Easter can be an unnecessarily junk-filled and wasteful time of the year so we wanted to put together some ideas and tips to help you, the family and the environment get a little healthier over this period!
You’ll find a new recipe at the end too: Gooey Caramel Easter Eggs!
“I use Easter as a time to be creative and have fun. I LOVE Easter hat paradesโฆ and NOT just buying cheap bling to stick on a cheap hat and then throw away pull out the recycled paper and cardboard and MAKE something unique! We also enjoy blowing real eggs out and then painting them, and storing them like Christmas decorations to bring out each year! We have an โEaster Treeโ that tends to be minimalist branches/sticks foraged and painted white to hang the painted eggs onto.
And our egg hunt is more cryptic with lots of clues and the kids having to search all around the house and yard for the next written clue and location to search “
Some great ideas and inspiration there for a more eco-conscious Easter with the family this year!
Check out their shop and special Easter items! What a great local Sunny Coast biz!
“My children are 12 and 6 and for them it is about the chocolate hunt. Key is to keep away from any chocolate that is wrapped or presented in plastic. Foil can be recycled. Collect the foils of your chocolate and form them into a big ball or disk. They have to be as big as your hand balms for the recycling machine to pick it up. “
YES!
The recycling promoters such as Planet Ark suggest say it’s essential all alfoil (not the ‘made from recycled materials’ kinds though) is rolled together into large balls before being placed in the curb side recycle bin.
“You can get eggs in bulk or per unit at any The Source Bulkfoods stores and itโs deliciously package free”
Love this idea for reducing plastic use and waste! Bulk foods stores usually have paper bags for scooping bulk foods in to buy, usually you can take a jar or your own bag too, as long as they can weigh it first. If you buy some healthier eggs or treats, place in a jar and pretty it up it makes a gorgeous and eco-friendly gift for loved ones!
Thanks Larissa!
#6 from Kayley Farraway Tree Family Day Care
Egg Threading craft activity!
“- Recycled cereal box cut into eggs
– Hole punch
– Rainbow wool
**Tip – wrap some sticky tape around the end of the wool to make a needle like point, making threading easier for little hands.”
What a great way to use up scraps of yarn, to recycle/upcycle some cardboard laying around the house (or raid the recycle bins in the street for some) and to keep the kids occupied these holidays!
Also a fantastic activity for improving fine motor skills!
We love this great choc egg swap idea using timber eggs from a craft store (or get the hubby to make in the garage if he’s clever enough!) decorated with safe eco-friendly paints. Perfect for n Easter Egg Hunt, as decorations around the home in bowls or hanging with string, as gifts (you could personalise them for the recipients)… so much creativity to be enjoyed with these!
If you can find a local maker of something like this and prefer to buy instead of make, that’s an option too. These guys are in the UK so for any followers of ours over there, hit them up!
I also suggest sourcing ingredients produced locally when possible, fresh and organic meats, eggs, fruit and veggies, or at least use the Dirty Dozen Clean 15 list and make as many dishes and foods from scratch as you can so you have full control over what’s going into them.
RECIPE: Gooey Caramel Easter Eggs
Ingredients
100g chocolate (your fave block from the health food section/store or chunks from the bulk bin – dark is best)
1/4 cup raw honey (locally sourced is best)
1/2 cup pure coconut milk
Pinch of pink salt
Water for the double boiler
โHandy items to have
Tray
Easter egg moulds
Silicon spatula
Spoon
Small saucepan
Whisk
Measuring cup
Double boiler of some kind (I use a glass container that sits nicely on top of a saucepan)
Method
Make the caramel by simply heating the coconut milk, honey and salt in a small saucepan, whisking regularly and letting it thicken up to no longer have a runny consistency. Have the temp up high initially to allow the mixture to boil then turn it right down to simmer until ready. Remove from the heat and allow to cool down completely before using
Melt the chocolate using a double boiler method
Spoon the runny chocolate into the moulds and half fill them, ensuring the sides to the tops are coated. It can help to have had the moulds in the fridge beforehand, as the chocolate will then stay on the sides easier
Place the moulds on a tray and into the freezer to become firm
Remove them from the freezer and use a small spoon to place a dollop of cooled caramel sauce in the centre of each on top of the firmed chocolate
Spoon more runny chocolate over the top to fill in the rest of the space in the moulds then return to the freezer to finish setting. Keep a couple of teaspoons or so of runny chocolate aside for putting the egg halves together. Use a silicon spatula to tidy up any chocolate spillage and drips.
Once the rest of the chocolate has set, it’s time to bring the individual halves together by gently scoring the flat parts, rubbing on the last of the runny chocolate and firmly placing the halves together to make whole eggs then allowing, once again, to set (fridge or freezer). Try to fill in any gaps along the seems by using your finger to spread the chocolate
โThese eggs should then be able to stay out of the fridge and can be wrapped in foil pieces from the craft store for gifts, egg hunts etc.
