I left home at 18 and spent many months travelling Asia which had a big influence on my eating habits, and my husband is Indian, so this has solidified how I cook. Add a couple of children and we’re also guided by what they like to eat. Life revolves around food in India and I feel that it also does in our household, we want our kids to appreciate and prepare food from scratch. It helps them understand that it’s part of nourishing themselves as best they can, and that nourishes their health and vitality.
I find that the more my kids are involved in food choices, the better they eat, and of course, as parents it starts with us; we need to model that. It’s a joy to spend time together cooking and preparing and its great practice for me (and hubby) to stay centred, not sweat the small stuff and practice the art of letting go. What we eat, but also how we eat, should be an important consideration so It’s equally important to prepare food in a calm environment, which believe it or not, enables our digestion to function optimally.
With a busy life it’s so important to take the time to ensure we have fresh food in the kitchen ready to grab and go. Fridge stocked and overflowing with a rainbow of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Our cupboards are full and the bench is always tempting our kids with colourful choices from the fruit bowl.
Our morning routine is one of the busiest and nosiest times in our kitchen. We might have the Nutri-Bullet whizzing up smoothies, the juicer slashing through veg, someone frothing milk for their matcha latte and the pressure cooker whistling in the background, preparing for our evening meal. These are ways we work to see that our family is eating well and keeping their energy levels high.
Meal preparation has always been on top of the agenda in our household and is a family affair, especially since I’ve been working 5 days a week. My daughter Iysha (13) now makes two meals a week and a snack on the weekend to add to school lunch boxes. As a mother, I find it really satisfying to watch the kids prepare fresh food and embracing the responsibility of choosing how they want to refuel, to get their energy for the day. I can only hope this will be a life skill both my children take with them into the future.
We always aim to source locally and from the Farmer’s Markets when we can. As we have such an array and variety of foods available to us I opt for organic, where possible, but these days I don’t stress and if I can’t get it, we then aim for good quality. Our kids often complain when they look in the cupboard because they have to cook, but it certainly encourages their creativity. Cooking is part of a good life, and so the more they do now the easier it becomes going forward.
It’s often easy to set aside food as a second thought, so I hope this is a nice reminder to take the time to make cooking and meal preparation a joy in your home too, full of colour and vibrancy that nourishes your senses, your mind, your body and your soul.
THE EATING GUIDELINES*
- Eat when hungry.
- Eat sitting down in a calm environment. This does not include the car.
- Eat without distractions. Distractions include radio, television, newspapers, books, intense or anxiety-production conversations or music.
- Eat what your body wants.
- Eat until you are satisfied.
- Eat (with the intention of being) in full view of others.
- Eat with enjoyment, gusto, and pleasure.
*Women, Food and God by Geneen Roth
