Do More with Less During a Pandemic
Wondering how to do the most for your family with limited options?
Allow me to tell you about the simple actions I’ve taken to keep healthy at home, by supporting my favourite local businesses!
By now (i.e. day “who even knows” of social distancing) I’ve gotten lots of requests for advice on healthy eating with limited options. I’m here to help inspire you with this post by telling you about the positive steps I’ve taken, but if I’m being totally transparent, I’ll have you know that I’ve been going through the motions too (highs then lows, grief then gratitude, fear then inspiration, emotional eating then losing appetite, eating sweets then greens…etc etc). Not even nutritionists are immune to the effects of losing a sense of normalcy! If this sounds familiar to you because you are feeling a similar way, or are helping a child to navigate these feelings, you are not alone. This is such a normal response to losing routine, especially if you are an empath (like me) and are having a hard time thinking about the suffering that is happening in real-time around you.
COVID-19 is causing suffering and that is a fact, but human kind is also being given a gift. We are being called to pause and reflect, to think about our friends, family, neighbours and the state of our own health.
We are being called to find new routine, new ways of being in the World. Places that support our innate needs for consistency and routine, like grocery stores, now have temporary risk attached. Avoiding grocery stores can cause feelings of food insecurity, which is leading to chaos, especially here in North America (I mean, guys…toilet paper? Really?). So, instead of panic buying and hoarding more than we need, I want to encourage you all to take a big deep breath and act with intention rather than fear.
Why?
Social Isolation on a personal level is tough, but it poses an entirely different challenge for small businesses. Being called to stay home & safe is making it harder than ever for businesses to stay afloat (even with the promise of government funding). Small businesses need organic traffic and word of mouth. Organic traffic is down, but intentional support and word of mouth don’t have to be! With less work and more time, the financial pinch is real for many, but we can all do more with less by putting our money where it counts within our communities.
Without further ado, I’m going to take you through the steps I’ve taken to stay healthy at home, by supporting my favourite local businesses! Please note I am not currently affiliated with any of the companies or businesses listed in this blog post.
1. JOIN A CSA!
What’s that, you ask? CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, fostering a connection between farmer and consumer. Buying a CSA share from an Organic farm contributes to sustainable agriculture by helping a farmer to grow food the way nature intended. Plus, you can reap the benefits of the bounty all season long!
CSAs are wonderful for families, as they provide a great learning opportunity for young people to try new foods and learn where the food on their plates really comes from. I am so happy to have joined one; during this COVID-19 pandemic, it provides a nice sense of comfort knowing I won’t be relying on grocery stores (or buying into their prices!) to get the fresh produce my family needs to thrive. Eating Organic produce also provides great immune system benefit by removing exposure to common agricultural toxins.
I have been part of the Taproots Green Gardens CSA (Sarnia, ON) for two seasons now and am so excited to see what the 2020 season will bring.
2. BULK-ORDER MEAT
How gorgeous is that bounty?! I took this photo while visiting an open house at Meeting Place Organic Farm (Lucknow, ON). I firmly believe in the benefits of eating a traditional diet, with the inclusion of grass-fed animal products. In order to feed my family the best, I buy the following products from this farm a few times yearly and keep a stock in the freezer/pantry: beef, chicken, pork, eggs, maple syrup, apple butter & preserves.
The biggest barrier to buying organic and grass-fed is that it is more expensive. If you seek out a local farm (like this one) and buy direct, much of the retail cost is taken out- equalling out quite closely to supermarket prices.
With that considered, even at a slightly higher price point, if you are focused on healing this is a very important component. You are what you eat EATS. You don’t want to be consuming the GMO grain that your conventional piece of steak ate. Choose wisely for the health of your family and do more with less by giving your dollar to an Organic farmer. This goes a long way for everyone.
*COVID-19- This farm is offering no-contact pick-up and delivery options! I did mine last week!
3. ORDER FRESH LOCAL FOOD
On The Move Organics (London, ON) is making Organic & low-waste living so accessible by delivering fresh food boxes filled with produce grown right here in Southwestern Ontario. They also offer a variety of pantry staples (think breads, pasta, baking ingredients, dried legumes & grains etc.) and meat/dairy!
In order to avoid grocery stores during COVID-19, I have been receiving one of these gorgeous food boxes every Friday! It is truly the highlight of my week. The most recent one arrived around 6:30 PM, which was perfect timing for dinner. I had prepared a gluten-free pizza crust and once my fresh shiitake mushrooms, basil and goat cheese arrived at my doorstep we were ready to roll!
By putting your dollar with On The Move Organics, rather than a big-box grocery chain, you are supporting local business owners and local farmers! What could be better than that.
*Know a family struggling during COVID-19? Why not send them a food box! Click the button below to see all the great options available!
4. START A BACKYARD HOMESTEAD
That’s right, if you can’t access it during the pandemic…grow it! Or, support a local farm by purchasing chickens from them- who will then “grow” food for you…by laying eggs!
I don’t live on a farm and I don’t have a massive yard, but I have more time than ever right now and chickens don’t need much to thrive. I have had backyard chickens before and they brought such joy with their sweet clucks and fresh eggs, so here goes round 2!
You would be surprised at just how incredibly easy this is. All you need is a coop, bedding, food & water. My chickens eat mostly grass because this makes their eggs much healthier, but they are receiving some Organic grain as a supplement since is still cold outdoors here in Ontario. I give them daily fresh produce as a treat too and they love it.
Chickens not your thing? More interested in growing produce? Purchase or build some garden beds to grow all of your family’s favourites. This is a great way to get your kids involved with the food they are eating by allowing them to watch the growth cycle from seed to crop. There are proven health benefits of letting your kids get their hands in the dirt too! One of which is the positive effect this has on the microbiome. For locally sold raised garden beds, check out New England Arbors. I love the beautiful design and functionality of the whole line!
5. USE ALL OF THE ABOVE TO PLAY IN THE KITCHEN
I know I sure have been! Check out some of the dinners & snacks I’ve made this week, inspired by…using food before it goes bad. Check them out under the recipes tab on the site!
Some closing notes…
I hope this post serves to provide you with a dose of inspiration to shop local in support of the health of your community and family. If you are looking for some more individualized guidance to figure out which foods are best for you or your child during this time, I am taking on new clients (virtually) during this time and would love to hear from you! Click to find out what services I am offering.
With gratitude,