> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.themeatmafia.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Courtney Swan (Realfoodology) on Eating Real Food on Tour and Putting Your Money Where Your Values Are - URL: https://www.themeatmafia.com/episodes/courtney-swan-realfoodology-real-food-on-tour/ - Published: 2026-11-04T23:23:43.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-04T23:23:43.000Z - Description: Courtney Swan, the nutritionist behind Realfoodology, on going from tour manager to nutrition educator, stocking a tour bus with real food, and choosing better-raised meat when you can. - Author: Harry Gray - Tags: Raw Milk & Ancestral Foods, Toxins, Mold & Detox, Regenerative Food & MAHA, #blog, #episode, #noble-mention **By The Meat Mafia (Harry Gray and Brett Ender)** *Courtney Swan was two years into a master's program in nutrition when a friend in the music business introduced her to a band. Before long, she was asked to be their tour manager.* She was torn, but she went. Over the years she says she traveled to about 36 countries. The schedule was brutal: shows ending at 1 a.m., then 7 a.m. flights. Part of her job was writing the rider, the list of what a venue stocks backstage, and the list for the tour bus. So she used it: > "everything that came through was organic, didn't have seed oils" ([\~11:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dgPJeRdDgY&t=660s)) The band laughed at first. But it shows something she still believes: you can eat well in chaotic circumstances if you plan for it. Today, through Realfoodology, her message is to start with the basics. On meat, she encourages people to buy better-raised meat when they can, while meeting people where they are on budget: > "put your money where your values" ([\~25:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dgPJeRdDgY&t=1500s)) She also talks about the everyday chemicals in clothing and products that she's still working to cut back on herself. (Timestamps are approximate.) [Listen to the full episode](https://share.transistor.fm/s/8880a458) · [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dgPJeRdDgY) **TL;DR:** Before Realfoodology, Courtney Swan was a touring music manager. She traveled to dozens of countries, worked through late shows and early flights, and stocked the tour bus with real food. Her message is to start with the basics, and to buy better-raised meat when your budget allows. These are her views, not medical advice. **Who is Courtney Swan?** The nutritionist and creator behind Realfoodology, which she started in Austin in 2011\. She also has a background in the music industry. ## Key takeaways - Realfoodology started in Austin in 2011 (\~05:00). - She stocked tour riders and the tour bus with real food (\~10:00 to \~11:00). - Touring schedules are hard on your body, so planning matters (\~10:00). - Buy better-raised meat when your budget allows (\~25:00 to \~26:00). - Start with the basics (\~05:00). - She's still working on reducing chemicals in her clothing (\~51:00). ## From the road to Realfoodology Courtney moved from tour managing to nutrition, and she credits that experience with teaching her how to eat well on the go. SAVE & SHARETHEMEATMAFIA.COM [![Infographic titled Real Food on the Road from Courtney Swan on Meat Mafia episode 179: start basic, plan ahead, skip seed oils, vote with dollars, meet budgets, mind products.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/a7/74/a7746fb4-f95a-43c9-80de-d89d93cfaf68/content/images/2026/11/courtney_swan_card.png)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/a7/74/a7746fb4-f95a-43c9-80de-d89d93cfaf68/content/images/2026/11/courtney%5Fswan%5Fcard.png) Real Food On The Road, from Courtney Swan on MMP #179\. Tap to open the full-size card (1080×1350) to save or share. ## Better meat, realistic budgets She encourages choosing well-raised meat and says the price difference is sometimes small, but she's clear that budgets differ. ## FAQ **Who is Courtney Swan?** The nutritionist behind Realfoodology and a former music tour manager. **How did she eat on tour?** She stocked the rider and the tour bus with organic food that had no seed oils (\~11:00). ## Related on The Meat Mafia - [Charles Mayfield on lard and seed oils](https://www.themeatmafia.com/episodes/charles-mayfield-lard-to-seed-oils-cast-iron-steak/) - [Judy Cho on food sanity](https://www.themeatmafia.com/episodes/judy-cho-food-sanity-carnivore-emotional-eating/) - [More on Raw Milk & Ancestral Foods](https://www.themeatmafia.com/health/ancestral-foods/) - [Browse all episodes](https://www.themeatmafia.com/episodes/) **Get the free guide: 100 Books to Transform Your Health.** Join the Meat Mafia email list and we'll send it to you. [Sign up free →](https://www.themeatmafia.com/100-books/) --- *Disclosure: Meat Mafia hosts Harry Gray and Brett Ender co-own Noble Origins, a grass-fed beef protein with organs. We mention it where it is relevant, so weigh our take with that in mind.* *Not medical advice. This post summarizes a podcast conversation for education. The views are the guest's own. Talk to a qualified clinician before you change your diet, supplements or any medication.*