My kids do moan at me sometimes, 'why isn't there anything to eat in this house' and by that they mean; 'where is the junk?!'. So I've endured a few names over the years, like, 'fun police' because I'd rather serve up houmous and carrot sticks at a kid's party than give them what they really want, which is neon sweets and scrumptious salty crisps.
As much as I love the taste of a proper salt and vinegar kettle chip, I also know that the best thing to do is to keep them out of my kitchen. For me, they are an occasional treat and not the inhabitant of my daughters' daily packed lunch.
Maybe I sound sanctimonious, and I don't wish to, but the truth is that we are living in a junk food era where it has become the norm and not the exception. As much as my kids love a bit of ultra-processed food, they have also come to identify how it makes them feel, especially over a weekend when they have been hanging out with their mates and the only thing on the menu was beige. They come home, begging me for vegetables, so there's got to be something in that.
If you truly want to change how you feel, then first and important steps are to rid your kitchen of foods containing ingredients that you can't even pronounce. Here's a few tips on how to get started. I aim to go organic as much as I can. I know it's not always affordable for people but your body has already got a hard job of detoxifying the pollutants that you can't do anything about let alone the ones that come along on your food in the form of pesticides, chemical fertilisers and fungicides etc:
Starting with the cupboards:
- Get some glass jars and line the shelves with dried beans, grains, nuts and seeds.
- Head to your local Asian food store and fill your cupboards with lots of exciting herbs and spices
- Get a few tins of beans and lentils in, some coconut milk (check the labels, this can have so much junk in, you are looking for two ingredients: coconut and water) or better still coconut block.
- Buy bottles of organic tomato passata. Tomatoes really soak up pesticides so always best to go organic. Avoid tinned tomatoes as the pollutants from the tin can soak into the tomatoes.
Flours. Go organic, look for your local mill. I use my local mill in Dorset.
Go healthy oils. Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a must, be careful of fake oils. Sadly it's a corrupt industry and many supposed EVOO is actually a combination of poor quality oils posing as EVOO. Avocado oil is great for cooking with or coconut oil (look for ones that don't make monkeys pick the coconuts - SUMA is a good choice).
If it comes in a packet with ingredients you can't pronounce or you wouldn't keep in your kitchen, GET RID!
Plan ahead: Take the time to plan your meals and snacks for the week ahead. This will help you make healthier choices and avoid last-minute temptations to reach for unhealthy options.
Fill your fridge with healthy seasonal vegetables and fruit. I get a weekly vegetables box from a local farm which avoids plastics, supports local and although he isn't certified organic, he uses minimal sprays. I have used Abel & Cole and Riverford and usually rotate between them all. I love getting a box full of organic and nutritious non packaged vegetables. It makes me and my gut microbes very happy!
Get some good cookbooks! I know there are thousands of great recipes online but sometimes it really helps to use a good cookbook. Check out your local charity shops as they usually have a few.
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