This disclaimer governs your use of Under the Primal Influence Blog. By using this website, you accept this disclaimer in full. If you disagree with any part of this disclaimer, do not use Under the Primal Influence Blog or any affiliated websites, properties, or companies. We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. You should therefore check back periodically for changes. By using this website after we post any changes, you agree to accept those changes, whether or not you have reviewed them.
All information and resources found on Under the Primal Influence Blog are based on the opinions of the author unless otherwise noted. All information is intended to motivate readers to make their own nutrition and health decisions after consulting with their health care provider. I am not a doctor, lawyer, psychiatrist, therapist, or your mother, and I donโt play one on the internet.
The author of this site encourages you to consult a doctor before making any health changes, especially any changes related to a specific diagnosis or condition. No information on this site should be relied upon to determine diet, make a medical diagnosis, or determine treatment for a medical condition. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.
NO information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease or condition.
None of the posts and articles on Under the Primal Influence Blog may be re-printed without express written permission of the author. Primal Influence will respond to written requests to re-print parts of posts and excerpts/quotes (10% or less) may be reprinted with attribution as long as all links are left intact.
It can be so stressful trying to create a healthy space in the kitchen, for ourselves and for the planet. So from what we buy, use, eat and do in the kitchen we’re sharing our top tips for making healthier choices (and reducing stress!).
We hope it helps you and your fam!
DIY Flavour Mixes
If you’re used to buying and consuming pre-made flavour products like sauces, marinades, spice mixes etc it can be pretty daunting at first to think of making your own versions from scratch, but I promise, it’s really not hard and once you start you’ll find it gets even easier pretty quickly!
I like to buy organic dried and herbs from bulk stores such as The Source, especially when trying out new flavours and I don’t want to commit to owning heaps of something, and sometimes the mixes I create are from recipes, based on recipes but tweaked, or just totally random. Often those random creations are the tastiest!
Don’t be afraid to play around with herbs and spices. If you don’t absolutely love a mix you’ve created at first, you can usually change it and get it ‘right’. Start out with just a few simple flavours you know you like then get more adventurous when you feel like it.
Here are some flavour combo ideas to try:
– Rosemary, basil, thyme, oregano for pasta sauces – Coriander and cumin powders with pink salt mixed well into mince for patties (great with turkey mince!) – DIY Mexican sauce: coriander powder, lime juice, tomato paste, sweet paprika – Oregano is subtle and goes nicely with veggies (mash, cauli rice, on roast veg, everything) – Rosemary on roast veggies including pumpkin and cabbage is delish, especially with ghee drizzled on
Once you find the combos you and your family like, make larger amounts (dry stuff only) and store in jars in the cupboard.
Remember to try and avoid using sugars, white vinegar etc, as the point here is to make HEALTHY swaps!
Bulk-Buy When Possible
It’s not always doable but when you can buy meat and produce in bulk amounts it’s better for the environment and usually better for the bank account too.
Butchers will often sell (or make on request) larger quantities of meat for a lower price. E.g. 2kg mince for a few dollars less. Farmers offer 1/4, 1/2 and whole beast options which is almost always cheaper. Many health food stores these days have bulk food bins (but check the per kilo price compared to packaged products just in case they’re way more exy), local co-ops offer bulk buy options, produce sections at shops and markets all allow for bulk buying, plus you can often find larger sized canned and jar products depending where you shop.
For example, Clint and I like to get a huge 1.6kg tub of grass-fed ghee when we visit my mum in Brissie cos it’s cheaper and uses less packaging. Win!
We often buy 2-3kg of offal mince mix from a local butcher in just 2 bags instead of 500g packs. I recycle the plastic and separate the mix up into smaller containers at home. Easy!
Sometimes though, bulk buying food is cheaper but not eco-friendly and sometimes it’s the other way around. E.g. going in on 1/4 an animal from a local farmer may save you bucks but they might use packaging that isn’t recyclable. Same with buying a big bag of veggies already made instead of choosing your own loose pieces.
You need to be savvy, work out what your priorities are and why you’re looking into bulk buying, and find the best options that meet your needs and goals.
With more businesses adopting sustainable practices today, and some even contributing to a circular economy, there are more eco-friendly options than ever before. But some are more expensive.
So you can make healthier choices when buying food, cleaning products + more!
Labelling laws in Australia are ok, but they’re not great. For instance, the code for a mixture of ingredients needs to be listed but not what that actually contains. When I first went gluten-free and was doing a lot of research I found out that the code for the caramel colour in a lot of food products may actually contain hidden gluten but that didn’t have to be listed on the nutrition label! Scary!
As a general rule in terms of health for us and the planet, if you can’t understand what an ingredient is then it’s probably best avoided.
