You know the type of people who are natural athletes?  My brother is one of them. He has excelled at every sport he ever played. Then there’s me: the typical kid who was picked last at every single P.E. class. It didn’t really matter when my shoelaces came untied because, hey, I wasn’t really moving that fast anyway.

If you’re one of those people, don’t fret. There’s hope! Just like exercise, with cooking, every little bit counts. Every day that you make the effort to peel a carrot and chop an onion, brings you just a little bit closer to the end goal: good health.

This is our country’s reality – and probably a worldwide trend. But just as regular exercise remains an important part of efforts to protect our health, it’s important to keep cooking! It will be hard sometimes, but if you can prep some simple meals in advance and freeze them, or dedicate 20-30 minutes to chopping fruits and vegetables and storing them in the fridge, this may ultimately make your family healthier and happier.

Teaching kids about healthy eating can sometimes be a challenging task, especially when it comes to convincing them to try new fruits and vegetables. Over time, I’ve discovered a fun and engaging approach to encourage them to explore diverse types of nutritious foods: involving them in gardening activities.

To keep my children engaged and involved, I like to assign age-appropriate tasks. For instance, younger kids can help with tasks like watering plants, while older ones can assist in planting seeds, mulching vegetable gardens, and maintaining the garden.

Tomatoes are my top pick since they are so versatile and can be used in many dishes. Plus, there are numerous varieties suitable for small gardens, such as cherry and grape tomatoes. Growing tomatoes will teach your kids about plant care, as well as demonstrate the amazing transformation from a small seed to a plump, delicious fruit.

In response to requests from students all over the world, Maya Adam recently released the very first “just cook book”. Food Love Family: A Practical Guide to Child Nutrition is geared towards parents, grandparents, caregivers and anyone in charge of feeding children. In it, you’ll find stories and amazing recipes as well as practical tips and advice that can improve your relationship with food and re-shape your approach to feeding your family.

Overall, I found this book a pleasure to read.  It motivated me to continue establishing a culture of healthy, joyful eating in my family and I’ve recommended it to all of my friends who have kids.  Additionally, it’s easy to read and makes you realize you don’t have to be a perfect cook or have loads of time on your hands to be able to prepare delicious, healthful meals that will protect your family’s health.

The book is sold online through amazon (click here to find it), and will be available in paperback and hard-cover copies in a couple of weeks. Keep an eye out for it! Did you know that 100% of the author royalties for this book are being donated to Just Cook for Kids and other non-profit organizations that support healthy kids, so it’s a win-win for everyone!