According to Jennifer, “Maintaining a healthy weight, or getting to that healthy weight, is not about dieting. It’s about eating the foods that you already love but cooking them for yourself so you can make them healthier.” Jennifer is all about celebrating food and eating the foods you desire by making them a little bit or a lot more healthier. And in her new book, Secrets of a Skinny Chef , Jennifer does just that. She teaches you how to cook the food you crave all while keeping portion sizes in mind and using wholesome, fresh ingredients. Simply put, Jennifer leads you towards enjoying food again without the hard struggle of dieting on foods you dislike and depriving yourself of the foods you love.
Since Can I get the Recipe? focuses on recipes tailored towards busy families who want delicious, wholesome foods that aren't kid centered, I asked Jennifer, who once cooked for famous celebrities and their young famillies, what her strategies were and advice was for getting kids to eat wholesome and healthy foods. In a nutshell, Jennifer's advice was this:- If you are dealing with children who are picky, you may have to do what you need to do to get them to eat well. If this means adding pureed vegetables into their meals, then so be it. But it is also important to place a small amount of the same vegetable whole, but on the side, so that the child knows it is there and so they can try it if they choose to.
- When a child refuses to eat something, don't make a big deal about it. Tell them to put it to the side. Eventually, they may decide to give it a go if it's not made into a big issue.
- Teach by example. Make sure, as a role model, adults in the family are eating their fair share of salads, vegetables, fresh fruits, etc.
- Include treats and snacks, just make them healthy and provide the proper portion. Deprivation and restriction will only lead to potential food issues later.
I also brought up the current hype and attention surrounding Jamie Oliver and his quest to get American families (and the rest of the world) thinner by eating healthier. I asked Jennifer what her take was on Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution."I love Jamie and his passion. And I get what he is trying to do. But I think there's more to it than just getting people to eat more vegetables. Obesity and over eating is an emotional and psychological issue. I know that since I was once overweight. You have to have been there to get it. And in order to get healthy, you have to be able to eat the foods you love and understand why it is you overeat or eat foods that aren't good for you. And that's why it is important to provide recipes that are the right portion and help you learn to make healthier versions of the foods you crave."
So what sort of recipes will you find in "Secrets of a Skinny Chef"?
Start your day off with a hot stack of Blender Pancakes with Sweet Cinnamon Bananas or a guilt free Bacon, Egg and Cheese Sandwich. Slurp away on a steamy bowl of Butternut Squash Soup with Coconut Milk for lunch and when the snack urge hits, nosh on a festive plate of whole grain tortilla chips accompanied by Creamy Mexican Bean Dip. Can't decide what to do for dinner? The possibilities are endless. Choose from a vast array of recipes, including Stuffed Parmesan Chicken, Baked Meatballs with Zesty Marinara, Tantalizing Turkey Tacos, Mac and Cheese with Shredded Chicken and Cauliflower or Tender Beef Stroganoff (to name just a few!) then end it all with an "angel food" version of Italian Cheesecake, a chilled bowl of Cherry Sherbet or some warm Blueberry Cobbler with Yogurt Topping. Yum!
If you do happen to borrow or buy a copy of Jennifer's Secrets of a Skinny Chef, (and I really think you should), you'll be instantly impressed. Filled with over 150 pages of nutritious, mouthwatering recipes, you`ll be anxious to start cooking. And because this once overweight, low energy individual, has taken these well loved favourites and simplified them, cooking healthy, nutritious and delcious meals using wholesome and healthy ingredients could never be easier. And as a bonus, Jennifer has provided tips on how to use leftovers in your cooking and also included a "Skinny Shopping List" to aid you in your grocery shopping, which is something here at Can I get the Recipe? we really appreciate.
Thanks Jennifer!
For more information about Jennifer Iserloh, her life and her cooking, and to view some of her delicious recipes pictured here, visit her blog at http://www.skinnychef.com/
Secrets of The Skinny Chef is available at your favourite local bookstore and at online bookstores such as Chapters Indigo ($18.23/$17.32), Amazon.ca ($17.32 CDN) and Amazon.com ($13.59 USD)
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