingredients
 You don’t need complexity to eat well. Garlic, olive oil, lime, salt, four ingredients that can elevate any fresh vegetable or salad.

 Go local when possible
 Farmer’s markets or online organic meat delivery services (like this option on Amazon) are increasingly accessible and support small producers.

 Eat mindfully, not rigidly
 This isn’t about restriction. It’s about awareness. Quality over quantity. Nourishment over noise.

Final Thoughts: This Isn’t a Trend, It’s a Mindset

You don’t need a chef’s certification to start cooking with more intention. Meals like Ryan Nelson’s are reminders that keeping it simple isn’t boring, it’s revolutionary.

In a world of convenience and processed shortcuts, slowing down to source your food, cook with care, and know what’s on your plate is an act of empowerment. It’s not flashy, but it’s powerful.

So the next time you’re standing in your kitchen, wondering what to eat, go back to basics. A steak, a potato, a cucumber salad. Done right, it’s more than enough.