Andrew’s family have been farming on land outside Stirling for generations. He and his brother farm with his Dad, keeping cattle and sheep, along with some arable.
Andrew thinks farming plays a major role in his well being, “My love for the environment and working outside with animals and nature is the main reason I chose to continue the family business. The life I lead means I’m outside in the fresh air in all weathers doing a lot of physical, manual labour. Whilst there’s no denying it can be very tiring at times, it keeps me mentally fit and strong. I genuinely look forward to going to work in the morning.”
A typical day for Andrew involves checking all our animals’ well being (“healthy animals are happy animals”) regularly viewing the health of the crops – checking for disease and inspecting growth. Then there’s machinery work (ploughing, sowing and spraying) which is more intense at certain times of the year. And on top of that, there’s all the general maintenance and repairing to do.
Healthy eating plays an important part in what Andrew does, “It’s physically demanding job and healthy food plays a vital role in fuelling the body and mind for a challenging day. You have to be alert at all times when working with animals and operating machinery – it can be dangerous to take your eye off the ball even for just a second. Protein and vegetables play a major part in sustaining a healthy balanced diet for us.”
Being a farmer, Andrew is very aware of the importance of ‘natural’ food and it translates into what he eats, “I like to know where the food I eat comes from. Mum puts together delicious home cooked meals for us to keep us going during the day. We always look forward to a decent lunch which is a god-send when your work is physically demanding. We eat a lot of homemade soups and stews – proper hearty comfort food – with whatever meat and veg we have in.”
Naturally, Nairn’s is a particular favourite for Andrew and his family, “We love Nairn’s – but my personal favourite would definitely be Rough Oatcakes with Smoked Salmon Pate as a lunchtime or afternoon snack. I often take a couple of pouches of Chocolate Chip Oat Biscuits with me when I’m working to fill the gap until the next meal – if I feel like something sweet, they taste really good and aren’t full of bad stuff.”
Nutritionist Fiona Lawson says: Andrew mentioned that ‘healthy animals are happy animals’—and we humans are no different! It’s vital that we fuel ourselves appropriately to enjoy abundant energy and a positive outlook. Andrew clearly knows this. I’m delighted to hear that he bases his diet on wholesome foods, including homemade soups and stews. Vegetables and responsibly sourced meat are brimming with nutrients, and cooking them slowly and in water helps to retain their nourishing power. With such a demanding job, both mentally and physically, Andrew is wise to keep something on hand to maintain his concentration and focus. Nairn’s Rough Oatcakes with smoked salmon pate is a classic and filling snack, and the Chocolate Chip Oat Biscuits are a good lower sugar option when he fancies something sweet. Another idea is to enjoy some green tea with his oat biscuits, as this warming drink has been shown to support cognitive function.
