How trusting farmers will help me achieve this New Year’s goal

The year I turned 29, I created a list of 30 things I wanted to do before I hit the big 3-0.

Approximately 365 days later… I couldn’t tell you one thing on that list. (Or, frankly, if I did one thing on it.)

I’m no stranger to creating goals so lofty they become unattainable. Yet, when New Year’s rolls around, I still get excited to set my mind to some type of personal achievement.

And I’m not alone.

It’s estimated as many as 40% of Americans create New Year’s resolutions, mostly related to personal health. However, a survey by Forbes found more than half of these goal-setters admitted failure before the end of the year.

Um, guilty.

Turns out, there are a lot of people like me who have their eyes to the sky but no plan for a successful takeoff. With that in mind, this year I have one and only one health-related goal:

Keep it simple.

For me, that means listening to my body and eating a variety of foods that fit my schedule. Some days that’s a pork chop seasoned with my own blend of spices, seared and finished to perfection with grilled vegetables on the side. Others, it’s a pre-marinated loin in the air fryer with some frozen veggies thrown in the microwave.

To limit food waste, our family also relies on fruits and vegetables in a variety of forms. Fresh strawberries and bright orange bell peppers in the fridge and a jar of green beans and mandarin oranges in the pantry. No matter how it’s packaged, each has nutritional value and allows us to keep nutrient-dense foods on hand while reducing the risk of spoilage.

The thing is, I’m not going to make a recipe with a long list of ingredients or spend hours in the grocery store checking labels. And I’m not going to feel bad about ordering pizza on nights when I want more time with my family instead of my stove (it’s not the best conversationalist).

What I am going to do is trust the people who make it all possible— farmers who grow and raise the food that ends up on my table. Like the Bolins, who raise dairy cattle in northeast Iowa, and Matthew Burt, who raises pigs in central Iowa. Both use technology and best practices to increase animal comfort and health. And farmers like Colin Johnson and Mitchell Hora in southeast Iowa, who prioritize conservation to improve soil health and protect water quality.  

Because of their commitment to animal care and sustainability, I know behind every pork chop, strawberry, can of green beans or block of mozzarella is someone who takes pride in doing the right thing. 

As I scroll through social media, I fear we’ve made food too scary and complicated. You don’t have to follow weird rules like avoiding foods your grandparents wouldn’t recognize—I doubt they were ordering avocado toast or poke bowls in their youth. You don’t need to fast for a specific number of hours; you can eat when you’re hungry. And you don’t have to only eat one thing, if you don’t want to.

Basically, if it’s stressful to eat a certain way, it’s probably not for you. Thanks to farmers, we have choices, and making choices that align with your goals makes them easier to stick to.

By keeping it simple and trusting the people who grow our food, I can focus less on arbitrary guidance and more on enjoying meals and moments with my family. That’s a resolution that feels achievable for me in 2025.

Learn more about author Caitlyn Lamm here.