Mother’s Day is upon us! Each year the second Sunday in May is reserved to honor all of the amazing goodness of mothers and motherhood with cards, flowers, special gifts and delicious foods.
From an Ayurvedic perspective, there is no mother more deserving of recognition than Mother Earth. She provides life-sustaining food, water and the resources we rely upon to live. But it might be safe to say we have not done the best job of showing our appreciation. Sadly, industrial farming, continued deforestation and destruction of the earth’s soil are among the many challenges we have brought to our beloved Mother.
With this in mind, here are a few simple ways you can repay Mother Nature using your own mother’s counsel:
Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables
How many times do you remember your mom telling you to finish your fruits and vegetables? Ensuring more of a plant-based diet seems to be maternal instincts at work!
We have all read about the impact animal protein has on the environment. It’s pretty significant. The statistics vary, but they all point to the same problems. Carbon emissions. Toxic runoff from chemicals and waste. Inhumane treatment of animals. The list goes on.
Although all animal protein has its impact (think methane gas emissions), animal factory farming is the biggest culprit. Its relationship to the deterioration of our health and the health of the planet is undeniable.
Taking small steps to scale back your animal protein intake (and replacing it with increased fruit and vegetable consumption) can make a difference. Start by committing to the Meatless Monday movement. Visit the site for valuable resources, suggestions and recipes that will help you eat more fruits and vegetables. After 12 years, it’s stronger than ever!
Only Take Your Fair Share
“Don’t be wasteful” is a common mother’s mantra. Yet in a culture that fully embraces the idea that “bigger is better,” portion control remains a challenge for many. Behind the scenes, politics are adding to the struggle. Our government farm subsidies encourage regular crop over-production. The tragedy for Mother Nature is that close to 30% of food goes to waste each year.
We encourage mindful eating and using the concept of a “basic bowl” meal. A basic bowl is an amazing guideline for healthy living. Cup your hands together as if forming a bowl. Now imagine the quantity of food (and a bit of liquid) needed to fill that bowl three-quarters of the way full. This is a good approximation of how much you should be eating at each meal, because it is about the size of a full stomach.
Of course Mother Earth would say that your bowl should be filled mostly with local, seasonal and organic vegetables! This would be checking two boxes—appropriate portions and proper nutrients—while enlisting the power of your wallet to enact change. (Bonus: Thanks to the fabulous Local Harvest online search, it’s easier than ever to make healthy choices.)
There Is No Place Like Home
Nothing makes a mother more happy than knowing she is providing her children with a healthy home. When looking for ways to nurture your own health and that of the environment, the best place to start is where you live. Here are a few ideas for honoring Mother Earth from your own home:
- Curious about where you fall in the grand scheme of things? Are you doing the best you can do? Test your carbon footprint and your water footprint. These are great launching pads for making simple life changes. It all adds up.
- It doesn’t get any better than opening your door and picking your next meal. You don’t need to be a landowner or master gardener to produce some great produce and herbs. Back yard, small-plot and container gardens are easy to manage with a few tips from outlets like Better Homes and Gardens
- Take it a step further and get into composting. When managed correctly, this practice nourishes your soil with rich, organic matter while reducing what you’re dumping.
As you roll into Mothers’ Day this upcoming weekend, think about those messages from your childhood. “Eat your vegetables”, “only take your fair share” and “there is no place like home” are three profound ideas when it comes to repaying Mother Nature. If we take better care of Her, she will continue to take care of us.
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