Eating healthier is something I’m always keen on. I don’t mean eating less fat because I don’t believe in diets – dieting is like having no sex or no money. When I’m on a diet the only thing I think about all day long is food and what I can’t eat, which is an awful and unhappy state to be in.
Instead of dieting, I aim to eat healthier. This means less processed food, preservatives, additives, white flour and white sugar, and greater variety and exploration of unfamiliar foods.
It’s not about being a food cop and locking away all the lollies and sweet biscuits my kids love. Rather, it’s about eating a wider variety of healthier foods, and minimising the excursions into the lolly jar.
It’s also about eating less meat both for health reasons and minimising our environmental footprint. Mr Hungry Australian has been on a health kick lately, exercising every day, shedding nine kilograms and developing muscles in places I didn’t know you could even have muscles. He’s been nagging me for a while about eating less meat, and while I agreed in principle, putting it into practise has proved trickier.
So I was delighted to be sent a copy of Heidi Swanson’s Super Natural Every Day to review by Hardie Grant.
Amongst food bloggers, Heidi Swanson of 101 Cookbooks needs no introduction. She was one of the earliest food bloggers – she launched 101 Cookbooks in 2003 – and has garnered a slew of press and awards along the way for her simple and healthy approach to food and cooking.
Super Natural Every Day, the follow up to her acclaimed cookbook, Super Natural Cooking, is all about eating whole and natural foods in a realistic and approachable way. Through her cookbooks and her blog, Heidi is about inspiring people to eat healthier at home by focusing on organic, nutrient-rich whole foods.
After a speed-read through Super Natural Every Day, I went straight to the Adelaide Central Market to buy some fruit and vegetables, and visit the Asian grocer (to buy three different kinds of tofu, white miso and coconut milk) and Goodies and Grains (to buy pepitas, pistachios, yellow split peas, red lentils, puy lentils, Italian soup mix, brown rice, wild rice and Himalayan pink salt simply because it was too pretty to resist).
This afternoon I cooked Heidi’s Miso-Curry Pumpkin. As the dish cooked in the oven the most wonderful aromas started spreading through our house. I love that about cooking – how the smell of a meal cooking can transform a house into a home.
As we wait for the pumpkin to cook, let’s turn to a quick Q&A with Heidi.
What do you always have in your pantry?
HS: “Let’s see – farro, giant corona beans, a range of whole grain flours, soba noodles, good eggs, lentils, and coconut milk, for starters. The list could go on for days.”
What are three easy changes people can make to eat healthier at home?
“Explore the bin-section of your local market (grains, pulses, whole-grain flours). Regularly buy and cook with an ingredient you’re not very familiar with. It’s fun, interesting, and will help expand your cooking repertoire. Eat real food made from minimally processed ingredients.”
What would you say to people who say they don’t have time to cook meals from scratch?
“It’s so important to cook regularly. It really is. And doing it doesn’t have to be super elaborate, expensive, or time-intensive. If you don’t cook already, it’s the sort of thing that will take you on a journey and change your life in ways you might not be able to imagine. The obvious stuff – for example: the way it leads to an awareness about what you are putting in your body, and an understanding of how the ingredients you are eating are tied into the larger environment. But it can lead to other things as well. Cooking is a way to share with others, treat yourself well, and bring people together.”
What are three of your favourite speedy after work dinners?
- “A fritatta made with whatever seasonal produce is in the refrigerator.
- I tend to make a big pot of soup each weekend, leftovers make for easy lunches, and quick mid-week dinners.
- Stir-fry or curry. A bit of chopping, it all goes in one pan or pot, and we’re good to go.”
What would be on your menu for a special summer lunch with family and friends?
What do you make when you’re asked to bring dessert to someone’s house?
“I typically go with something that can be served straight from the pan, family-style. It should also travel well, and not be too fussy. The macaroon tart in Super Natural Every Day is great for summer. And I love to bake Kim Boyce’s Rosemary Olive Oil Cake in colder months.”
Brrrring! My oven timer has just gone off.
And here are the results. And yes, it tastes as good as it looks.
To sum up: Super Natural Every Day is inspirational, educational, well-written, beautifully designed and thought-provoking.
So I’ve already decided what I’m cooking from it tonight: the Summer Linguine with zucchini, garlic, chilli flakes and Parmesan.
Super Natural Every Day
Heidi Swanson
Published by Hardie Grant
RRP $29.95
Available at all good book stores
*** ENTER HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN SUPER NATURAL EVERY DAY ***
Thanks to Hardie Grant, I am pleased to offer you a chance to win your very own copy of Super Natural Every Day.
To enter, simply make a comment below, describing your favourite healthy recipe.
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- Competition is open to AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTS only.
- To enter the competition leave a Blog Post Comment by using the comment form at the end of this page and answer the question.
- The lucky randomly selected winner will be announced on December 22 and contacted via email so please don’t forget to leave your email address when entering a comment.
- No responsibility is held if the goods are damaged or go missing during delivery.
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