Why shopping local is good for the family

January 24, 2019

I love the change of season. It’s revitalising seeing the weather patterns shift and sun come out, little signs to let us know that a new cycle is ready to begin. What most excites me though is the availability of a whole new batch of beautiful seasonal produce. Time to experiment with different foods and flavours or rehash old favourite recipes that were enjoyed this time last year. 

There are many benefits to eating a diet based on local and seasonal availability. Here are the top reasons why I prefer to eat this way: 

It’s pretty hard to argue with this point. Foods that are grown locally and picked when they naturally should be are fresher and contain just the right balance of flavour producing chemicals and nutrients to taste absolutely delicious. You have probably experienced this first hand, a juicy mango or slice of crisp watermelon always tastes better in summer than the other seasons. A fresh juice made from naval oranges or mandarins in winter are sweet, juicy and bursting with antioxidants. 

All fruits and vegetables start to lose nutrients immediately after they are harvested, so the best produce is the fresh produce. This is why I love shopping locally at market gardens or at my local greengrocers – they let me know what the best foods are in season and where they come from. 

Seasonal and local produce tends to be more abundant and come from local sources. This means reduced production, distribution and storage costs that generally get passed on to the consumer. Healthy cooking and eating doesn’t mean you have to spend lots of money buying food – it just comes down to a little planning and making the effort to fit it into your busy lifestyle. 

Food miles are one of the major issues impacting the sustainability of our food supply. Take a moment to consider the time, labour, resources and energy put into producing food that is then flown around the world to different countries. Food wastage is another huge concern. Last season in Australia, peach growers had to dispose of thousands of plump, ripe peaches and bulldoze down their trees. What a waste of perfectly good produce due to the fact that canneries had reduced their supply quota and supermarkets had enough imported products already lining the shelves. Their peaches had nowhere to go. 

I love nothing more than rising early every few weeks and wandering the aisles of my local farmer’s markets. It is the perfect way to stay in touch with what is in season and build relationships with the amazing people producing my food. The community atmosphere at the markets is electric, local producers being supported by people who share their love of fresh, seasonal produce. For me, the farmer’s markets truly encompass seasonal eating and the paddock to plate philosophy. 

If shopping at your local farmers market or local greengrocer is new to you, consider it a way of putting your money into the Australian economy, which is essential to keeping our economy vibrant and healthy. 

Local businesses also are owned by your friends and neighbours who live in your community and are invested in providing products based around their own interests and the needs of their local customers. 

Foods that are available out of season have generally been stored for long periods of time or are flown or shipped from halfway around the world to ensure a steady supply all year round. Certain nutrients like vitamin C and cell-protecting phytochemicals are particularly susceptible to losses from prolonged storage and transportation. This is why I love shopping at my local farmer’s markets – they let me know the best foods in season and where they’ve come from. 

Quality produce is at the heart of all my recipes which is why I like to shop locally. My motto: “Keep it simple, keep it fresh and make it yourself” means that I will only source fresh, nutrient-rich produce to develop recipes and make my meals. 

You only need to shop once at a local farmers market to realise the quality of the produce. For instance, I find that tomatoes from the farmers market are extremely aromatic and delicious in flavour. I also find apples taste sweeter and have much more crunch and juiciness. Rocket leaves from the markets are often a darker green colour and have a very strong sharp and peppery flavour, unlike some of the store-bought varieties. 

These are the types of foods that are often in many types of family meals so you could easily make a fun day out at the local markets with your kids to help educate them on where their food comes from and why it’s good for them. 

For me, the farmer’s markets embody eating with the seasons and the paddock to plate philosophy. When you think local first, and buy local when you can, you also help preserve what makes your local community unique. 

By Teresa Cutter – The Healthy Chef

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Just like giving your house a spring clean, I’ve put together a few simple steps to detox your kitchen so you can take control of the food you eat, which will support your overall health and quality of life. 

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In what has become an increasingly connected world, where we can be contacted at all times of the day and night, pretty much anywhere in the world, the pressure to be available at the drop of a hat can be considerable. 

