There’s Banting, vegans, wheat-free women… but what about all the others in between? This story forms part of a new series called The Food Diaries: following the eating habits of different women in South Africa. We’re taking a microscope to the sub-groups of people eating for health. You may even find yourself a new dietary home.
Last time, we chatted to Tammy Fry, marketing director or Fry’s and self-defence coach, who is a vegan intermittent faster. We also spoke to blogger Candice Bodington, who follows a hormone-balancing eating plan. Now we’re chatting to SA actress Camilla Wolfson, who follows an ethical diet and lifestyle.
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WTF Is An Ethical Lifestyle?
“An ethical diet is just a diet of choice – choosing food that’s organic and ethically sourced with a good balance between decreasing environmental impact and improving personal health,” says Camilla. For her, following an ethical diet goes beyond what she eats – it’s a lifestyle too. “I like to experiment with making my own
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And clothing is not excluded. The fashion industry is reportedly one of the world’s heaviest contributors to environmental pollution. “If I’m not shopping second-hand, I research the labels and store brands I wear,” says Camilla, who makes sure they’re committed to reducing their environmental impact before using them.
What Are The Key Ingredients In This Diet?
Camilla not only eats ethically, she follows a ketogenic diet too – so fat is a huge part of her eating plan. Kitchen staples include “high-quality olive oil, organic eggs and veggies and some ethically sourced, grass-fed meat from local farmers in Cape Town and the surrounding areas,” she explains.
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What Does A Typical Meal Look Like?
Camilla’s ethical diet starts before she even steps into the kitchen. “You’ll find me shopping at all the local markets where I can bring my own fabric bags, or at the zero-plastic stores like Shop Zero in Woodstock and Nude Foods in Gardens,” she says. A typical meal includes a fatty protein, salmon, eggs or organic meat, avocado, sweet potato and lots of fat in the form of olive oil, coconut oil or duck fat.
When she’s craving something sweet, she’ll curb it by filling up on nuts, coconut butter and dark chocolate. But when she does give in to her sweet tooth, you’ll find her in the kitchen baking up some yummy desserts…
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It’s Totally Do-Able!
“The ingredients are pricier than commercial products, but because of all the fat in my food, my portions are smaller while still containing the same, if not more, kilojoules than I’d get from regular meals,” Camilla explains. Given that you’re buying fresh, organic ingredients, you’re also getting all the nutrients your body needs – something Camilla believes will save you money on medicine and supplements. “Food is truly the most powerful medicine,” she says.
Living ethically can be tricky in the beginning, but it does get easier once you know where and how to shop. Before starting out, she advises that you research the subject. And follow people who live ethically on social media – you’re sure to pick up a few tips and tricks from them along the way.
