EatSmart - From the Cancer Society

Accessible and affordable – this is the perfect family cookbook for a healthy lifestyle, packed with simple recipes and fun tips to make small, easy changes to your meals that add up to a healthier diet.

Life is busy and time is short. We all want to live a healthy lifestyle but we don't want to give up living to do it, so the Cancer Society has developed EatSmart to fit into your life. In this simple cookbook there are no strange or expensive ingredients, no complicated recipes, no weird food that the kids won't eat – just easy-to-prepare family food that is good for you. You can stack the odds in your favour for a healthy life just by eating fruit and vegetables because the research tells us that eating '5 + a DAY' will reduce your risk of cancer. But many of us struggle to get all the servings in each day, so EatSmart is here to show you simple tricks and tips for eating healthier. And, sometimes, you won't even notice!

EatSmart includes three types of recipes:

Full Recipes

These are recipes like you’re used to; what you need is listed on the left side and how to make it on the right. Step-by-step instructions make it easy to follow. Recipes include:

• Chicken and vegetable paella

• Italian stuffed chicken breasts

• Red lentil and chicken ragout

• Crusty beef and vegetable pie

• Chunky family tacos with refried beans

• Ted mex tortillas with avocado cream

• Lamb falafels with minted yoghurt dip

• Thai pork curry

• Baked fish wrapped in prosciutto

• Roasted vegetable lasagna

• Apricot streusel cake

• Blackberry and chocolate self-saucing pudding

EatQuick Recipes

Even simpler! These are ideas or concept recipes, so no quantities are given. We give you the idea and the basic ‘how to’ and you can add what you have in the cupboard.  Concept recipes include:

• Stuffed capsicum

• Kiwifruit salsa

• Baked plums

• Winter soup

• Monster mash

• Kumara chips

• Potato fritters

• Spinach pasta

• Fruit Kebabs

• Peach smoothie

Quick Tips

These are simple ideas on how to use fruit and veg and how to make them go further, including:

• Capsicum – slices of capsicum make great ‘spoons’ for dips. Serve them up with a healthy dip for kids’ after-school snacks, work lunches or to calm the ‘when’s dinner?’ whines.

• Carrots – keep a stack of sliced carrots in a jar of water in the fridge. They’re good for chomping on after school and at night if you’re watching TV.

• Pears – add fruit to winter casseroles and stews. Diced or sliced pears or apples can easily be added to a pork, chicken or beef casserole. Add them in the last 30 minutes of cooking so that they are soft but not mushy when served. Pears love spices too, so don’t forget to add them to curries or tagines.

• Lettuce – want to get your kids eating salads? Make a salad boat. Use a lettuce leaf for the boat and fill it with carrot, apple and tomato ‘sailors’ – but don’t tell them it’s a salad!

• Broccoli – home-made pizzas are scrummy and they are an easy way to add in extra vegetables. Add some small blanched broccoli florets under a sprinkle of cheese and the kids will never know!

EatSmart also includes a meal planner and suggested shopping lists.

The Auckland Cancer Society was formed in 1929 as a division of the New Zealand branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society. For over 75 years the society has provided a full range of support services to people with cancer and their families, in Auckland and Northland. As approximately 80% of cancers are due to lifestyle and environmental factors, the Auckland Cancer Society is taking the lead in cancer prevention and EatSmart is just one of their many initiatives.

A portion of the proceeds of the sale of Eat Smart go back to the Cancer Society to underpin their work in the prevention of cancer, ongoing medical research and to support people with cancer and their families.

Cancer Society Spokespeople
Tim Corbett (MBS DipPH BPhEd)

Tim has a varied background in the health, non profit and commercial sectors and is known for being able to take complex issues and turn them into simple, functional solutions that make sense in people's live. His company, ThinkSpace concentrates on developing 'real life' solutions that make life easier first, healthier second. A highly experienced speaker and facilitator, Tim is regularly used to motivate and inspire groups and audiences. He works with a range of clients including PHARMAC, ACC, the Heart Foundation, the Cancer Society and a range of DHBs and NGOs by using a blend of community development, social marketing and organisational and workforce development. Being married with 5 children, Tim is also multilingual being able to speak toddler, teenage and husband dialects. You can find him at www.thinkspace.co.nz.

John Loof – CEO Cancer Society Auckland Division

John has worked in the not-for-profit sector for almost a decade. Before his current role as Chief Executive Officer of the Auckland Division of the Cancer Society, John was general manager of the Auckland SPCA. Prior to that he worked in the property industry. His key focus at the Cancer Society is to reduce the impact of cancer across the community through patient & family support and medical research; and to reduce cancer incidence through advocacy and the promotion of healthier environments and lifestyles.

He has a keen interest in governance and is currently a Trustee of “Look Good Feel Better”, and a board member of the Maurice Wilkins Centre and the Auckland Football Federation. A keen sports follower, he is also a football coach and player and weekend taxi driver for his two sons.

$29.99, PB, Hodder Moa

Published 14th Dec 2009

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