๐๐๐๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐ช๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐จ: – avoid highly processed cane sugar (non-organic) – white vinegar isn’t a healthy preservative. Apple cider vinegar is – numbers and codes = toxins and hidden nasties – “low fat” usually means high sugar – added / fortified ingredients such as folate and fibre = bad news – ignore the government star rating, it’s BS – soy in any form isn’t good – look for products with clean and organic ingredients when possible – foods cooked/fried in vegetable oils are highly toxic
๐๐๐๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐ช๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐จ: – avoid products containing phosphates, sodium carbonate, optical brighteners, surfactants, chlorine-based bleaching agents and ingredients derived from palm oil and petrochemicals as they can all harm our waterways and the environment – Planet Ark says to look for… “Biodegradable certifications, such as Australiaโs AS4351 standard. Plant-based (rather than petroleum-based) ingredients. A concentrated formulation. This also has the benefit of less packaging, fewer chemicals per wash and smaller carbon footprint for transportation. Specific ingredient information, such as solvent-free non petroleum-based ingredients, rather than unregulated greenwash claims like โnaturalโ and โeco-friendlyโ.”
Learn to read and understand labels, do some research, ask questions to the manufactures if you want clarity and transparency, and try to choose products with simple and natural ingredients.
Go Green But Don’t Get Green-washed
By “go green” we mean to choose more eco-friendly products and behaviours but to avoid being ‘green washed’ which is a whole new and annoying part of today’s semi-eco-conscious world!
‘๐๐๐๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ฎ’ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฃ ๐ค๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ช๐๐: – Using paper and glass when possible, over plastic – Recycle effectively – Use biodegradable or recycled material cloths and scrubbers – Use natural eco-friendly cleaning products – Using good quality long-lasting cooking implements such as cast iron pans, high quality stainless steel pots and pans, glass baking dishes etc
๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ‘๐๐ง๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐๐๐’ ๐ก๐ค๐ค๐ ๐จ ๐ก๐๐ ๐: Basically, very clever marketing and branding! – ‘Degradable’ plastic items. These do not help the environment, these plastics just break up into smaller pieces, that’s it! – Products made with recycled plastics. These often cannot be recycled again as recycled plastics reach a limit of recyclability. Check with Planet Ark, on the packaging for what to do with the packaging after use, local council. – The words ‘plant-based’, ‘natural’, ‘green’ and ‘eco’ on packaging. If, for example, a dishwashing liquid is cheap like around $2-$3 for a bottle and contains these words it’s more than likely not all that “green” and isn’t safe for the waterways.
The legit biodegradable, compostable, recyclable and eco-safe packaging (bin liners, foil, cling wrap etc) cost a bit more. Those starchy thin bin liners you see in the health food stores cost a lot more then the supermarket ‘degradable’ varieties that still feel like actual plastic (because they are!)
We have 2 small cast iron pans permanently on our stove top, we use them at least 3 times a day and y’know how often we wash them? Maybe once a year if that. It’s so good!
Not only is cast iron one of the healthiest cooking surfaces, it’s incredibly easy to maintain, energy-efficient, can be used in the oven or on the stove, and can make food cook and taste better!
– Fortifies food with iron- Can be bought second hand, easily brought back to life if rusty and therefore reduces the need to buy brand new cookware
– Extremely durable (possibly never having to throw out or replace if looked after)- Really low and easy maintenance
– Sears meat well because it gets hot quickly and easily
– Because it gets hot easily the cooking temp can be reduced quicker making it more energy-efficient
– Creates an even cooking temp BUT the good-health factor can depend on how you season it. If using a seed or vegetable oil then that ruins any chance of it being a healthy cooking surface. Use quality animal fat and it’s soooo healthy!
We do love taking our cast iron camp ovens and pans cooking but even more we love using cast iron every day and will never go back to buying Teflon or any other unhealthy cooking items!
How to look after cast ironused often
Keep a jar of grass-fed tallow or lard (rendered beef or pork fat) by the stove and after cooking with cast iron and while the pan is on the hot plate used (turned off but still warm after cooking) add a little bit of fat to the pan if it looks dry, and spread around evenly for a thin coating
Do not wash your cast iron unless absolutely necessary, and if you do wash it, follow the steps below to season in the oven 1-2 times
After cooking, if food remains, just scrape it off with a spatula and season slightly with a bit of fat if the pan looks dry. We cook eggs and meat on our pans every morning and just scrape off any excess food into the bin or sink
It’s important to only add a thin layer of fat to season after use, or none at all if fatty meat was cooked and left some fat behind. Scrape off excess fat if the meat was really fatty
If wiping down the stove with a wet cloth often, be sure to check the bottom of the pan every so often for signs of rust, then do a seasoning round in the oven as mentioned below if needed
Tomato and other acidic foods break down the seasoning layer so keep that in mind if regularly cooking tomato in the pan
How to bring rusty cast iron back to life
Use natural salt flakes and an old cloth/scourer to scrub any rust flakes or old food off
Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees Celsius
Remove any non-oven proof bits (such as timber handles on camping pans which should easily screw off)
Use grass-fed tallow or lard (rendered beef or pork fat) and rub a thin layer all over the pan/pot
Place in the oven upside for 1-hour
Carefully remove from the oven to cool down (or turn the oven off and leave the door open for it to cool down before handling)
Repeat the fat layering (when cool enough to handle) and another round of 1-hour in the oven
1-3 rounds should be plenty, depending on the state of the cast iron. An old rusty piece may take 3 rounds, whereas a simple re-seasoning of a well-looked after piece may only require one round
‘Cleaner’ Cleaning!
