Take battery-farmed chickens, for instance. Following selective breeding, the fat content of animals at slaughter is now around three times where it was back in the 1950s. Meanwhile, bananas have become more calorific, the fiber-content of wheat has gone down, and there are fewer vitamins and minerals per calorie of food across the entire food supply.
You can, therefore, understand why people are looking back to nature. They are wondering whether there are any wild foods out there that they can exploit for better health and tastier meals.
Note that we’re not saying that you should live entirely off wild foods. That’s not practical or advisable. But you can find the odd morsel here and there to add to your meals and your nutrition.
So what are the top wild foods? And how do you get them?
Walleye Fish
Walleye fish is a freshwater fish that you can find in most locations in North America. If you’re new to angling, you may need to read the noobs guide to walleye fishing to find out how to do it. But once you get the hang of it, it can be highly rewarding. Walleye fish are tasty, delicious, and great for when you want to host a BBQ. Just season with salt, pepper, and a bit of fresh lemon, and you’re ready to go with a tasty and delicious meal.
Porcini Mushrooms
The porcini mushrooms you get dried at the store are okay for adding flavor to your meals, but nothing quite compares to the real thing, fresh.
The best way to prepare these is to put some butter and salt in a pan and saute them until all of the excess moisture burns off. Then add them to crusty toast for a delicious snack.
Typically, you find porcini mushrooms in natural woodland and forests. They grow in abundance around silver birch, though you can find them anywhere if you look hard enough.
Just be sure you know what you’re looking for. Some mushrooms are deadly.
Nettles
Nettles are a pain in the backside - literally. But they’re also edible and nutritious. If you want, you can make them into nettle soup - light, green broth ideal for warm summer days. Just remember to wear gloves.
Blackberries
Blackberry season is always an exciting time of year. All of a sudden, all those brambles in your local area suddenly bear fruit, providing a bumper crop.
You can use wild blackberries for all kinds of things, ranging from pies to pastries. Just remember to wash them before putting them into a dish. Because they are organic, you never know what pests or waste might be lurking on the surface.
So, are you excited to try some wild foods in your area?
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