My Family Table: Simple wholefood recipes from Petite Kitchen

308 Pages·2015·16.51 MB·English

by  Ozich

contents
cover
title
introduction
raising children on a wholefoods diet
a nourishing start to the day
on the go
for sharing
the dinner table
after dinner delights
thanks
index
copyright
introduction
My family and I started on our journey to simple and wholesome eating a little
over three years ago, after our little girl, Izabella, developed a troublesome skin
condition that doctors and specialists couldn’t treat, and after also noticing a
decline in our own health and wellbeing. It was during this time that I started
writing a daily food blog, which I named ‘Petite Kitchen’. Each and every day, I
would share recipes and ideas from our new way of living.
It became beautifully obvious to me that whole, natural foods can be a
wonderful form of medicine that can help heal, cleanse and renew body and
mind. This wholesome way of living has helped our little girl, Izabella, in a way
I cannot even explain — and the positive impact it has had on my husband, our
son Obi, and of course myself, is just incredible.
Sharing recipes: it is simply what I do, spending hours in my kitchen
perfecting dishes and trying out new combinations. I am hopelessly addicted.
Nothing makes me happier than being able to pass on my new ideas and
inspiration to others.
Within the pages of this book, I hope you will experience these beautiful
moments spent in my kitchen. I have poured my heart and soul into compiling a
selection of simple, wholesome and delicious recipes designed for the whole
family to enjoy. These recipes are centred on the idea that food is to be made
with love and care, and to be eaten together, around the family table.
I strongly believe in buying good-quality produce, free-range eggs and
sustainably farmed meats wherever possible. I understand this kind of produce
can be a little more costly, but I also believe that each and every time you buy
good-quality food, you are investing in not only your own, but your family’s,
health and future.
Take Mother Nature as your guide, and cook using seasonal fruit and
vegetables. Not only is this a beautiful way to embrace nature’s fruits, it is also
far more cost effective, delicious, and a wonderful way to help support the
far more cost effective, delicious, and a wonderful way to help support the
community around you.
With a few exceptions, most recipes in this book are naturally gluten-free, or I
have included options to make them so. I love using different and exciting types
of flours and grains. These alternatives taste fantastic, and quite often offer more
nutrients. I have also included a lovely range of vegan, vegetarian and dairy-free
options too.
I prefer not to make anything too fancy or extravagant — just real, everyday
food, prepared simply, and absolutely packed full of flavour and deliciousness.
So join me, from my kitchen to yours, as we celebrate wholesome food in all
its glory. Roll up your sleeves, dog-ear the pages, spill ingredients and, in turn,
transform my simple recipes into your own proud creations. Eat, enjoy and, most
of all, share this wonderful way of living with your family and friends.
Eleanor Ozich

raising children on a wholefoods diet
Both my daughter, Izabella, and son, Obi, are very curious about and interested
in food. The first thing they ask when they wake up in the morning is, ‘What’s
for breakfast, mama?’ They absolutely love trying out new and exciting flavours.
I have to admit, however, that raising our children to eat wholesome and
healthy food has not always been easy — it takes a lot of hard work,
commitment and dedication, but the results are well worth the love and effort.
Every child deserves to understand where their food comes from, and how it
helps them to feel good and to be full of energy and happiness.
I believe that taste and a love for food develop in early childhood, and that our
children will grow to like most of the foods we offer them. It’s never too late to
introduce wholesome food to their diets, although this is a little easier if done
earlier on.
Here are a few tips that may be helpful for you and your family.
Kids want to know about food; all you have to do is start a conversation! Talk
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about where it has come from, and how it will benefit them by giving them more
energy. Get chatting about your favourite flavours, colours and textures of food.
Try to make healthy choices, right from the beginning. Children are far more
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likely to grow up loving the foods they are used to eating early on, although it is
never too late to introduce healthy foods. Make one small and simple change per
day, and in no time you will begin to notice positive results.
Be consistent with your approach. When I offer something to my kids that
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they are not so keen on trying, I give it a little time, and then try again.
Consistency is the key to building good and strong habits.
Lead by example. By eating a well-balanced and varied diet, children are more
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likely to be interested in trying out what you are eating.
If your child does not want to eat something, do not punish them or make an
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issue of it, as this may form negative ideas around food. Instead, I find that