Swapping from chemical cleaning products to natural and eco-friendly doesn’t mean cleanability is reduced. Often, the chemical cleaners we’re told are so effective actually just hide the dirt and stains, they don’t actually clean it off!
A major downside of using chemicals to clean with is how they reduce our immune system, not just impact the environment. Let’s implement more “clean living” practices in how we actually clean!
There are generally 2 main options: – buy ready-to-go eco-friendly natural cleaning products and solutions – make your own
I’m as time-poor as the next person so I don’t go to great lengths to DIY everything but simple vinegar and tea tree oil is pretty much all I need for cleaning the kitchen during my weekly or fortnightly housework day. The rest of the time we use WATER to clean surfaces. Because there is such a thing as being “too clean”! Meaning… in an attempt to clean away nasty germs we clean away all the good stuff which also can reduce our immunity.
Using chemicals and over-cleaning are both sure-fire ways to reduce our heath.
Swapping chemicals for natural and safe alternatives and cleaning only when necessary are good for us and the environment. Yay!
There are stacks of natural eco-friendly cleaning products on the market these days. Be careful of green-washing when buying the lower cost items but you’ll find legit options at any health food store, some markets, some supermarkets, online, at local co-ops etc.
๐๐ค๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ฎ ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐จ: – Vinegar and bicarb or Bon Ami powder for the sink – Micro fibre cloths that last aaaaages and don’t need products added – Vinegar, bicarb and tea tree oil paste left on a stain for a few mins (great for laminate surfaces) – Vinegar and lemon spray – Castile soap, washing soda and borax can all be great
If I go out to the communal recycling bins at the front of our complex right now and look inside any one of them I can bet you a decent sum of money there are items in there that shouldn’t be. It drives me insane!
Unfortunately our local Council does very little (almost nothing) to educate residents on how to recycle properly. I’ve been extremely proactive, cos I really care about this, and have taken it upon myself to find out what can and can’t be recycled, through contacting Council directly, using info provided by Planet Ark, RedCycle, TerraCycle + other organisations who deal with this stuff.
Even just the other day I was chatting alfoil recycling with someone (not sure how that came up in conversation lol) and they didn’t know it has to be saved up to be made into a large ball before it can go in the recycle bin. Most people don’t know this!
So you could be trying to recycle but not quite getting it right. It’s really common!
๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ค๐ฅ ๐ง๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐จ: – Rinse and dry plastics, cans etc that go in the recycle wheelie bins – Put soft plastics into a soft plastic bag to eventually fill and take to the supermarket soft plastics bin to recycle – ensure they’re NOT WET though. Food/dirt is ok but moisture creates mold. ‘Degradable’ plastics can’t be recycled. – Don’t recycle oily stuff like the section of the pizza box that’s oil-stained, oil on packaging etc – Check with your Council if they accept empty gas canisters and aerosols – Check with your Council for what they can and can’t take in general! A lot of kitchen and household items can be dumped free or charge if not able to go in the wheelie bin at home – Check product packaging to see the new ARL (Australiasian Recycling Label) so you know what can be done with each packaging element – Buy recycled/eco-friendly paper towel (we use Who Gives a Crap) – Buy products with packaging made using recycled materials if they can be recycled or disposed of cleanly (as per ARL) – Don’t put your recycling items in a plastic bag into the recycle wheelie bin!! – Don’t recycle oily stuff like the section of the pizza box that’s oil-stained, oil on packaging etc
We didn’t include this bit on our SM posts, so it’s a bonus bit for you!
Making the switch from plastic to glass for food storage and heating is so important. It can be expensive to do it all in one go, so my best advice for you with this is to transition slowly if money is an issue.
Whether a plastic container is “BPA-free” or not, it’s bad for the environment and bad for our health. Plastic is plastic!
Glass is the healthiest and most eco-friendly option.
When we first swapping plastics for glass we waited until the shops near us had Pyrex on sale. We also went to a kitchen outlet store to grab some bargains.
Now, you could easily go online for some, even Kmart and other ‘cheaper’ stores sell glass containers. Grab some from wherever you can access and afford!
