Why I Chose Foraging Over the Supermarket. Fish

Today I was reminded, once again, why I fell in love with foraging.

Two shop bought mackerel. They look perfectly acceptable, neatly prepared and wrapped in plastic, waiting to be taken home. They look absolutely fine to eat until you have a choice and compare it to the second photo. The second photo shows two mackerel we caught ourselves. To me, they represent two completely different ways of getting food.

When you catch your own fish, freshness isn’t just a marketing word, it’s reality. Within hours, sometimes even minutes, if we cook on the beach, the fish goes from the sea to the plate. The flesh is firmer, the flavour is richer, and you know exactly where it came from. There is no long journey, no unnecessary packaging, and no wondering how many days it’s been sitting on ice.

But for me, foraging has never been just about the food.

It’s about spending time outdoors, breathing fresh air, watching the tide and appreciating the rhythm of nature. It’s about slowing down in a world that constantly encourages us to rush. Some of the best conversations happen while waiting for a bite, surrounded by the sound of the waves rather than the noise of everyday life. Sometimes the waves are so loud that it forces silence which is also nice.

Fishing is also something that’s better shared. If you think about it, people don’t go fishing with someone they don’t like. Good company turns a simple evening into a memorable experience. We laughed, chatted, enjoyed being outside and ended the day with a meal that meant something because we’d earned it together.

Perhaps, most importantly, it’s a more sustainable way to eat. On that day, we didn’t catch a bucketful simply because we could. We caught exactly what we needed for dinner and left the rest for another day. To be honest, when we went out the other day, we didn’t catch anything. Taking only what you need is one of the most important lessons nature teaches us. It’s a reminder that wild food isn’t about taking as much as possible, it’s about respect, gratitude and balance. It also teaches us that sometimes things don’t go according to the plan and we need to adjust.

Foraging reconnects us with where our food comes from. It reminds us that meals don’t have to begin on a supermarket shelf. Sometimes they begin with a walk along the coast and a little patience.

That’s why I choose foraging.

Not because it’s easier, as it isn’t.

Not because it’s cheaper, as it isn’t either.

But because it nourishes far more than just my body. It feeds my curiosity, my wellbeing, my connection to nature and my appreciation for every meal I eat.