To say that It’s All Good: Delicious, Easy Recipes that Will Make You Look Good and Feel Great
My parents and my brother quickly adhered to this way of eating as well. My parents had always been the proponents of a balanced diet, consisting mainly of organic fruit and vegetables and other products, like poultry, eggs and dairy largely supplied from the countryside, from my grandparents. But that was the moment when I decided to take it a little further and it was not because it had suddenly become fashionable. Information about healthy living wasn’t yet widely available, the celebrity-culture had not yet taken off, and organic food stores hadn’t started to pop up over night. I somehow reached this decision by myself, by reading a few rare books on the subject (I can’t recall the titles unfortunately) my parents had found and by starting to ask myself some questions. It was because it felt right, and, more importantly, because I noticed how good I felt overall afterwards. Before continuing, I’d like to mention that I don’t give advice, nor will I talk about my complete menu, these are just some basic lines I follow that will help you better understand why I think so highly of this book.
Over the years I’ve stuck to my eating principles and whenever I met someone new who didn’t know me, I was always confronted with the same question: Why are you on a diet? Some couldn’t understand that this was my way of living, that I ate that way because I chose to (without there being a health problem to be addressed or not even a weight issue, although your body will inevitably become leaner and feel lighter) and that I didn’t feel deprived of anything. And now it’s so rooted in my system that I feel it’s part of my education. The interesting thing is that, when I met my future-to-be husband, he was a healthy foodie himself too. It was very easy to motivate each other to continue to pursue this kind of lifestyle.
I admit that, in the meantime, I’ve started to take into consideration medical reasons as well, which only reinforced my determination to strive to eat as clean as possible. I still haven’t eliminated meat completely, although I rarely eat poultry nowadays, but again, only organic and only because I want to still be able to allow myself this option when I feel like it, every couple of months. However, I have been avoiding to eat certain types of fish for a long time, because the source of its provenience has become a big question mark. I have almost entirely given up coffee, I have drastically cut out on dairies too and I only consume goat’s cheese and yogurt, the only exception being the occasional latte and pancakes. I use only whole grains and I hardly ever use raw cane sugar now, as I’ve already perfected a few sugarless home-made desserts which are so delicious that I can’t understand why one would feel the need to eat something containing sugar when there are so many healthy alternatives you can turn to (in time I’ve also developed an intolerance to very sweet treats).
Of course there are indulgent moments when I can’t resist a bar of chocolate, an ice cream or a piece of birthday cake, the occasional take-away food or lunch/dinner at the restaurant – I always pay attention to what I order though. But my tastes remain simple, and healthy, clean food is my baseline. There is nothing I find more delicious than a simple dish cooked at home, composed of raw ingredients or slightly processed. If I tell you that one of my favourite meals is goat’s cheese and avocado slices on home-made rye bread toast, I think you’ll get the picture.
And now on to It’s All Good. Gwyneth Paltrow’s genuine and sincere story was the first thing I liked from the very beginning. The book is not written by a celebrity, but by a down-to-earth person, who is preoccupied with her and her family’s health and well-being above anything else. As for the food, I love every recipe I’ve tried and cooking tip provided here. They may seem humble for those unfamiliar with this kind of cooking, but, for me, it’s all I could ask for: healthy, easy to make and tasty. I had gotten so used to always changing recipes and substituting ingredients with others I approved of, and the truth is I really enjoy inventing my own dishes, but it feels so good to have an entire book of recipes you can prepare just as they are.
Some may argue that there is nothing extraordinary in these recipes, nothing new they could use. But the thing is that I wasn’t looking for anything complicated or which required the skills of a chef. I just wanted plain, nutritious food, the kind I know it tastes great, the kind that is good for you and your family, the kind that makes a cooking experience feel wonderful and rewarding. There are versions of these recipes I have already been making myself, but I like how having this amazing variety in one place, from breakfast ideas and soups, main courses and snacks, to juices and desserts, makes this book a great culinary reference source. The Frenkies-esque Beet Salad and the Lentil Salad with Mustard and Tomatoes have become favourites in our household, with the Millet Falafel and Chicken Paella close behind. And I am eager to make the Creamy Avocado + Cacao Smoothie and Orange Marmalade these days. I’ve already tried tens of recipes and they are all good.