The downside of some brands though, including Pyrex, is the lids are made of plastic which cracks and breaks easily and can’t be recycled in the recycle wheelie bin collected by Councils. So look for more eco-friendly lids that will last a long time.
We still use plastic containers but really only for camping because we need the spill-free factor which many glass containers don’t have! But for al fridge and freezer storage and food re-heating we use glass.
The pantry is an easy place to go-more-glass because you can simply wash and re-use jars that had other food inside. Use washable labels or blackboard paint and a chalk pen to label, buy organic herbs and spices, cocoa, oils etc from plastic-free bulk food bins at health food stores and store in the re-used jars.
MORE BONUS STUFF!
Not included on our SM posts, here’s some bonus advice for you!
Spotted at IGA: a huge variety of eco-friendly cleaning goodies…
How to remove tough kitchen stains naturally…
Make a paste of vinegar, bicarb soda and tea tree oil then place on food stains on laminate surfaces. Leave for an hour or so then scrub off using a cloth. Gone!
Especially handy for turmeric and organic curry powder stains!
A better option for baking paper…
There are definitely a few greenwashing baking paper products on the market but Glad now have a “compostable” option which we’ve started using recently. It’s not waxy and it’s quite tin but it does the trick when cooking foods such as our primal pizza on baking paper on the pizza stone.
If you have any questions for us regarding what other eco-kitchen items we use, email us at info@primalinfluence.com or comment below.
I hope this information and our perspectives and experiences help you and your family on your journey to better health! Please comment if you have any questions.
This disclaimer governs your use of Under the Primal Influence Blog. By using this website, you accept this disclaimer in full. If you disagree with any part of this disclaimer, do not use Under the Primal Influence Blog or any affiliated websites, properties, or companies. We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. You should therefore check back periodically for changes. By using this website after we post any changes, you agree to accept those changes, whether or not you have reviewed them.
All information and resources found on Under the Primal Influence Blog are based on the opinions of the author unless otherwise noted. All information is intended to motivate readers to make their own nutrition and health decisions after consulting with their health care provider. I am not a doctor, lawyer, psychiatrist, therapist, or your mother, and I donโt play one on the internet.
The author of this site encourages you to consult a doctor before making any health changes, especially any changes related to a specific diagnosis or condition. No information on this site should be relied upon to determine diet, make a medical diagnosis, or determine treatment for a medical condition. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.
NO information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease or condition.
None of the posts and articles on Under the Primal Influence Blog may be re-printed without express written permission of the author. Primal Influence will respond to written requests to re-print parts of posts and excerpts/quotes (10% or less) may be reprinted with attribution as long as all links are left intact.
Make the most of seemingly boring ground meat by learning about how nutritious it is on it’s own, how to give it a mega nutrient-boost, how to utilise it for meals and make it more interesting, how to source the best types, healthy recipes and lots more in this post!
How to choose the best quality mince
If you have a mincer at home you can buy a huge variety of meat cuts and make amazing mince mixes and then it comes down to choosing the best cuts, taking into consideration health and the environment. While buying mince as-is can be a bit different and more challenging. A packet of mince patties, for example, could contain a whole heap of junk so it’s important to read labels but buying 100% meat is always the best option.
Here are the main types of mince in Australia + recommendations for what to look for:
๐พ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ: Free-range or organic. Organic is best but can be hard to find. You can make your own by using a food processor to blitz thigh and breast (then it’s not dry like chicken mince tends to be!)
๐๐๐ข๐: Grass-fed or organic. BUT lamb in OZ is usually from regions with lush pasture and grain feed isn’t needed so most lamb mince should be ok but you won’t know unless you ask the farmer/butcher. “Grass-fed” is the safest and because lamb is fatty it’s important it’s not fed on grain otherwise the omega 3 and 6 ratios are out of whack.
๐ฝ๐๐๐: Grass-fed or certified organic. Most beef in Aus is given grain unless the farmers choose to rain their cattle on pasture only. Organic doesn’t equal grass-fed but it means there were no chemicals used on the farm or the animal.
๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐ค๐ค: Wild is best. If farmed then it’s likely to have been fed grains and soy.
Roo mince can be more gristly then other meat and is incredibly lean. I often use it as I would beef mince. Stronger flavour though.
๐๐ค๐ง๐ : Definitely free-range at a minimum or organic if possible. Hard to come by good pork and can be expensive but worth it as conventionally-raised is reeeeeeally unhealthy.
The better quality mince the better it is for your health + for the planet.
Why mince is so healthy
Good quality mince (see previous post) is great for our health. Beef, for example, is a good source of protein, zinc, vitamins B3 and B12, iron, potassium, phosphorus, vitamins B1, B2, and B6 – essential for everyday functioning
Fatty mince (beef and lamb) raised on healthy pasture contain a high Omega-3 to 6 ratio which is ideal.
