For this blog post we want to explore a few of the ways we interact with food, and consider food get-togethers, at Christmas and also other times of the year. We will also touch on the support for people with eating disorders at Christmas.
In November the first Powys Food Network meeting took place, organised jointly by Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations and Cultivate. Cultivate is a cooperative based in Newtown in North Powys, run by volunteers and employees who are dedicated to supporting a resilient local food economy.
The Grow, Cook and Share in Powys Network, which is funded by the Soil Association’s Food for Life get-togethers programme, has been set up to support groups across Powys to get involved in growing, cooking and sharing activities. There are many benefits to a Food Get Together, not just the opportunity to enjoy tasty, wholesome food prepared from locally grown ingredients. The groups who attended the first network meeting in November this year reported that people enjoyed coming together - not just to eat and learn about food - but to socialise. This is a really important aspect of coming together to eat, as isolation and loneliness, which can impact hugely on mental health, are at much higher levels in our local communities since the pandemic.
At Christmas it’s important to look out for family, friends and neighbours who don’t have the opportunity to get together with others for the traditional festive meal, whilst at the same time being sensitive to the wishes of those who choose to enjoy the holiday time quietly by themselves.
My colleague Jen, PAVO's Health & Wellbeing Information Officer, has pulled together some useful information about Powys community groups and venues offering Christmas meals and other activities over the 2021 festive period.
Meanwhile, the next meeting of the new Powys Food network will hopefully take place at Cultivate’s community gardens in Newtown in early 2022. If you’d like to find out more about the network, or even sign up, then email sue.newham@pavo.org.uk
There is a huge amount of research now about the potential impact of our dietary choices on our mental wellbeing. According to the UK charity The Mental Health Foundation: “Eating well – which means having a balanced diet full of vegetables and nutrients – can improve your sense of wellbeing and your mood.”
The article explains the link between different foods and the impact they can have on your mental health and highlights particular foods that can lead to low mood such as those with high levels of fats, sugars and caffeine.
Festive food, of course, is full of these dietary nasties! Perhaps the best approach is one of balance at Christmas - just a few sugary treats but plenty of healthy fresh food for the most part. It’s actually amazing how wonderful fresh fruit and veg can taste when you cut down on your sugar intake. Fresh cabbage and carrots, especially those grown locally and organically, are so naturally sweet to the taste buds!
For anyone living with an eating disorder, the festive season can introduce even more challenges to daily life. Suddenly we’re not just expected to eat three square meals a day, but to snack endlessly on all the so-called Christmas edible goodies that appear in the shops and maybe even as presents from well-meaning family and friends.
Then there is the added hurdle of extra visitors who join the dinner table at festive meal times - family and friends we may not have seen for many months, and who may not understand how anxious such a setting can be for someone living with an eating disorder.
The eating disorder charity Beat has a useful web page of tips for anyone in this situation to help make it as stress free as possible:
Five questions you might have about Christmas with an eating disorder
Young Minds, the charity supporting young people with their mental wellbeing, suggests distraction techniques, adjusting expectations and being kind to yourself if thoughts of Christmas make you feel upset, angry or anxious:
Tips for coping with an eating disorder at Christmas
Beat's helpline services will be open 4pm – Midnight from 24th December to 3rd January. During this time people can call 0808 801 0433, email waleshelp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk or speak to an advisor using one-to-one webchat.
If you need urgent help outside Beat’s opening hours, then contact the Samaritans on 116 123, they are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Favourite festive local produce of our team
Locally produced food has less food miles, supports the local economy, and boosts climate change resilience. Perhaps it also has that extra feel good factor which can help us feel better about ourselves and the planet!
So, what Powys food and drink can we enjoy this Christmas? The Health & Wellbeing team at PAVO tell us about the locally grown / produced food and drink that they most like to enjoy!
Clair Swales - Head of Health & Wellbeing
WJ George Butchers, Talgarth - Turkeys
Originally established as a butcher’s over 135 years ago, W.J. (Billy) George took over ownership of W.J. George Butchers from his uncle in 1935 and it still remains in the family to this very day. It’s our Swales family tradition to buy our Christmas Turkey from here. Their meats are sourced from local farms and there is a real passion for the produce they sell.
Gareth Ratcliffe - Health Promotion Facilitator, Mid Powys
LUCKY 7 Beer
Lucky 7 is an independent brewery in Hay-on-Wye making fresh, modern, creative beers. They produce beers that highlight the quality of the ingredients. Beers that will stimulate and excite the palate. Beers that will complement a moment. They are a must for Christmas day as well as the summer BBQ.
Jackie Newey - Mental Health Information Officer
Kale Nero di Toscana - Italian kale
Straight from our organic veg garden! Perfect greens for Christmas dinner - they can survive all kinds of awful winter weather and still taste so good.
Jen Hawkins - Health & Wellbeing Information Officer
Dairy Dreams local milk
Dairy Dreams is a family run dairy farm on the Powys/Shropshire border producing fresh, pasteurised milk from their herd of free range cows. I love the 1 litre bottles that the milk comes in, reducing the amount of plastic and knowing that my milk has only travelled a few miles from farm to cereal bowl! Also love the great range of delicious ice cream they produce, current favourite is a seasonal gingerbread ice cream for Christmas.
Lucy Taylor - Startwell Development Officer
Wendy's Eco Chic pickles, chutney and oils - Builth Wells
They make such a nice present in a basket or with a festive bow.
Owen Griffkin - Mental Health Participation Officer
Hwgga Ales - microbrewery in Llandrindod Wells
Nice selection of interesting ales named after local landmarks like Lover's Leap and Shaky Bridge and a great present for family and friends from elsewhere.
Sue Newham - Engagement Officer
Richard Edwards’ squashes - Newtown
Richard is a smallholder who grows squashes that you can buy in Cultivate in Newtown. They look like small, knobbly pumpkins, but they taste glorious. I make squash soup or roast them in slices.
A peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our readers near and far
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