Finding tasty and nutritious foods that the whole family can enjoy can be challenging. Buy foods that contain vitamins and minerals, are free of pesticides and harsh chemicals, and taste good. However, everyone in the family has different tastes and preferences, and some of your loved ones may want to try gluten-free or vegetarian foods. If you want to make cooking at home easier and ensure your family gets the nutrition they need, here are some of our favourite natural foods.
Cooked Vegetables
Vegetables are another delicious natural food, but it can be hard to get the whole family to eat them. If your kids can't eat vegetables, try cooking them differently. Make a hearty stew with vegetables from your local organic or farmers' market, and you'll change the way your family views vegetables. Sauté diced zucchini, tomatoes and eggplant in olive oil with bay leaves, salt and pepper. Place the vegetables in a large saucepan and add water, chicken or vegetable stock, oil and fresh herbs of your choice. You can also add onions and garlic for extra flavour. Simmer until the vegetables are tender and serve the stew with rice or a protein (chicken, fish, fried tofu, etc.). Entice your friends and family to eat healthy with this delicious vegetable dish.
Fruit salad
Fruit is rich in antioxidants, fibre, and vitamins, strengthening the immune system and promoting weight loss. Seasonal fruits, such as apples and dates in the fall and watermelon and melon in the summer, make fruit salads easy to prepare. Combine your family's favourite fruits with chopped raw nuts (such as almonds or walnuts) and enjoy a sweet salad with a honey vinaigrette. Use the best forest honey, along with herbs, sea salt and fresh mint leaves. Mix these ingredients and serve with the dressing to make this natural treat even more impressive.
Free-range or wild squirrels.
· Opt for free-range or organic poultry to buy chemical- and hormone-free meat if you regularly eat poultry. You can also try using poultry seasoning to make the dish more interesting. For example, chicken can be oven roasted with garlic and pepper, cut into pieces and used in tortillas or tostadas. Alternatively, an Italian-inspired dish is a roasted chicken with a lemon butter sauce, sprinkled with parmesan cheese and baked for five minutes.
· Salmon or wild tuna can also be a delicious dish of the day. Sauté tuna in soy sauce, brown sugar and garlic and serve with fried rice for an Asian dinner, or make a mixture of garlic, brown sugar, liquid amino acids and butter, brush on salmon fillets and bake for 10 to 15 minutes. Salmon can be served with vegetables or steamed potatoes. These dishes are easy to prepare, and buying good quality meat and fish will enhance the dish’s flavour. Plus, you can be sure that your family is eating foods free of harmful ingredients.
Whole-grain bread and desserts
If you're trying to cut back on carbs and processed foods, why not try natural whole-grain products? Whole grain flour can be used to make pie crusts and cookies. You can also use other flours such as coconut flour, almond flour or chickpea flour to make your bread. Many organic markets also produce gluten-free and grain-based desserts using tapioca or brown rice flour, so you can find cakes, muffins and cookies that the whole family can enjoy. There are also many vegan and organic ice cream flavours to make healthy desserts even better.
Conclusion
Using these natural ingredients will improve the quality of your meals and make your cooking more enjoyable. In addition, getting your loved ones involved in preparing a healthy meal will motivate them to cook and give them more energy for the day.
Author
Lily Poole is a personal food officer by profession. She is quite well experienced and pecan tart an impressive profile in the training and development industry.