Simplify Your Food: Shine

In the 5S framework, Shine isn’t just about tidying up—it’s about clarity. Clean, orderly systems help us spot issues before they grow into disasters.

On our farm, that means keeping the mobile chicken coops and nest boxes clean. Not just for looks—but because that’s how I catch problems early. Like a hen starting to eat her own eggs—a stubborn, expensive issue that’s easier to stop if I catch it early. Clean systems invite regular inspection. They make patterns visible. They reveal what’s working—and what’s not.

Our homes are no different, especially when it comes to food.

We’re building household food systems that reduce decision fatigue, deliver consistent nutrition, lower stress, and hold up during busy weeks. This week’s principle—Shine—is about cleaning up our inputs: choosing clear, simple, and trustworthy foods so that problems reveal themselves early, not after they’ve undermined our family’s health.

Because sometimes it’s not a mystery illness—it’s the food.

Maybe your kid’s eczema, your own low energy, or that vague gut issue is connected to something in your grocery cart. But you won’t know unless your system is clean enough to see clearly.

Here’s how to Shine your household food system:

Know your supply chain

When you buy directly from a farm you can visit—or a farmer you can call—you gain real visibility. Instead of decoding 15 egg cartons at the store, you get a single, trustworthy source with transparent practices.

Simplify ingredients

Short ingredient lists are like clean windows: they let you see clearly. That boxed dinner with 47 ingredients? If something goes wrong, you’ll never know what caused it. But with simple whole foods—eggs are eggs, beef is beef—you can actually trace results to inputs.

Regular system inspection

Shining is a habit, not a one-time scrub. Watch for early warning signs:

• Meal prep takes longer than it should

• You’re unsure how to use what’s in your kitchen

• Leftovers keep going bad

• Energy dips or new health symptoms are showing up

These are not failures—they’re signals. Shine reveals them before they become costly.

This week's Shine challenge

Pick one area to "clean up" for better visibility:

Option 1 - Ingredient List Audit: Choose one processed food your family eats regularly. Can you find a simpler, cleaner alternative?

Option 2 - Source Investigation: Pick one staple ingredient (eggs, ground beef, cooking oil) and research exactly how it's produced. Can you find a more local, transparent source?

Option 3 - Energy Tracking: Notice how your family feels 2-3 hours after different meals. Which ingredients provide sustained energy? Which ones lead to crashes?

Simple, clean systems help you feed your family well—and notice when something’s off. That’s the power of Shine.