Tessa’s tips for health & wellbeing during calving

Waikato dairy farmer Tessa Hopson understands better than most the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and looking after herself.

The mum of two young boys, Ollie (1) and Toby (3), carries the BRCA gene, a genetic mutation that could predispose her to having breast cancer.

Tessa received the diagnosis 7 years ago and while carrying the gene was out of her hands, she says she decided the one thing she could control was her lifestyle.

Tessa and husband Brendon are 20 per cent equity partners and 25 per cent lower order sharemilking 330 cows on 108 hectares near Paeroa. Her diagnosis spurred Tessa on to start a health and wellness blog, Just Live, alongside working on the farm.

Like many dairy farmers around New Zealand the Hopson’s are preparing for the busy calving season and Tessa says a little planning can go a long way to managing the juggle of children and the extra workload that comes with spring.

“It’s always busy on the farm but calving is a particularly busy time of year. Fitness and wellbeing are things we should be focusing on all year round from the food we are eating, to ensuring we are exercising and taking time out for our mental health,” says Tessa.

The extra hours on the farm that calving season usually brings can create both mental and physical stress.

“Getting some time off the farm is just as important to make sure you are rested and ready. Take some time out walking. We like to walk in the bush or there is a trail ride close to where we live,” says Tessa.

Batch cooking and having some meals stored up in the freezer can also be a lifesaver allowing her to pull healthy meals out and heat them up after a long day on the farm.

“Batch cooking is a simple way of storing away quick and easy meals so you’re not reaching for takeaways, just make double the mixture of a meal and freeze half of it for later,” says Tessa.

Ensuring the children are well fed is also key to everyone’s happiness and Tessa applies that to the adults on the farm too.

“I always make sure the boys have packed lunchboxes every day, so we don’t have to think about what to make them for lunch and they have healthy options to snack on.”

For husband Brendon and farm staff they have a box at the milking shed filled with fruit and muesli bars so anyone can grab a healthy snack on the go.

“It’s normally around that 2 to 3pm mark when you’re not sure what you want. A coffee, something sweet or just nap. The truth is you probably need a drink of water and a healthy snack. Don’t rob your future self of energy by reaching for a chocolate bar,” says Tessa.

Medjool dates had become a recent favorite in her house for a sweet but healthy energy hit.

As spring calving starts so often does the wet weather and investing in high quality wet weather gear was also a necessity, says Tessa.

Bundling up in good wet weather gear can help prevent sicknesses but so can making sure you are eating well and getting enough sleep.

Limiting your alcohol intake was another key factor and one she had cut right back on since her BRCA gene diagnosis.

“There are a lot of simple things that we can do all year round to look after ourselves and look after our health and wellness and how we’re eating, how were exercising and our rest is also all connected to our mental health,” says Tessa.

Tessa’s tips for wellness:

• Try and get in a walk three days a week or use online YouTube workouts. Check with your woman’s health professional if you have recently had a baby before you restart workouts.
• Swap your Friday night wine for a soda and fresh lime.
• Batch cook meals and freeze them so you always have a healthy meal on hand during busy times.
• Make sure the children have a packed lunchbox for on the farm and apply the same rule for adults with a box of fruit and muesli bars at the cow shed.
• Try green tea instead of your morning coffee every second day.
• Drink 3 litres of water a day.
• Make sure you get enough sleep.

Follow Tessa on: https://www.facebook.com/FarmingwiththeHopsons and https://www.facebook.com/JustLiveNZ