Growing and preparing your own food is nothing new, but a trend called food swapping is sweeping Europe and has become local in Ames. Started in January, the Ames Food Swap is the first and only registered food swap in Iowa under the Food Swappers Network. Since the beginning of the year, meetings have been held almost every month, each with a different theme.

According to Kate Ralston, fellow food swapper, every time is something different.

“The food swaps are free and everyone is welcome to participate or just come check us out without bringing items to swap,” Ralston said.

Registered attendees are asked to bring three to four servings of a dish or special ingredient to share. It is expected that once you bring something, you can take home something new in return.

“At first we started with 10 to 12 people at a meeting. We did meal based ideas at first,” said Ali Rost, organizer of the Ames Food Swap.

Thinking that some people might shy away from the idea of bringing a whole meal to the food swap, Rost thought it would be better to have participants bring whatever they would like.

“You can go home with a new ingredient and make a meal using something you didn’t have in your kitchen before,” she said.

Some items at the most recent food swap included dehydrated tomatoes, dried apples, salt and vinegar chips, granola, cookies and black bean hummus.

“My favorite thing about the swap is getting to try things that I wouldn’t normally try. Kate made a coconut vegetable curry one time and it was one of the most delicious things I had ever eaten,” said Kala Sullivan, three-time swapper.

Food swapping is more than just trading food. As soon as you arrive you are greeted by exciting, adventurous and friendly people who are all interested in food. The next food swap is Oct. 26 from 2 to 3 p.m. at Della Viti in Ames. The theme: eerie edibles. For more information and to register, check out their website at www.amesfoodswap.com