Kangaroo, an underdog, is low in fat but high in essential minerals like zinc, and vitamins like B12 which helps produce red blood cells and maintain the nervous and immune system, 80% of the RDI for Vitamin B6 which helps to release energy from the protein we eat, Niacin which helps to release energy from food and reduce fatigue, Riboflavin which plays a role in transporting iron around the body, and Thiamine, an important B-group vitamin necessary for normal energy production.
Good quality chicken contains a range B vitamins, high protein levels, folate, Vitamins A, E and K, and a full spectrum of minerals from selenium to manganese. Fatty chicken from healthy farms has a better Omega-3 to 6 ratio too.
Pork too contains a long list of important nutrients like zinc, niacin, phosphorous, riboflavin, B6 and B12, thiamine and zinc.
“The human body is by mass about 65% water and 20% of what is left is protein, meaning most of the non-water weight of our bodies is made from proteins. This includes our muscles and internal organs, and all of our protein comes from food.
There is a near infinite number of possible proteins that can be assembled from amino acids. Amino acids are the body’s building blocks and we have identified just over 500 so far. The human body requires 20 amino acids but there are 9 that are are of special interest to us: these are the ones that are essential for life; without them, we will die. The other 11 we can manufacture in our bodies for use.
The 9 essential amino acids: Histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.
It’s not just recommended that we get these aminos; it’s vital. All of these essential amino acids are found together in meats and animals based foods. All can be found in plant foods, but rarely at the same time and never in the same proportions as meats.
Plant based proteins are not clean proteins
We consider a protein to be clean if it is complete without other substances which may or may not be healthy or desirable.
Plants fight back
Plants, and especially plant based sources of protein, contain many other compounds which might not be so good for us, because they don’t want to be eaten. While it’s true to say all organisms seek to preserve life, animals are able to run away or fight; their defences against being eaten are external things like claws, scales, teeth, fur and stingers. Plants can’t run away so they’ve evolved to deter being eaten chemically.” – The Ethical Butcher
We eat it for brekkie every morning and no, it doesn’t get boring, because we sometimes use different types, in different ways, not the same thing day in day out.
There are just so many ways to use ground meat, here are some, best as paleo versions of course…
Patties Pasta sauce Meatballs Cottage Pie Lasagne Nachos San choi bao Meatza pizza base Pizza topping Koftas Nuggets Raw with egg yolk (beef mince) Chilli con carne Inside jaffles Terrine Cabbage rolls
We eat mince every single day. Sometimes for multiple meals. We love it, obviously! And we never get sick of it because there are so many ways to use it.
Here are my fave cooking methods + recipes:
– Lamb mince fried on cast on, cooked down so most fat is gone and the meat is crunchy – Beef mince jerky (or with beef heart added, so much nicer and healthier!) – Paleo burgers either with cos lettuce leaf ‘buns’ or baked green banana flour buns – Beef mince, kidney and liver patties with 2 fried eggs for brekkie – Meat waffles (any mince and eggs) – Turkey mince patties with Original Mingle Seasoning – Spaghetti bolognese – Chicken nuggets (using thigh and breast, not mince) – Shepards Pie with a savoury mince base (fine diced veg, tomato paste, broth and coconut amino with beef mince) topped with mashed white flesh sweet potato – Lamb lemon thyme mini meatballs, baked, as a yummy finger food – Meat muffins – savoury mince of choice with egg, baked in muffin trays, makes a great easy healthy brekkie option to simply heat up in the oven and eat – Pork mince as a primal meat lovers pizza with my green banana flour pizza base recipe, and paleo bbq sauce on top, along with bacon and GF salami
Clint’s good, he’ll try any food and he’ll eat foods he doesn’t necessarily love but knows are good for him, if he can stand them. But kids and partner’s aren’t always that easy to please when it comes to food. Our niece used to be super fussy with meals, she loved the choc avo pudding I made for sleepovers but would not have had it if she knew avo was in it, because at the time she hated avocado! Eventually she started like it and was happy to know she’d been eating it all those years lol but I was quite ok with her not knowing until that point!
Mince is brilliant food for hiding other healthy foods inside. Such as…
– Adding small amounts of minced up offal to make meatballs, patties etc – Finely dicing or mushing veggies to add into almost any mince dish, meatballs, patties – Adding herbs and spices for flavour – Using bone broth for a mega nutrient-boost instead of stock (tastes like stock but is way better) – Mixing pure grass-fed beef collagen and gelatin powders in, easiest when there’s some liquid or fat that’s liquidy – Egg is NOT essential when making rissoles, patties and meatballs but egg (pastured) is super nutritious so adding even just the yolk into mince meals for those who won’t eat eggs as is, is a great option
What other ways can healthy ingredients be added to / hidden in mince?
Have you had to be a bit tricky like this for your family members?
Special bonus: new recipe!
Easy Peasy Pasta Sauce!
