Tuesday, November 20, 2012
When Daniel and I first moved out together we lived in a tiny fibro beach shack. The kitchen was small but sweet - glass jars held lentils, nuts and rice, the fruit bowl was always full, we lit a candle in lieu of the fluorescent light above. I would spend most nights at the yoga studio so I cooked our evening meal in the afternoon - dhal, vegetarian curries, pesto pasta.
Lately I've been thinking a lot about the way we ate back then. I prepared food in a considered and calm way; because I had time. Now time is minimal and the fussiness of a five-year-old has significant affect on what I cook and how I cook it. The 'easy' meal has become the 'regular' meal and whilst we always eat well, we can eat better.
In the past few months I've been collecting a few books and seeking inspiration within - Super Natural Cooking, Feeding The Whole Family and Wholefood for Children. I've learnt a lot from these passionate authors who, in their own way, are encouraging a whole approach to shopping, cooking and eating with awareness. But my greatest inspiration has come from Heather's online workshop The Whole Food Kitchen - a gift from the lovely Steph. Over the past eight weeks I have received an abundance of what I would call 'gentle kitchen guidance'. There are stories, advice, a whole food checklist and a plethora of recipes that never, ever daunt me. I feel like it's been the perfect foundation for my own whole food kitchen and I highly recommend it if you're attempting to wander down a whole food path.
So what does our new kitchen look like? Well, there's only wholegrains, there's still meat and dairy (organic) and there's a little sweetness too (moderation is such a good thing). The biggest change has been the exploration of new recipes and new ways of incorporating plants into each meal; we're all for a plant-rich diet - good for the body, the wallet and the planet. Perhaps the most surprising revelation in regards to Che's palette has been the power of texture - often it's not the taste of vegies that disgust the child but the texture of them. Che will eat raw carrot but the moment I blanch, cook or roast it he turns up his nose. Hence we always have some fresh greens and raw vegies on the table and I make fresh juice most days.
Of course, there is an ongoing food debate no matter what your diet involves. Raw is good, raw is bad, meat is good, meat is bad, sugar is poison and dairy will make you fat. Sheesh! Factor in a picky child, a baby, perhaps an intolerance or two and you have a full-time kitchen dilemma. Finding enjoyment in that scenario can be challenging. My advice? Take it slowly, be open to suggestion, buy wholegrain over white (bread, flour, rice) and remember that baked beans on rye toast is a very, very good meal (so is boiled eggs, pikelets and a "taster plate" - perhaps some cherry toms, cheese, crackers, celery, carrot sticks, raisins).
Do you have a whole food kitchen? If so, what's your advice for those wanting to change the way they eat?
If you're seeking wholefood inspiration I suggest you visit Nikki, Meagan and Natalie. For a poetic take on food, visit G. And if you really like the look of that wood fire oven above, consult popa, via me!
Labels: food for the soul , simple food , the vegie patch , the whole food kitchen
Friday, April 01, 2011
Labels: food for the soul , me and him
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
A red balloon, a smiley face and a piece of ribbon. It's the simple things that create the most joy in children. It's good to be reminded of that every so often. Che played with this balloon for a good few hours while we had afternoon tea at a cafe and wandered along the sea wall. It was so good to watch him. I've been looking at all of his toys lately with the critical eye of a nesting Muma seeking space. We have always been so careful with the toys that have entered our home and have embraced the wooden, handmade, muma-made kind. But with a Christmas and a birthday each year, regular op-shop visits and special treats from loved ones, the pile has grown/is growing. Does he play with all of them? No, he doesn't. When I put toys away he doesn't miss them and when I reintroduce them a few months later it's like they're new again. I'm planning a clean out soon. I'll do it when I'm home alone.
Labels: corners of my home , food for the soul , i like taking photos
Sunday, February 06, 2011
I did a fortnightly grocery shop today. I came home with a full trolley and a significantly less abundant wallet. Everything, it seems, is more expensive each and every time I visit the supermarket. As a repercussion of floods and cyclones, many crops have been ruined. The woman that organises our organic fruit and veg deliveries is already noticing a dramatic change in price and availability.
What is a frugavore?
