A Word from Heather Drummond of Ecoshe: "Eating Healthy Doesn't Cost More"
Heather Drummond is the founder of Ecoshe, a non-profit organization that promotes healthy, sustainable, and ethical eating in Mauritius. She advocates for a plant-based diet, believing it to be the most accessible, nutritious, and economical solution for Mauritian families.
With rising food prices, have you noticed changes in Mauritians' consumption habits?
Yes, some people are becoming more mindful of what they buy: they compare prices and quantities, seeking the best value for money. Others continue as before but feel the pressure at the end of the month. I also observe a growing interest in plant-based meals. The statistics speak for themselves: according to Statistics Mauritius, in March 2026, a meat-based meal costs on average seven times more per kilo than basic legumes like lentils, split peas, or beans.
A meat-based meal costs seven times more per kilo than lentils or split peas. Yet legumes provide better nourishment.
Mauritius faces what experts call "hidden hunger" - people eat enough in quantity but lack essential nutrients. Do you share this observation?
Absolutely. People often choose what's quick, filling, and cheap, not necessarily what's most nutritious. You can feel full yet lack essential vitamins, minerals, and fibers. With increasingly busy professional lives, many turn to takeout and prepared meals, which are often high in calories but low in nutrients. This is exactly what hidden hunger is about.
You advocate for plant-based eating as a concrete solution. How can this help low-income families?
A simple meal made from lentils, beans, grains, and vegetables can provide a perfectly balanced plate for a fraction of the cost of meat. Legumes cost about three to four times less per weight than eggs, and they also provide fibers, which help you feel fuller and contribute to heart health and weight management.
Homemade plant milk can cost ten times less than store-bought or cow's milk. And it's lactose-free, which is significant since two out of three people become lactose intolerant after childhood. Many suffer from bloating, cramps, or nausea without understanding the cause.
Foods like tofu, sesame seeds, almonds, legumes, broccoli, and leafy greens can effectively meet calcium needs.
What are some affordable local "superfoods" that Mauritians tend to overlook?
Mauritius is rich in nutritious local foods that are often ignored. "Bred" - malbar, souflette, watercress, mouroum - are true superfoods: vitamins, minerals, fibers, antioxidants, and phytochemical compounds. Fruits like guava, banana, soursop, or jackfruit are excellent alternatives to imported apples and pears. Roots like taro provide fiber and sustained energy.
These foods are often fresher, more affordable, and deeply rooted in our Mauritian culture.
In Blue Zones, where life expectancy is highest, people eat 95% to 100% plant-based. These are not wealthy communities.
Lentils, beans, and "bred" mouroum... These foods are often perceived as "poor people's food." How do we change this perception?
Our health is our true wealth. Even though I grew up eating meat, dairy, and eggs, I have chosen a predominantly plant-based diet for the last twenty years because the scientific evidence on longevity is compelling.
In Blue Zones, regions of the world with the highest life expectancy, diets are described as 95% - 100% plant-based, centered around beans, greens, and whole grains. These are not wealthy communities.
And it’s not just reserved for modest populations: individuals like entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, or athletes like Lewis Hamilton, Chris Paul, and Novak Djokovic have adopted this diet. Lentils and legumes are both simple and valuable.
What nutritional mistake do families most often make when trying to reduce their food budget?
Filling up on cheap calories (white rice, bread, noodles, fried foods, sugary snacks) while cutting down on truly nutritious foods like beans, legumes, greens, fruits, nuts, and seeds. An economical and healthy diet is entirely possible, but it must be well thought out.
Many turn to cheaper ultra-processed foods, including canned meats, sausages, chips, and sweets that are low in vitamins, minerals, and fibers but high in salt, preservatives, and harmful fats. This shortcut can be costly in the long run, health-wise.
In your opinion, should public policies give more importance to plant-based diets?
Absolutely. Mauritius has a unique opportunity to stand out internationally. We could become the first country to join the Plant Based Treaty, like cities such as Los Angeles, Amsterdam, and Edinburgh. It's not just about climate; it's also about poverty, public health, and national resilience.
New York has already proven this: after Mayor Eric Adams publicly testified that he reversed his type 2 diabetes through a plant-based diet, the city made plant meals the default option in its public hospitals. Not by imposing anything but by making healthy choices easier, more normal, and more accessible. This is exactly the type of public policy Mauritius needs.
One last piece of advice for Mauritian families wanting to eat better without spending more?
Build your plate around legumes, whole grains, and local vegetables. These are the most economical and nutritious staples. Frozen vegetables, which are now VAT-exempt since the 2025-2026 Budget, are also a practical and accessible option; they last longer and reduce food waste.
And keep this in mind: harmful cholesterol comes from animal products, while fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds contain only traces of good cholesterol. In a country where cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death, a plant-based diet would be a significant advantage.