A much easier and quicker version of my original paleo bolognese recipe, this pasta recipe only needs a few ingredients and minimal cooking.
I hope this information and our perspectives and experiences help you and your family on your journey to better health! Please comment if you have any questions.
This disclaimer governs your use of Under the Primal Influence Blog. By using this website, you accept this disclaimer in full. If you disagree with any part of this disclaimer, do not use Under the Primal Influence Blog or any affiliated websites, properties, or companies. We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. You should therefore check back periodically for changes. By using this website after we post any changes, you agree to accept those changes, whether or not you have reviewed them.
All information and resources found on Under the Primal Influence Blog are based on the opinions of the author unless otherwise noted. All information is intended to motivate readers to make their own nutrition and health decisions after consulting with their health care provider. I am not a doctor, lawyer, psychiatrist, therapist, or your mother, and I donโt play one on the internet.
The author of this site encourages you to consult a doctor before making any health changes, especially any changes related to a specific diagnosis or condition. No information on this site should be relied upon to determine diet, make a medical diagnosis, or determine treatment for a medical condition. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.
NO information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease or condition.
None of the posts and articles on Under the Primal Influence Blog may be re-printed without express written permission of the author. Primal Influence will respond to written requests to re-print parts of posts and excerpts/quotes (10% or less) may be reprinted with attribution as long as all links are left intact.
What does ‘natural skincare’ mean to us + why is it even something to consider?
As you’re probably aware, we live in a highly toxic world. Chemical and toxin exposure has a massive impact on our health and well-being; from mucking up our hormones to causing skin problems, allergies, contributing to ASD symptoms, and lowing our immunity.
Some toxins we can’t do much about, while some we definitely can (and should!).
Those we have control over include what we put on our skin; understanding what’s in the products we currently buy and use and becoming more educated to make better buying decisions.
To us, natural skincare is about using natural ingredients, and as few as possible, on our skin (in our mouths, on our heads, every part of our external environment).
It’s not natural for humans to be bombarding our skin and system loads of different ingredients and compounds, when in our most natural existence would we have done that?! Other than clays, dirt, plants, ash, water etc… we weren’t exposing ourselves to anything that wasn’t simple and basic.
Today there are loads of ‘natural’ skincare and beauty products on the market but if you go into a store, have a browse, pick a few items, read the label we can bet you most contain a long list of ingredients, some you won’t even recognise or understand. We know, we’ve been there!
We believe what goes on the skin should be as simple and as minimal as possible and of course, as natural and the least likely to have a negative effect on our health.
Let’s try to turn around some of societies health issues by choosing healthier skincare products that not only help us and our families but also the environment! โป๏ธ ๐
Natural products we use – DIY and store-bought
๐๐ค๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐๐จ๐๐ง: – I make a really simple tallow moisturiser (recipe coming later this week) which I especially love using in winter on my legs and arms. – We looooove Ecology Skincare tallow creams because they smell amaaaazing, are so fluffy and luxurious! And so minimal of ingredients which is really important to us. Clint uses this on his face when his skin under his beard, in winter when it gets a bit dry.
๐๐๐ ๐๐ช๐ฅ: – Clint wears… just kidding! I’m budget-conscious when it comes to cosmetics so even though there are loads of natural options on the market now I don’t buy the high cost products and prefer to stick to affordable brands such as ECO Minerals , MooGoo Makeup , benecos , Nude by Nature + more in the video below.
๐พ๐ก๐๐๐ฃ๐จ๐๐ง๐จ/๐๐ก๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ง๐จ: – I use coconut oil soap on my face to get makeup off – We wash with pure homemade coconut oil soap and I use it to shave legs – Liquid soaps from Ecostore
๐๐๐๐ฉ๐/๐ค๐ง๐๐ก ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐: – We brush with handmade pure coconut oil soap (yep, true!) and use a natural whitener from Nourished Life without glycerine (super important) – Clint tongue scrapes sometimes – We add bentonite clay to our toothpasty brush every so often and definitely when we feel any signs of decay or teeth problems (very rare but happens occasionally)
๐๐๐จ๐: – Homemade coffee scrub to exfoliate skin – Olive oil in my hair to help soften curls and reduce frizz – Shampoo/conditioner combo bar in the shower or homemade ACV and rosemary tea – Bites, scrapes, bruises, burns etc… homemade plantain or comfrey balm, aloe vera, manuka honey or tallow cream – Rosehip PLUS pure rose hip oil for scarring and uneven skin tone – Perfume is a natural roll-on from One Seed organic perfumery – Sunscreen: very rarely do we use any and we buy various brands but the one we have at the moment is MooGoo Skin Care
Check out all the natural things Clint and I have in our bathroom.. from makeup, to shampoo, to cleaning and more….
๐งช What harmful ingredients should we be on the lookout for?
