So, I just got back from a festival (Greenman in the Breacon Beacons in case you’re wondering). Which in these Covid times is unusual in itself. However, this one was a very different festival for me for two other reasons. Firstly, I wasn’t drinking any alcohol. I started to abstain early this year and am trying (it’s been a roller coaster) not to go back to it for my own health reasons. Secondly, I catered for myself (and partly for my husband) for 99% of the food and drink consumed over 4 days. I’m a health coach. If I can’t do it how can I help others who want to acheive it for themselves?!
Here’s how I did it, what I learnt and what it offered me in return. There was certainly no FOMO going AF!
It helped that I’d been to the Greenman Festival loads of times already and knew what to expect. My husband and friends knew I wasn’t drinking. Neither were the 2 seven year olds who were with us – my sober, naturally fun-seeking buddies.
Food wise I took a leaf out of my friend Carley’s book from previous years. We were in a campervan so weight and volume of food bags wasn’t an issue, but we didn’t have a fridge, so chilling was. We had a gas stove, so cooking was an option. Though mainly for re-heating food and boiling water.
Breakfast, snacks and my main meals were pre-made, by me, at home. Breakfast being granola (I’ll post my homemade recipe on Instagram) eaten with almond milk, ¾ full frozen almond milk carton kept well alongside small UHT versions, various fruit (e.g. cherries, banana, satsuma, kiwi, apple). One day we boiled eggs and had them with cherry tomatoes and crumbled seeded crackers.
The first three days lunch/dinner was a Leon classic, superfood salad I didn’t use avocado as that doesn’t travel well. I kept the rocket, feta and dressing separate and added them to the plate when we ate. This was made the day before we arrived and was stored in a cool box with freezer blocks and other chilled items around it and lasted fine for 2-3 days. This felt like a super healthy tasty luxury and not a chore to eat at all. After the feta had run out, I added some roasted veg to it which had been cooked and frozen beforehand. The last main meal which had been well frozen before travelling was a punchy Mexican bean and chicken chipotle dish. We heated this on the stove to make sure it killed any bugs that might have grown as it defrosted. It was delicious, and no dodgy tummies. Just happy gut microbes ?
Great snacks galore! Since going sugar free earlier this year I’ve been honing my healthy, minimally processed, snacks on the go. For this festival I enjoyed this variety of filling treats. I eat a lot (note to self to work on that one)! Homemade seeded crackers; cherry tomatoes, veg sticks (I chopped too many and only the carrots survived, note to self don’t pre-cut veg, take whole and prepare just before eating or try storing in water and freezing beforehand); packets of olives; nuts; protein balls (pre-frozen see various recipes); 100% chocolate; Hippeas (naughty); homemade veggie crisps (soggy) kallo rice cakes (beetroot and chocolate covered); merchant gourmet lentils and rice; Odysea stuffed vine leaves. For me these are the least processed of actual processed foods that I can find that will survive a weekend in a field with a rapidly warming up cool box.
Two foods I purchased on site and on impulse were – a kale, spinach and peach smoothie and salted popcorn at the cinema tent. Woohoo rock n roll hey!
Drinks-wise I mainly consumed delicious, tasty fresh water, mmm. I do love water, I know not everyone does but I hate fake flavourings and sweeteners so drinks with those in are not an option for me. I was also armed with a wide variety of Pukka herbal teas and Swiss water decaf coffee from Dark Woods. My evening treat was taking a herbal tea or decaf coffee out in a flask with me. As the night got colder and other people’s beer coats kept them warm. I opened my flask to pour a steamy cup of delicious, warm tea to keep my insides toasty. I loved it! Plus with the lid on your flask you ain’t gonna spill your drink down you whilst dancing. I didn’t dance as much as usual but that was more to do with not getting in the middle of the crowd, and the line-up not being as good for Covid reasons rather than not being inebriated.
What being alcohol free allowed me to do that I otherwise wouldn’t have done…
The biggest thing was not being tired in the morning. Partly because I slept better, one of the key bonuses from not drinking booze but also because I went to bed slightly earlier than I may have done otherwise. This allowed me to plan some really cool things into my festival morning which I wouldn’t have dreamed of doing before. One was getting a massage at 9am which was totally indulgent but justified by the money I saved on not boozing and staying away from the lovely but expensive food stalls. The other treats were two group yoga sessions. One 9am sun salutation which was just a brilliant way to start a day. The other, I couldn’t resist, was hip-hop yoga. OMG dancing to hip-hop whilst doing yoga, such fun whilst also stretching and breathing with other like-minded souls. Thanks to Soul Stretch Events for both the yoga and massage tents which were spot on.
Now I’m back home I reckon I’m only a tenth as tired as I would have been in previous years when drinking booze and eating less healthily. I certainly don’t feel like I need another holiday, or a week to recover. Because basically I’ve been on my yoga, detox retreat all festival. What a fantastic revelation. I’d encourage everyone to give it a go!
If you’re not there yet but have a goal to get sober for a festival I can help you. Drop me a message: lesley@thenourishingspace.co.uk
