PART 2: The challenge of eating Ayurvedically and ecologically in a rural town

I live on a farm in a rural township called Alexandra. Most of my clients will be familiar with this town as they reside in Murrindindi or Mansfield Shire, but some may not. I am so passionate about this topic because I believe rural communities deserve to have a better food system!  

Accessing  local, organic and pesticide free fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, flours, spices and herbs is a very difficult and sometimes stressful task, we either don’t have it (meaning we need to travel to wholefood/health food shops in Melbourne), or it costs a fortune to buy! Even more frustrating is the two zucchini’s that cost almost $8 to buy are sitting on a polystyrene tray with plastic wrapped around it! The irony is - food is grown in the country - yet taken back to Melbourne to then be brought back up here to buy! How do you feel about this? Well, it seems a bit silly to me. I am so passionate about this issue that I have fundamentally transformed my relationship with food and the way I go about my shopping.

I love gardening and growing my own food. I started doing this before I become a mother. I use homegrown ingredients in cooking and supplement anything I don’t have with swaps or trades from like-minded friends or purchase from our local fruit and vegetable shop. I also aim to purchase most of our non-perishable food as a community rather than individually (through a friendship-based food cooperative). 

Growing food is one of the most important aspects of my life, it isn’t just a hobby, for me it brings so much richness to my family’s life.

You will notice most of the meal ideas are plant based. A plant-based diet does not mean you are vegetarian or vegan and never eat meat or dairy. Rather it is a diet where you choosing to eat more foods from plant sources. Eating largely a plant-based diet with small quantities of poultry, fish and meat has been shown to reduce a raft of health problems (heart disease, metabolic issues, diabetes, certain cancers, depression etc.) It is also a more ecological way of eating (it is better for our environment).  For example, I have slowly reduced our meat intake by from more than 14+ meals a week to around 7 meals of poultry, fish and red meat (this gradual shift has come without too much protest from my beef farmer husband). This has helped save money and made a noticeable difference to my own personal digestion and wellbeing. 

I firmly believe that my body and my environment deserve to have high quality and nutrient dense food! I firmly believe you deserve this too; however, coming back to the principle that ‘love conquers all’ if organic and pesticide free food is not accessible or cost effective for you – then do not stress. This is not a values or judgment game. You have to do the best with what you have got and with compassion and kindness to yourself you will march on nourishing yourself to the best of your ability. 

Remember eating should never bring you stress – if you can’t find all the ingredients get creative and substitute or just leave out! The most important thing is your commitment to care for your newborn self.