Due to various obvious reasons, foraging is gaining popularity these days. This topic is trending on social media platforms including TikTok. There are some foraging influencers whose posts would inspire you to start engaging in it yourself. Meet some of these influencers and know how to look for certain natural food items outdoors for free.
Foraging influencers on social media
Foraging is a skill and art. After the covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, 68% of the surveyed people revealed that they are now engaging themselves more with Nature. We think their time is well-spent. Outdoor activities and quality time with Nature are beneficial for physical and mental health. And one can forage at the same time.
Foraging influencers (Source: Teen Vogue)Foraging can help us get nutritious foods for free. It is the need of the hour amidst this global high inflation rates. Additionally, foraging can help in preventing environment deterioration and reduce carbon footprints. It lessens animal cruelty and gives us healthy plant based foods.
Certain foraging influencers have cropped up on social media. FindersFeeders on TikTok provides tips on how to identify, look for, cook and eat these foraged foods. There are recipes as well on this site. And the site includes visual identifying techniques and also contains book recommendations for those who want to know more on the subject. This account has 240k followers.
Foraged By Fern is another TikTok account that tells us about these foods and also their use not only in cooking but also in healing and care of skin or hair.
Wild garlic
This has a strong smell like the bulb garlic we purchase but its taste is lighter. It is good in pesto, soups and salads. One can find this in dark, moist areas of forests and woodlands. Its leaves are pointed and elongated. Smell it to know it. At spring time, it has flowers that are white in color and in clusters. They are delicate and one can use it as a garnish.
Foraging influencers (Source: NPR)Oxeye daisy
The daisies are everywhere: in gardens, parks and fields. The other name of oxeye daisy is dog daisy and it is edible. The leaves are fresh and can be part of salads and dressings. One can pickle the flower buds. The flower petals can be consumed in raw form or added into salads or desserts.
Sorrel
This has an acidic and lemony taste. It can add zing and life to foods such as sauces and soups. One can put this in pesto in place of the regular basil. For identification purpose, it would help if you know that it looks more like spinach. It’s leaves are arrow shaped.
Foraging (Source: Yahoo Life UK)One can look for it in meadows and its flowers bloom in spring and summer. If the leaves appear mature, do not pick them because they would be bitter and not edible. Go for tender and fresh leaves.
Read here: What is foraging? What are its advantages for people’s nutrition?
There are a lot more of these out there to be enjoyed. Cultivate an interest to know and forage them.