‘Frugavore’ describes a ‘love of frugality’.. So in a cooking sense, a ‘frugavore’ is a person who grows much of their own food, buys local produce, wastes nothing and always eats well.
What inspired you to write "Frugavore"?
I had long been into buying organic and local produce, but the inspiration to write Frugavore started when I was teaching a group of kids in a temporary housing estate how to cook healthy food on a low budget. I wanted to show them that eating low-budget meals didn’t have to constitute eating junk food and processed food from the supermarket or fast-food outlet. You could eat good quality food on a low budget - you just needed to source and prepare it frugally.
So I started writing up weekly recipes and tips for the kids and eventually this collection of ideas became the first draft of Frugavore…
Can you tell me a little about your journey towards changing the way you shop, cook and eat?
The journey to becoming a frugavore was definitely an eventful one! It involved growing more of our own food (this meant ripping up the front lawn to start a vegie patch) we got a few chickens, built up our compost pile (so that less rubbish left our property, all of it turned into fertiliser for the garden) and also started buying more produce directly from our local farm.
Along the way, I soon realised how wasteful our previous habits of food preparation and storage had been. I think that becoming a frugavore made me a lot more conscious about the environmental implications of food and how much we had previously wasted. Now, I can’t look at produce that has excess packaging or won’t easily biodegrade easily into my compost. Once you start being a frugavore, it’s hard to stop!!
But I think the biggest benefit of being a frugavore is that it is really a lot of fun, and our lifestyles have changed all the better for it .... I have come to love waking up early in the morning just to water the garden, coming home from work to see the chickens walking up their ramp into their house. And I still get a huge amount of enjoyment out of spending a Saturday afternoon weeding and harvesting plants for the upcoming week, making stock out of chicken feet and carcasses, and preserving our food whenever I have a moment free.
What has the response from readers been like?
The response from people has been great! I’ve had plenty of people come up to me at farmer’s markets and food stores telling me about the vegetables they are growing and the chicken stock that they’re making. A lady approached me in my yoga class last week telling me about the guerrilla garden that she’s set up in front of her apartment block. I love hearing about these things!
Do you think, as a whole, the nation is becoming more conscious of the food we buy and consume?
Definitely. I think people are beginning to realise the environmental cost of our ever-expanding food waste. Our landfills are vastly overflowing, and there is an excess of chemical run-off seeping into our oceans. In Australia alone, annual food waste is estimated at 5.3billion each year. That’s a lot of money!
At the same time, people are craving a healthier food supply with more nutrient-dense produce. This can only be achieved if we connect directly to the source of our food (by growing it ourselves, or shopping directly from the farm or local seller). We need to cook more food at home and cut out processed foods from our diet.
There has also been a strong move toward connecting to local farms and supporting local food economies during the past decade. This can be seen in the increase in grass-root food movements such as Slow Food (www.slowfood.com <http://www.slowfood.com> ), The Weston A. Price Foundation (www.westonaprice.org <http://www.westonaprice.org> ), community gardens, guerrilla gardening and landshare movements. I hope that we see even more of these movements in the future!!
Can you give three simple tips for how to save money at the checkout without sacrificing quality in the trolley?
1- TIPS FOR FRESH PRODUCE: Always look for produce that is in season as it will be fresher, better for you and usually cheaper too (as it is in local abundance). If you are able to shop through local producers you will often get a better deal on fresh produce as the price will fluctuate more. You can also have the satisfaction that you are supporting the local food economy.
2- TIPS FOR CHICKEN & DUCK: Look for the best quality produce (ie organic, free-range chicken), but buy food in bulk rather than the smaller cuts.
For example – two chicken breasts cost roughly the same amount as a whole chicken (at most, they are a dollar or two cheaper). Two chicken breasts really only allow for dinner for two people. So instead, if you buy the whole bird, you can roast it or make it into chicken soup (I have an awesome recipe for this in Frugavore). If you roast it, you can collect all the scraps after the meal and make it into stock, and then use this as a base for a light soup the following night. With either dish, you can use the leftovers (chicken meat) to make an easy leftover dish such as chicken with rice.
