‍You can read all other entries to my Wildbiome Project Diary by visiting our Field Notes page or alternatively click here to read the first one.

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I did it! It’s over!

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It wouldn’t take too much detective work to uncover my feelings towards this diet, try as I might to only put the wins on social media. Whilst I have no doubts that the project itself and the science that goes with it will be interesting and worthwhile, I cannot pretend that I have enjoyed it. I would even go as far to say that I have hated it. One of my strange compulsions is that I am naturally drawn to a daft challenge, but these tend to be physical or with some level of enjoyment and satisfaction. “Are you glad you did it?” is a question I have been asked a number of times in the last week or so and my answer has remained the same: I’m really not sure I did. Sure, I’m very glad it is over and I was long overdue shifting a bit of timber, but this was so much more of a slog than, say, climbing the National Three Peaks barefoot or even becoming vegetarian for a year (in a previous job surrounded by meat, meat-eaters and meat-based free meals before you think that would be a doddle!). 

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Nope, it’s been repetitive and boring, to the point of being tedious. 

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I am aware of how some others have connected with the project - I am both in awe and a little jealous of this - but my entire relationship with wild food has always been that it enhances home-cooked food, rather than replaces it. You might think that venison, wild garlic, nettles, seaweed, wild mushrooms and pineappleweed all sound like gourmet ingredients, but without the backdrop of cooking staples like butter, rice, pasta, olive oil, cream, potatoes, cheese, tomatoes or simple vegetables the palate soon becomes tired of them. In the week or so since this project ended, I have enjoyed many amazing meals, simply by virtue of the ingredients used in them. Nothing fancy, very little ultra-processed and entirely healthy. Delicious too.

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My family and I grow lots of produce in our garden and it has been nigh on euphoric to be able to enjoy again cucumbers warm from the greenhouse, or raspberries from the fruit canes straining under their weight, or even just a sprig on basil on a simple tomato salad. These are luxuries in life that not many are privileged to have and every time I nibble on a fresh mange tout or pick a bowl of blackcurrants for breakfast, I feel immensely fortunate that I can do this. This is organic produce, often including exclusive ingredients not found in the shops, that I have grown and nurtured from the start to the end. Removing this perfect resource from my life felt masochistic. 

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My perspective was that I have thousands of wonderful ingredients that I eat on a regular basis, that I’ve then reduced to a tiny proportion. In fact, I never really gave it much thought to the distinction between wild food, homegrown food and even shop-bought food. It all melded together as and when it was required, with the taste and experience being the most important factor. Delineating as we did was a really taxing process and one I do not wish to repeat again.

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Don’t think that I won’t continue to eat wild food. I have enjoyed piles of samphire this week, alongside sea beet, sea aster and other coastal plants. I recently got giddy finding my first proper flush of wild fungi, which were all scoffed with lashings of butter, handfuls of garlic and a slice or two of sourdough made by my wonderful wife. These simple dishes effectively showcase the best of wild food, but without all the limitations. Why would you wish to curb your enjoyment of the best flavours around on a matter of principle? Outside of the project, it feels like a mad decision to make, so I’m afraid I really cannot empathise with those who will continue with that trajectory. 

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Food ranting aside, I have welcomed the loss of weight, although it probably dropped off me a little too quickly. My knees definitely thank me for that, as does my heart as I am now doing more exercise than I’ve been able to do for a good decade or so (kids and COVID didn’t exactly help with that either, mind you). I know I will not be able to maintain this exact weight with my current diet - I have enjoyed myself somewhat these last few days, with cakes, pasta and a chinese takeaway all featuring on the menu - but I intend to stick at something of a regime to remain healthy. That includes both the body and the mind.

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Finally, I would like to quickly address the impact it had on participants’ mental health. We will probably all have seen some beneficial weight loss along with reduction in cholesterol, blood sugar spikes and other metrics. But how did it affect our minds? Mine is a delicate one already, so perhaps I am more susceptible to a bout of feeling glum, but glum it did make me. I had less energy, less motivation, lower general mood - it must have been like living with Eeyore. Did everyone really feel positive and energised, as suggested by social media? I sincerely doubt it and wonder if there was an element of oneupmanship going on (“I’m way more connected with nature than you are” and other such sentiments) whilst secretly not really enjoying it either. Horses for courses, I suppose.

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So was it worth it? Possibly - we will have to wait for the official results for that. Did I enjoy it? Not even close. Will I do it again? Absolutely bloody not.

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You can donate to the funding of this exciting project by either donating a few quid at https://chuffed.org/project/114196-wildbiome-project-2025-jim-parums 

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