But just because we have the means to always be available doesn’t mean that we always should be, far from it. 

Planning on a New Year’s revolution!

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It happens every 31st of December. Millions of people all over the world promise themselves to improve at least one important aspect of their lives and make it their New Year’s resolution to do so.

Budgeting on a fulfilling festive season

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We’re at that time of the year again: the shopping centres are packed, you’re signing dozens of greeting cards, and your little ones have just handed you a ‘wish list’ longer than they are tall. At the back of your mind, you might even be hoping for a treat or two for yourself. 

What is your aged care funding strategy?

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More than 3.6 million Australians, or 16 per cent of the population, are currently aged 65 and over.ⁱThis is projected to grow to 22 per cent by 2061, or more than one in five.ⁱⁱWe’re also living longer. The average Australian can expect to live into their 80sⁱⁱⁱ, and many of us will live beyond 90.^iv

That means more of us will need some form of aged care late in life. And as pressure grows on aged care service providers to cater for more people, the costs may rise.

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Thinking about finances in your thirties

November 27, 2018

Whatever the goal, reaching age 30 is a turning point for many of us. Whilst it may mean life is getting more serious, by the time we’re in our 30s we’re keen to retain our individuality and remain determined to have fun. With a little planning you can make this age even more enjoyable.

The following stories may inspire you to start now to build a stronger financial future.

And now there are three

Jake and Sara have just had their first baby and two salaries are now one. Expenses have shot up and together with the emotional challenges a young baby brings, they have to juggle their money to cope. Not wanting to return to full-time work yet, Sara applies for Family Tax Benefits to help make ends meet. Both now realise they should have thought of that earlier and adjusted their budget accordingly.

Getting treatment when you want it

Mike is an all-round sportsman and at age 35 his niggling injuries send him to the physio more often than he’d like. He enquires about private health insurance and learns that, on top of his premium, he will pay a Lifetime Health Cover loading of 2% for every year over 30 where he didn’t have private hospital cover. This means he will pay an extra 10%. Although he qualifies for a tax rebate which gives some reprieve, Mike wishes he had taken out health cover before he turned 30.

Play safe with loved ones

Lucy always wanted kids and now has three under the age of six. Being a stay-at-home mum is her passion. Husband Chris loves his young family and would do anything for them. One day he is knocked off his bike riding to work and spends a month in a coma after which he faces a long period recuperating. Chris had Total and Permanent Disablement cover in his super fund but it didn’t pay out because he is expected to recover. His leave entitlements were quickly used up and Lucy and the kids struggled. Income protection insurance would have made life more bearable for this family during this awful time.

Keeping what you’ve earned

34-year-old Jennifer has hit the jackpot. Her career took off two years ago and she’s earning more money than she ever imagined. But she’s horrified at how much tax she’s now paying. A friend refers Jen to a financial planner and she learns about strategies like salary packaging, salary sacrificing, and that investing in shares and property can save her tax as well as build her personal wealth. If only she’d asked earlier.

Every person will be at a different stage in meeting their lifestyle and financial goals by age 30. Regardless of whether you are well on the way, just getting started or haven’t even set your goals, there’s no time like the present to come and have a chat to us about how you can make the most of this exciting time in your life.

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Do you ever take your child to the supermarket and let them hand the money to the cashier? Perhaps they’re applying their newfound counting skills to sorting out your spare change? Or maybe they’ve got their first piggy bank to stash away a few cents here and there? These things aren’t just cute ways to keep them entertained. Whether you know it or not, your children are already developing a relationship with money that will last a lifetime. 

Covered at every age

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Life insurance is something that too many people set and forget. Or worse, don’t look at until they’re older. Some people think that the life insurance within their superannuation will be enough, when in fact it’s usually a bare minimum of cover that needs topping up. The truth is that, from the time you have your first proper job to the end of your life, you’ve got life insurance needs – and they change just as often as your lifestyle and personal proclivities.