TV personality  Darren Robertson, from 'Recipe to Riches' and Lifestyle Food channel (and also the owner of sustainable restaurant Three Blue Ducks in Sydney) has created the first Bettertarian recipe (EVER!). Download Robertson’s recipe at bettertarian.com.

In case you haven't heardof it before, Bettertarian is a new food philosophy that arose as a reaction to the complicated food rules of so many other food philosophies - e.g. Flexitarian, Vegetarian, Pescitarian and numerous others. It’s designed to offer a simpler way to eat and feel better about the impact your food choices have on your health and the environment.

“Eating today can seem a bit complicated," says Darren Robertson. "There are endless food ideologies and too many confusing messages, rules and restrictions for achieving optimal health and nutrition and minimising your impact on the planet. There had to be a simpler way. It’s how we arrived at the Bettertarian. A person who is a conscious consumer that wants to feel better about what they eat and the impact their food choices have on the environment.” 

Robertson’s personal journey of becoming a Bettertarian began with asking questions about how beef and lamb was farmed and what farmers are doing to care for their land and animals. Armed with information direct from the source, Robertson learned to eat with understanding and make better food choices. In turn this led to feeling better about his health and impact on the planet.

With sustainable food advocate, Rebecca Sullivan, the experience of becoming a Bettertarian was captured in a documentary – The Journey of a Bettertarian – filmed on Bangor Farm in Tasmania, owned and operated by fifth-generation, Target 100 cattle and sheep farmer, Matt Dunbabin. Robertson and Sullivan enlisted Dunbabin’s help to satisfy their curiosity and teach not only themselves, but also three urban Australians – Joanna Baker, Brett McLachlan and Rebecca Stokes – more about sustainable farming. Watch the film here.

The opening of Bangor Farm’s gate began a conversation about sustainable farming that led to not only the creation of the Bettertarian food philosophy, but also a Bettertarian recipe that encapsulates Robertson’s learnings about sustainable cattle and sheep farming.  Learn more about the Bettertarian philosophy....Eat with understanding: Asking questions about where your food is from and reconnecting with the journey from paddock to plate is a first step to becoming a Bettertarian. You can start the Bettertarian’s journey of discovery using any number of information sources. “Farmers like Matt are part of an initiative called Target 100 to make cattle and sheep farming more sustainable for the long-term benefit of the land and the immediate care of their animals,” said Robertson.

Respect the land and animals: The Bettertarian philosophy is focused on having respect for the land and animals. Bettertarians want to ensure the beef and lamb they are consuming has been raised ethically and sustainably.

A balanced approach: A Bettertarian is aware of other food philosophies and makes informed choices about what they eat, where it comes from and how it was produced. They enjoy a balanced diet and they rest easy knowing their food has been sustainably and ethically produced. “You don't have to give up what you love, you can choose sustainable produce and enjoy better meals while feeling better for it,” said Robertson.

Eat well: Fundamental to the Bettertarian approach is eating for optimal health and nutrition. Bettertarians know that three to four serves of red meat a week are optimal for nutrition as recommended by the Australian dietary guidelines.

Nothing goes to waste: Bettertarians work to minimise waste when cooking and ensure they use all they can from their fresh produce by developing different ways to prepare food. “Having respect for the land and animals we consume, and the care and efforts of sustainable farmers, the Bettertarian takes the time to learn creative uses for all parts of their fresh produce. Developing new ways to prepare food to ensure no part goes to waste is a step everyone can take to contribute to more mindful, sustainable eating like a Bettertarian.” said Darren.

About Target 100:

Target 100 is an initiative by Australian cattle and sheep farmers to deliver more sustainable farming by 2020 and help Australians understand more about where their beef and lamb comes from.

The Target 100 initiatives are 100 research projects funded by the cattle and sheep industry to help continually improve farming practices. The program also features over 200 farmer case studies so that people can meet the farmers producing Australian beef and lamb.

Target 100 aims to help Australians find out more about how their food is produced. As for many people, farming is not close to home, Target 100 includes an interactive online platform, which will enable all Australians to ask questions, receive regular updates, voice their opinions, get simple tips on being more sustainable at home and join online forums.