There are many nasty ingredients in common skincare products that can do harm to yours and your kids health and if you want to look into it thoroughly and for links to specific symptoms there are plenty of resources available, we wanted to list a few key players here for you as a go-to reference…
– 1,4-DIOXANE – PABA – ETHOXYLATED INGREDIENTS – HYDROQUINONE – PETROLATUM, PETROLEUM JELLY – ETHANOLAMINE COMPOUNDS (MEA, DEA, TEA AND OTHERS) – COAL TAR – PHENOXYETHANOL – CARCINOGENS IN COSMETICS – NANOMATERIALS – TALC – CARBON BLACK – PARABENS – FRAGRANCE – BUTYLATED COMPOUNDS – FORMALDEHYDE AND FORMALDEHYDE-RELEASING PRESERVATIVES – BENZOPHENONE & RELATED COMPOUNDS – ACRYLATES – MICA – HOMOSALATE – LEAD – METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE AND METHYLCHLOROISOTHIAZOLINONE – NITROSAMINES
Many of these are known to cause cancer, allergies and an increase in symptoms, disrupt hormones, effect ASD symptoms, impair growth and development of infants, lower immunity, effect pregnant women and more. Some are found in common trusted household brands, they could very well be lurking in your bathroom cupboard right now.
From sunscreen to talc powders, to nail polishes, and makeup and creams… unless the ingredients are listed as 100% natural and safe, preferably organic, the ingredients list is small, and you can get full transparency from a manufacturer of the sources and possible effects then the chances are the products you’re using contain nasty chemicals.
๐งผ ๐งด Making the transition to using more natural safe skincare products
There are many ‘natural’ products in many shops these days and as with most things, ‘natural skincare’ has been over-marketed and over-commercialised. Even regular toxic brands now have ‘natural’ items in their range! But how clean are they really?
It can be so confusing and stressful to pick the best options for you and your family!
– Use the info in our earlier post to find out what chemicals to look out for and avoid – Look for certified organic ingredients/products when possible – Simple is always best! Usually the whole-plant version is far more beneficial than a product made using it and a zillion other ingredients. Less processing, fresher, more of an impact. E.g. aloe vera gel direct from a leaf as opposed to highly processed aloe gel in a bottle on the shelf. – Again re simple… look for products with short ingredients lists. If you can understand what the ingredients are and there aren’t many of them, that’s a good sign! – Look into the manufacturers of products you think could be suitable for you and find out their processes, sources etc. If you can get access to all the info and you can then trust them, go for it. – Choose one item at a time to swap so it’s not overwhelming and expensive. You might want to start with toothpaste for example, or your makeup, or your kids sunscreen. Pick one, find a suitable alternative, pick another, repeat. – Ask for tips from friends and family who are already into natural alternatives, they may have already done the leg work for you and can give you great info – Stay within your chosen budget. You don’t have to buy ‘top shelf’ brands, there are plenty of more affordable brands and products to choose from – DIY. Make your own for as many items as you can, it’s so much cheaper!!
๐งผWe we use soap as toothpaste!
You read that right! We brush our teeth with actual SOAP! We started many years ago and have never stopped, it’s so good!
Check out this blog post to read all about our experience using soap to clean our teeth.
If you’d like to learn how to make natural soap bars, to brush your teeth with or just use to wash your skin, and you live on or near the Sunshine Coast, feel free to come along to one of our workshops!
I hope this information and our perspectives and experiences help you on your journey to better health! Please comment if you have any questions.
This disclaimer governs your use of Under the Primal Influence Blog. By using this website, you accept this disclaimer in full. If you disagree with any part of this disclaimer, do not use Under the Primal Influence Blog or any affiliated websites, properties, or companies. We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. You should therefore check back periodically for changes. By using this website after we post any changes, you agree to accept those changes, whether or not you have reviewed them.
All information and resources found on Under the Primal Influence Blog are based on the opinions of the author unless otherwise noted. All information is intended to motivate readers to make their own nutrition and health decisions after consulting with their health care provider. I am not a doctor, lawyer, psychiatrist, therapist, or your mother, and I donโt play one on the internet.
The author of this site encourages you to consult a doctor before making any health changes, especially any changes related to a specific diagnosis or condition. No information on this site should be relied upon to determine diet, make a medical diagnosis, or determine treatment for a medical condition. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.
NO information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease or condition.
None of the posts and articles on Under the Primal Influence Blog may be re-printed without express written permission of the author. Primal Influence will respond to written requests to re-print parts of posts and excerpts/quotes (10% or less) may be reprinted with attribution as long as all links are left intact.
pull out the recycled paper and cardboard and MAKE something unique! We also enjoy blowing real eggs out and then painting them, and storing them like Christmas decorations to bring out each year! We have an โEaster Treeโ that tends to be minimalist branches/sticks foraged and painted white to hang the painted eggs onto.
Under the Primal Influence 