Rinella’s Take on Healthy Eating

As discussions about diet and nutrition continue among Americans, Steven Rinella, from Montana, offers a refreshing perspective on healthy eating. To him, it’s less about counting calories or scrutinizing protein sources and more about the experience of sourcing food directly from nature.

“Going out to hunt or fish means spending time outdoors,” Rinella shared in an interview. “It’s about being active and discovering ingredients, which, honestly, is a pretty good workout.”

This philosophy underpins a new box set that features two of his celebrated cookbooks: The MeatEater Fish and Game Cookbook and The MeatEater Outdoor Cookbook. Rinella asserts that food, physical fitness, and the great outdoors are all deeply intertwined, whether cooking in the kitchen, on a backyard grill, or at a campsite.

While wild game isn’t typically marketed as a health food, Rinella believes it might be one of the cleanest options available. “In my opinion, it’s the healthiest food you can eat,” he stated.

“For thousands of years, wild game has sustained humans,” he added with a grin. “I didn’t come up with this concept; it’s been around forever.”

Cooking wild game does require attention to food safety. The CDC recommends specific temperatures: 145 degrees Fahrenheit for bison and lamb, 160 degrees for bear, and 165 for poultry. Unlike conventional meat from stores, Rinella pointed out that wild game is often lower in fat and contributes to greater transparency about where food comes from.

“In our home, we eat what we see—we understand if it was grown or hunted,” he explained. He feels that activities like hunting and fishing not only provide food but also encourage physical activity, both of which are crucial for health.

“Acquiring food involves rigorous exercise and time spent outdoors. You can’t really separate them,” Rinella noted.

This sentiment extends to cooking as well. While wild game might be less familiar to some, Rinella views it as a chance to cook with more mindfulness. “If your game isn’t good, it boils down to one of two issues: it was either undercooked or overcooked,” he said.

His recipes focus on making things from scratch and being flexible, especially with leaner meats. “You have to approach game differently than you would chicken or beef,” he remarked.

Much of Rinella’s cooking is outdoors. “It’s a way of life that connects you with nature and brings you closer to family and friends while making food from scratch,” he expressed. “Once you try it, you’ll realize it’s a fulfilling and healthy way to live.”