3- TIPS FOR LAMB, BEEF & FISH: Look for the cheaper cuts of meat and fish – casserole cuts, off-cuts, bones and fish heads. These ‘off-cuts’ are often significantly cheaper than the prime cuts (steak, eye-fillet etc). If you buy the ‘off-cuts’ you can then justify spending those extra dollars on better quality meat (look for grass-fed and organic). Fish heads and bones are often given away at markets and these form a beautiful base for fish soup (which is highly nutritious).
Labels: food for the soul , giveaway , we love books
Monday, October 04, 2010
A grey long weekend with heavy rain at night and pockets of sunshine in the day. The beach-side Farmer's Market on Sunday morning was brimming with umbrellas, gumboots and French market baskets, We spent up: kumquat marmalade, honey, organic sourdough, salt-bush lamb, apple pie, lemons and Portuguese tarts. And then we ate. For the rest of the weekend. The yumminess was interspersed with homemade chai and copious cups of tea.
Labels: food for the soul , seasons
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
pears wrapped in paper (& other wonderful things)
...and brown paper packages tied up with string. Just a few of my favourite things.
Labels: food for the soul , handmade , thrifting
Monday, March 01, 2010
This morning i woke to the sound of rain and the comfort of the quilt pulled right up to my chin. Bliss in itself until I realised that Daniel didn't have to go to work and I was treated to a sleep-in. On this first day of Autumn I'm so thankful for the rain, the cool air, the freshly made chai (filling the house with its heady scent - recipe in the next few days) and the choc-chip cookies that I finally got around to baking. I taught a pre-natal class this morning, recorded a pre-natal yoga nidra cd in a recording studio and unpacked a fresh delivery of organics. There's a few more things to do before I settle down to read this and reflect on the hot yet beautiful summer just gone.
Labels: food for the soul , seasons
Saturday, October 10, 2009
The past week has been wet and cold and i'm liking it. It was too unusually warm for Spring so a quick return to late winter has been welcomed. In keeping with my deep-seeded desire to shop with more intention and less spontaneity, and hence eat the same way, I decided to finally start a little vegie patch. Small to begin with - there are only three of us. My Dad had grown vegies for as long as I can remember (I used to collect beans in my skirt) and so he helped us establish a little patch and Ché took to planting...pegs. With all the care and concentration he could muster he pushed coloured pegs into the earth and stood back, proud at his work. Perhaps they will grow...you never know.
It was good to get down and dig into the earth, a good practice, quite therapeutic. I love using herbs in my cooking (and is there anything better than a jug of ice-cold jug of mint-infused water in Summer?) so I planted lemongrass, coriander, thyme, sweet basil, rosemary and mint. Beans, baby spinach and kale made it into the mix too. I'm wishing, hoping, dreaming for a spring garden like Hugh's - one day.
It's become so clear to me over the past few weeks that the food I eat really affects my moods and energy. Since weaning Ché my appetite for meat has decreased and I'm starting to eat light, raw food instead. A salad of home-grown leaves dressed with seeds, nuts and balsamic...a daily indulgence. I'm back into my full yoga practice too - flowing through a dynamic hatha and ashtanga practice reminds me of the number one rule in Ayurveda - never over eat. Eat slowly, and with awareness. Daniel and I, since we have been together, have always promised ourselves that regardless of how much money we have we will always eat good food. Food grown with love and awareness - cooked and eaten the same way.
I truly believe that breastmilk was the greatest start to Ché's love of food. He eats almost everything. The other night I watched him devour a bowl of tofu. And then he asked for more. I was, still am, so happy.
Labels: food for the soul , seasons , we're growing a vegie patch
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
i've been meaning to write this post for a while now. probably as long as i've been thinking about changing the way i shop. because we have a pretty big shopping centre close to home, the convenience of two-minutes-down-the-road and i'll get those things we need for dinner (plus all those added extras that were on special or the treats my tastebuds fancied at the time) was becoming an all too common occurence. sometimes i'd be there four times a week. i was spending too much time and money there. in that energy sapping place. throw in an almost toddler who can be happy with a punnet of cherry tomatoes for about five minutes and it was fast becoming a stressful part of my week.
but there was one thing that really did it for me. it really made me change.
there i was, pushing the trolley, telling ché we wouldn't be long, when one of the surfie-lookin'-fruit-and-veg-guys said to me: "hey, you're here a lot aren't you."
the guy that stacks the apples had noticed how much i go to the grocery store.
it wasn't my little problem anymore.
other people were beginning to notice.
