By Brittani Beavis, Te Puna Kai Ora (Dietician)
With Matariki well and truly occurring, it is time for us to look towards the past and take the learnings of our tupuna to keep us healthy, fit, and well.
There are lots of coughs, colds and flus going around in Winter and we want to keep our immunity boosted as much as we can. This can involve eating our 5 veggies and 2 fruit per day, drinking lots of water, taking part in enjoyable movement for 30mins a day, and connecting with friends and whānau to support our mental wellbeing – which can positively affect our physical bodies.
Winter is a time when most of our colourful fruit and vegetables are unavailable but that doesn’t mean that we can’t get all our nutrition from other sources, including frozen and canned fruits and veg! We should look to our whetū for guidance for what kai we should be eating during this time.
Waitī – This whetū is connected to fresh water. Flowing water is sustenance for the land, vitality for mankind, and a food basket for the people. For example: whitebait, flounder, and eels
Waitā – This whetū is connected to the ocean and the kai gathered from it and depending on where Matariki sits in the sky influences tides and floodwaters. For example: Kaimoana, ocean fish and crabs
Tupuānuku – This whetū is connected to kai grown in the ground, including all cultivated and uncultivated foods. When Matariki sets in the sky at dusk in May it signifies the end of harvesting season and the beginning of winter. For example: Pūhā, Pikopiko, Kūmara
Tupuārangi – This whetū is connected to everything that grows up in the trees, including fruits, berries and particularly birds. Historically Matariki is the time of harvesting, cooking, and preserving birds who are rich in fat, as well as gathering berries.
Thinking of the whetū some dishes you might want to try to boost your immunity this winter and celebrate Matariki: Seafood chowder with frozen spinach, peas and corn, Canned tuna kumara bake with frozen veggies, steam some mussels and have them on a bed of baby spinach with some canned vegetables (such as beetroot).
Here are some recipes to try!
https://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/wellbeing/healthy-recipes/seafood-chowder
https://lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz/recipes/henrys-hearty-chicken-vegetable-soup/
