You may love green leafy veggies, chia smoothies and whole foods, but if your kids or partner don’t, it makes meal time hard. Below are some handy ways to get your family to eat healthy, and only have to make one meal you can all enjoy!
I've spoken to so many women at my retreats who have a real interest in healthy eating, but their families don't. These women inspired this post! I hope it helps.
1. Try Eastern Food for Hearty Vegetarian Dishes
There are still plenty of people who think vegetarian food is lacking and boring. But! It doesn’t have to be. The very best curries are usually vegetarian, and they use paneer (Indian cheese) and rich, flavourful sauces to generate flavour, rather than meat.
With new compelling research linking excessive red meat consumption to cancer, it's important to try to eat vegetarian at least 3 days a week.
Tip: Keep it simple, and buy curry paste from the supermarket, but make sure it's from Thailand, Malaysia or India. The authentic ones are less likely to have additives and nasties (and are usually gluten free) Add your paste to your stock or coconut milk, throw in your veggies are you're good to go. Pumpkin curries in winter - yum!
2. Add Garlic to Green Leafy Veggies
One of my favourite recipes is kale, or silverbeet with garlic and mushrooms. My partner loves it too! By adding plenty of fresh garlic, you cover up the ‘planty’ taste of the greens, and boost the flavour of the mushrooms and garlic. I sauté it lighty, and serve it as a side.
Ingredients:
2 cloves garlic finely chopped or pressed
Leaves of half a whole silver beet
6 button mushrooms finely chopped
Splash of olive oil
Method:
Remove the veins and stem of the silver beet (these get really tough when cooked)
Chop the leaves roughly into thick ribbons
Heat a fry pan & once hot, add olive oil
Add the garlic, then throw in the silver beet ribbons and mushrooms.
Once it’s wilted but not soggy, pop on a plate & serve
3. Use Flavourful Vegetable Stock in Soups & Rices
A lack of flavour is what most people associate with healthy eating. Not so! By using quality vegetable stock in soups, and water when you cook rice, you’ll inject all your dishes with extra flavour. If you steam veggies, you can even add the stock to the water for a bit of extra taste.
4. Mix it Up
Variety is key to keeping you, and your family interested in food. Whoever cooks, it’s great to try new recipes, new ingredients and new flavours. There are so many websites and apps out there to help you, but try following a few recipe-creators in Instagram.
Tip: My fave websites for healthy eating recipes are Julie & Libby and The Healthy Food Guide.
5. Encourage Mindful Eating
Beautiful fruit & veggies like pumpkin and oranges are jam-packed full of flavour in winter. At mealtime, if you switch off the TV and put phones away, you and your family can concentrate on the taste, smell and texture of your food. You’ll find everyone will enjoy the food more when they concentrate on the flavours.
If you contact me about the article above, you'll get my interactive Wellness Workbook free! Just mention this blog post.*
*I'll also add you to the Aprivé Wellness Email List to give you health tips & retreat offers