WELCOME
Hello and welcome to The Big Wide World and Me! I created this blog as a space to share thoughts, ideas, reviews and recipes which help us all live as healthily and ethically as possible whilst keeping costs down and spirits up! It sometimes feels like all these things are at odds with each other . For instance, cheap fruit and veg can mean food miles, organic superfoods can be expensive and at times I get myself in a tangle just trying to figure it all out!
Over the last few years, I have been trying to balance these elements of my life. I don’t have all the answers – but I’d like to share my experiences and open up a forum where we can work out what is really worth spending our time, money, calories and energy on!
Helen x
MY STORY
I’m Helen. My favourite colour is red. No, orange. Actually, sometimes it’s green. You get the idea about me. I’m passionate about cooking. And eating. And writing. I’m an arty, all-round creative person who is in search of the better (best?) life.
I’ve always been a trier and a doer but this particular part of my journey began a few years ago, when my body rebelled against me. I went from severe abdominal pains to red and swollen rashes on my face and arms. It feels kind of embarrassing to say I used to cry myself to sleep at night, but I can’t deny the devastating effect it was having on my life.
I was eventually diagnosed with multiple autoimmune skin conditions, contact allergies and intolerances and given creams and ointments to control my reactions. My health improved outwardly but I felt uncomfortable about my reliance on medication and I began to wonder if there was a better way.
It wasn’t easy at first. I took a long, hard look at what I was putting into my body (and on my face) and some of the revelations were scary. I went through numerous elimination diets, investigated superfoods and overhauled my diet and the contents of my make up bag. I felt better than I had in a long time, even before I experienced problems.
The experience gave me something though – I now think much more critically about my food and lifestyle – particularly mass production. Food, cosmetics, diet, lifestyle – these industries are not being run to necessarily improve people’s (or the planet’s) wellbeing – they are being run for profit. But by asking questions and finding information I find I am in a better position to make better choices. And if I don’t always? It’s my (informed) choice.