Furthermore, I like the book visually: Ditte Isager’s beautiful photography that helps get through the message in its pages, and, because I always appreciate natural beauty and personal style when I see it, regardless of the background, the way Gwyneth looks (glowing, without any make-up) and the way she’s dressed (basic, casual, but flawless items). Maybe you are wondering why on earth I would bring up Gwyneth’s dressing style into a discussion about a cook book. It’s because I believe in lifestyle as a whole and that the way you live your life in every single aspect is reflected on your appearance and on the image people have of you. It’s a beautiful book, an invitation to wholesome, meaningful living.
photos of the book by me | original photography: Ditte Isager
You know my thoughts on the issue, eating well without any extremes is my way of life, and has been for a long time. I always find it so annoying when people feel the need to lecture me; if it’s a lifestyle you don’t even have to think about it.
I browsed through this book the last time I was in a bookshop and liked it, but I got a copy of her older one instead. I still haven’t tried a recipe from that one, I have only used it to get ideas for some of my own (sometimes there is a bit too much of oil for my taste). But I like the simplicity of it.
Moderation in everything (following some general rules of healthy eating), this, I think, is the key to good living.
I completely understand you and the reaction you have to face from time to time – unfortunately in todays society (at least here, in the UK) is it considered absolutely normal to be overweight and eat unhealthy AND at the same time call people who are slim and eat well “odd” or “weird” because they don’t fit their own view on life and appearance… AND because they would never want to change that view… It is frustrating and it is very sad. So… as far as the book goes, it’s not something I would rush to buy (as I said before), but not because I don’t like it but rather because I know a lot of things myself already and am happy as I am (otherwise I’d be a rubbish nutritionist, really), BUT I like this book because a) it’s beautiful and b) it may change some people’s way of eating, even if a little bit, but still it would be great. x
Natalia, it is very sad indeed when you see people around you ignore the issue of healthy eating to an alarming extent, despite everything that is known today about how closely related food and health are. As for the book, I also knew a lot of the things stated there. It’s been 17 years since I began reading on the subject and I’ve kept informed over the years. I mainly wanted the book for the recipes, as, like I said in my review, they come in an amazing variety and I can always use some inspiration in the kitchen. And, I agree with you, maybe the best thing about this book is that it could help change some people’s view on the way they eat, and that alone is a great thing.
Great post, Ada! My husband and I are also transferred ourselves to a healthy food lifestyle. We learned so many amazing and tasty healthy recipes! I am surprised that so many people still don’t know about their existence! The book looks interesting. I will definitely check it out!
Nadya, I am also surprised when I realize how many people still don’t know some basic rules, like giving up semi-prepared and/or fried food, sodas and sugary treats. I don’t know if it’s a matter of their choice or that they are not properly informed.
it sounds like we have a very similar diet. when i was 18 i became a vegetarian and stayed one until i was 32. at that point i started eating meat again, sans red meat. i have also been gluten-free for the last year or so and i usually only eat goat cheese and yogurt as well. and sadly i have very much limited my fish intake over the years. it’s so awful because fish is so healthy for you, but it just makes me too nervous now. i DO drink coffee though and i do eat sweets. i think i eat sweets because i don’t even like them, so it feels like it doesn’t count. i feel like i consume very little sugar, but i have thought about trying to eliminating it altogether for a bit, just to kind of see how much i really do consume. this book looks fantastic. i find simple food is often the best food. and i am always looking to add simple recipes to my repertoire, or improve upon old ones, i will have to check this book out.
Christine, I feel the same about my having to limit my fish intake, and it was not easy as I love eating fish, but suddenly the detriments outgrew the benefits and that was the natural choice. I stopped drinking coffee because of a treatment I was undergoing two years ago, and I really felt that after the treatment I would go back to enjoying my daily cup of coffee. I was surprised to discover I felt better not drinking it, it had been a simple daily pleasure, nothing more, I didn’t use to feel the need to have coffee of anything of the kind. But I think that trying to eliminate sugar as much as you can is important. In a matter of days you will feel the difference.
I am actually have very strong beliefs about food as well, having grown up in a health conscious household and then recognizing the benefits in my own body.
As for the book, I am definitely interested in checking it out. I know that GP and her mother embraced the macrobiotic diet for awhile and now focuses predominately on whole eating (which is the central concept behind my food choices), so I am sure these recipes are ones that would work for our family.
Thank you for introducing the book and sharing a bit about your own food journey. I am going to see if I can find it here in Singapore or else have my mom include it in my next care package!
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