“I’ve got to do something…”

Maybe you’ve said those words about yourself or someone you love.

You wake up as tired as you went to bed, your kids are moody and battling one head cold after another.

Life is one giant blur of just-get-through-it–and your body is paying the price with brain fog, inflammation and diseases that rob you of your joy.

You’ve tried to eat “healthy” (you know…the whole kale, grilled chicken and rice meal prep bowl thing) but it’s not sustainable for your family to eat that way.

Now Imagine This

Imagine giving up every trendy diet out there and eating by just one simple principle.

Imagine waking up feeling refreshed and thinking more clearly during the day.

Imagine your kids without sugar mood swings, enjoying recipes made with nourishing ingredients and having fewer colds, allergies and infections.

…and doing all of this with food.

Eat anything you want. Just make it yourself.

Rachel Ballard

I’m Rachel and I’ve Been Where You Are.

Since 2013, I’ve been running Feast and Farm. The majority of that time as a Southern food focused space. Maybe you found me because of one of those recipes–fried chicken tenders or mac and cheese perhaps.

But in 2019, I woke up one day and could barely move. I have been a Registered Nurse since 2002–you would think I could spot a serious problem coming. I was diagnosed with a progressive paralyzing autoimmune disease (my second autoimmune illness) and told to prepare for a nursing home at just 39 years old.

Instead, I changed my life. It took time and with the help of a nutritional therapist, I transformed my health, got out of a wheelchair and beat every prediction by doctors.

My disease is not only not progressing–it’s reversing. And while there’s still a lot of work to go, I knew I wanted to share this message with you: Food can change your life and health for the better.

What You’ll Find Here

The classic recipes are still here and won’t be going anywhere so if you run into a tiered cream cake with 3 cups of white sugar…yeah. That was me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

But I also know that diving head first into an ultra strict diet isn’t for everyone and that the real journey to success starts with small, actionable changes.

Join me for recipes that encourage you to cook more from scratch in your own kitchen, plus:

  • Southern-inspired classic recipes you know and love made cleaner and more wholesome
  • family friendly recipes that use common ingredients everyone will love
  • logical alternatives for refined white sugar and other processed foods
  • lower carb options to keep your blood sugar stable and you going strong
  • guidance on how to choose ingredients and read labels that help your body feel its best

You can do this, and I want to help you get there. If you have any questions or want to celebrate your new success in the kitchen I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me at rachel@feastandfarm.com or reach out to me on Instagram. I can’t wait to get to know you!

My professional expertise

Tack the letters behind my name and I’m Rachel Ballard, RN, BSN. I’m a graduate of Berea College–one of the most competitive liberal arts colleges in the country–and bring more than 20 years of professional nursing experience to Feast and Farm.

I spent my career in the fields of obstetrics, gynecology, public health, pediatrics, and primary care. I have consulted on and written health information for online publications/patient education, large medical centers and universities across the United States since 2011.

While this is a food website, I also spend a significant amount of time researching and studying not just the what is healthy to eat–but why–by studying current research and blending this information with what I know about anatomy, pathophysiology, pharmacology and much more. I love it!

You can check the Kentucky Board of Nursing database to verify my current and active registered nurse licensure.