"Oh, it's just that i live up the road, it's just easy" - i very quickly got out of there.
but truth be told, there is absolutely nothing easy about going to a big grocery store with a toddler. nothing. apart from the cappuchino at the end, there's not much to enjoy about it either.
and then heather, the gorgeous yogini-muma who writes beauty that moves, wrote a post about groceries and how much she spends. read that post (most importantly, read the comments section) and ask yourself: "how much do i spend on food?" . i'm really inspired by the way she lives. the way she shops, cooks and feeds her family. with intention, simple organisation, and a whole lotta love.
so how have i changed the way i shop?
a beautiful friend, muma and yogini runs the most fabulous business. on a monday morning (once a fortnight) she heads down to the markets and buys a small truckload of organic fruit and vegies from local and regional farmers. she brings it all home, separates it into 40 boxes and delivers those boxes to doorsteps across the central coast. my doorstep is one of them. it's exciting to receive such fresh goodness in a box. even better that i know i'm supporting a local muma and lots of local farmers.
as for the pantry goods and dairy? I, once a week, head to the local organic store and if I need to, I'll go to the big grocery store (by myself, and I run around there, as quickly as I can - dodging the surfie-looking'-fruit-and-veg-guy).
i'm spending less time shopping, and more time making good wholesome meals from in-season fruit and veg. it tastes good and it feels good.
throw into the mix the best kale from grandad's garden, plus my own herbs and well...it works for us.
thanks for all your kind comments re. weaning ché. sage tea helped to stop the milk production and i'm feeling great. apparently ché is too - no complaining so far, anyway.
Labels: food for the soul
Friday, March 20, 2009
...with peek-a-boo, fruit bowl antics and the bliss of autumn sunshine. That last pic is my shadow and my dad's new shed. He made it out of recycled materials. My favourite part is the little medicine bottle on the windowsill.
Labels: day-to-day , food for the soul , nature , seasons
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
doing nothing. After a busy and joyous Christmas we have spent our days just lazing about. Which only makes me realise how important it is to be still and quiet for a while - because it ultimately makes everything more enjoyable, doesn't it. Our summer has been sweltering and so we have only visited the beach in the early morning or evening - the sun is too hot and harsh for fair baby skin. Thankfully our house is cool and catches a subtle sea breeze...it is the perfect abode for these warm months. We've been puttering, playing, reading and basking in the shade...and I don't want it to end!
I feel I've been spolit too. My love found me this gorgeous old (new to me) bike which is currently awaiting attention (red paint, basket & bell). And the umbrella - stripes and fringing, everything I've always wanted in a beach umbrella.
Che was gifted some beautiful toys and books at Christmas time. I use 'some' in the best possible way - enough presents to excite and not to overwhelm. I especially loved the simple gifts - the homemade biscuits, tomatoes from the garden, our celebratory evening meal under the grapevine, the abundance of ribbon and the sweet messages on cards. Feasting, family, friends and a few snapshots...it's what I remember most and I remember it all fondly.
Most evenings after Che has fallen into slumber, Daniel and I eat dinner on our balcony. A casual dinner outside - summer in all its glory. Curries infused with kaffir lime leaves, easy salads, a simple tomato and zucchini pasta. Perhaps ice-cream and mango for dessert. Sure it's been hot, really hot, but it's been so good too. I really don't want it to end.
Labels: celebrations , day-to-day , food for the soul , giving , seasons , we live near the beach
Thursday, December 04, 2008
He helps unpack the shopping, taking bites from the fresh fruit & veg as he goes. This makes me happy. Very happy.
Cherries. Ripe, red cherries. Christmas indulgence. $6 for 1kg of yummy yummy cherries.
Hand washing. It always seems like such an arduous task. I procrastinate for weeks sometimes. But I love the satisfaction of delicate garments all fresh and clean and lying on the bed, ready to be put away.
I'm starting to recognise photos in my day. Odd for a writer to find that connection with a camera. Nice though. Nice.
Labels: daily rhythm , day-to-day , food for the soul
