Hannah Neeleman, widely recognized as the luminous face behind the lifestyle enterprise Ballerina Farm and celebrated as a leading figure within the so‑called “tradwife” movement, has become an emblem of domestic artistry and intentional living. Known across her expansive social media audience—numbering over twenty‑one million followers—for her meticulous approach to homemaking and her ability to craft complex, visually exquisite dishes entirely from scratch, one might assume that every meal prepared under her farmhouse roof involves elaborate preparation. Yet, when it comes to the midday meal, Neeleman maintains a refreshingly uncomplicated philosophy. In a conversation with Business Insider, she confessed with characteristic candor, “It’s super simple.” This statement, though seemingly modest, offers a surprising contrast to her reputation for culinary sophistication, the same hands that shape delicate buttermilk pies and assemble golden asparagus tarts being content, at lunchtime, with something intentionally unfussy.
Most afternoons, the thirty‑five‑year‑old entrepreneur—who divides her time between managing a thriving lifestyle brand, overseeing a working cattle farm, and educating her eight homeschooled children—prepares a meal that epitomizes nutritional equilibrium rather than indulgent complexity. The family’s typical lunch plate reflects a foundational trio: a nourishing carbohydrate, a generous serving of lean protein, and a colorful assortment of vegetables freshly harvested from their own garden. This habit, now central to their family’s daily rhythm, traces its origins to Brazil, where Hannah and her husband, Daniel Neeleman, resided for four years following their university studies. Immersed in Brazilian culinary customs, they adopted the practice of serving balanced, whole‑food meals that emphasize nourishment and simplicity over extravagance—a philosophy that has endured even now, on their sprawling Utah property.
Experts in nutrition frequently highlight the wisdom of this approach. Registered dietitians and food science researchers alike have advised that optimal well‑being stems from consuming a variety of unprocessed ingredients rich in fiber, lean sources of protein, and beneficial fats. Such a dietary pattern, abundant in natural textures and devoid of excessive refinement, can enhance energy levels, stabilize blood sugar, and support long‑term metabolic health. Of course, sustaining such a menu is far more feasible in a pastoral environment where one’s pantry overflows with home‑grown produce and grass‑fed meat, as opposed to an urban apartment where fresh ingredients require careful sourcing and time is perpetually scarce.
At the Neelemans’ table, lunchtime often features an appealing array of homemade comfort foods. The carbohydrate component, for instance, may consist of tender potatoes seasoned simply with salt, a serving of fragrant rice, wholesome quinoa, or perhaps freshly rolled pasta. On days when Hannah bakes, the rustic scent of her signature farmhouse bread fills the kitchen, and thick slices of the warm loaf find their way to every plate. Protein typically arrives in the form of a seared steak or slow‑roasted cut of beef—a natural choice, considering that their farm provides an abundant supply of high‑quality meat stored in their freezers. To complete the meal, a vibrant selection of garden vegetables appears, arranged with the same aesthetic care that characterizes all of Hannah’s endeavors.
Strolling among the cattle that graze serenely across her Utah homestead, Hannah embodies the connection between nourishment and stewardship of the land. Her understanding of food is rooted not simply in presentation, but in the biological and environmental cycles that sustain it. Scientifically speaking, the protein on her plate serves a crucial physiological function: it supports the continual renewal of muscle mass, which is vital not only for maintaining physical strength and mobility but also for regulating metabolic processes that influence overall health. Fiber, found abundantly in the produce she grows and the grains she favors, plays a complementary role by facilitating smooth digestion and fostering intestinal wellbeing. Modern research correlates a diet rich in plant fibers with greater microbial diversity in the gut—a sign of robust digestive health. These beneficial microorganisms, often referred to as “good bacteria,” thrive on dietary fiber, transforming it into compounds that strengthen the intestinal lining and fortify the body’s resilience from within.
To accompany their meal, the Neeleman family enjoys a glass of effervescent water kefir, a lightly tangy beverage created through the fermentation of sugar water with kefir grains. Though uncomplicated, this drink is nutritionally sophisticated: it contains live probiotic cultures that enrich the gut’s microbial ecosystem, reinforcing the broader health benefits of their largely unprocessed diet. Such rituals—quiet, consistent, and deeply personal—illustrate how Hannah transforms daily nourishment into a family practice rooted in both tradition and scientific awareness.
Her approach to the day’s earlier and later meals remains equally unpretentious. Breakfast, for instance, centers on a bowl of homemade yogurt enhanced by a scoop of Ballerina Farm’s own maple cinnamon protein powder. The combination delivers creaminess, mild sweetness, and sustained energy without excess complexity. Dinner, by contrast, is guided by flexibility rather than routine, accommodating the family’s diverse schedules and extracurricular obligations. On hectic evenings, she relies on staple ingredients always on hand. “If you just make pasta with meat sauce—ground beef from the fridge, boiled pasta, a touch of marinara—it takes fifteen minutes,” she explains pragmatically, demonstrating that nourishment need not demand hours of preparation to be wholesome and satisfying.
Though the majority of their meals are crafted from scratch, Hannah occasionally embraces the convenience of ready‑made options produced under her own brand. A frozen sourdough pizza from the Ballerina Farm stand, for example, may find its way into the oven when time runs short, offering an effortlessly comforting dinner that still aligns with her values of quality and authenticity. Her disciplined approach to eating leaves little room for processed “junk” foods, which she notes tend to upset her stomach. Yet discipline does not exclude pleasure: she openly admits a fondness for pastries and chocolate in their finest forms. A flaky chocolate croissant enjoyed with coffee or a scoop of premium chocolate ice cream—specifically the Strauss brand’s rich Dutch cocoa variety—constitutes an occasional treat she keeps tucked discreetly in her freezer, hidden not for guilt, but for the simple joy of savoring something special.
Altogether, Hannah Neeleman’s culinary lifestyle exemplifies a delicate balance between nourishment, mindfulness, and practicality. Her meals—grounded in the yield of her own land, inspired by global experiences, and sustained through intention rather than indulgence—demonstrate how profound simplicity can coexist with extraordinary elegance. In making every bite purposeful yet accessible, she reminds her vast audience that true wellness often flourishes not in extravagance, but in the quiet artistry of daily routine.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/tradwife-influencer-ballerina-farm-hannah-neeleman-lunch-high-protein-fiber-2025-10
