Real life road-test: Busy mum tries Sanitarium’s FREE Easy Eats Cookbook

Struggling to get your family eating healthily? Finding it hard to get more veggies in to your meals each day? You’re not alone. Life gets busy, the pantry’s bare, and sometimes the whole healthy eating thing just feels... too challenging.

That’s where Easy Eats comes in — our latest free cookbook designed by our qualified Sanitarium Dietitians that provides simple, affordable, veggie-packed meal ideas to inspire you in the kitchen.

This month, we’ve teamed up with busy mum and lifestyle blogger, Chantelle Ellem from Fat Mum Slim to put Easy Eats to the test. She shares her favourite recipe from the book and offers her top tips for getting more veggies into meals - without the fuss.

How it started

Chantelle’s love for cooking began at 10, tweaking recipes to make them her own. Now, as a busy mum, she’s all about faster, simpler, nutritious meals with fewer ingredients. “Quick, tasty, and healthy is what we all want,” says Chantelle. She says many mums are tired of the same five meals on repeat.

“Sanitarium’s Easy Eats Cookbook is a great inspiration for veggie-packed dinners that even the kids love!” says Chantelle.

So, what's her favourite recipe from the book?

Chantelle finds that hands-on, playful recipes are always a hit with kids. “My family enjoyed the Tofu larb lettuce cups. They’re fresh, crispy and a fun hands-on way to get kids eating more veggies in the warmer months,” says Chantelle.

What other tips does Chantelle have for squeezing in more serves of veggies?

Get kids in the kitchen

Just like Chantelle did as a child, her daughter is now enjoying the delights of cooking.  “My 11-year-old is a bit sensitive about veggies,” Chantelle shares. “But she loves tacos and has learned to make them from start to finish. She chooses the veggies, puts in the effort, and feels proud of her creation, which makes her more likely to eat it,” says Chantelle.

It’s all about finding the right recipes and getting kids hands-on in a safe way. “I got a great tip from someone in my community to buy a kid-safe knife and it’s been a game changer for us.”

Empower your kids and make it fun

Chantelle wants her kids to develop a healthy relationship with food. “I encourage them to try new foods, but I don’t want to pressure them to eat what they don’t want.”

To make mealtime enjoyable and empowering, she suggests “help-yourself” dinners where kids can use little tongs to create their own combinations. “It adds fun to the process,” says Chantelle. “I also use a plastic container (that’s going viral on social media) that keeps different meal components separate, which reduces fuss and encourages my kids to try more foods. And I like to use flower cutters to turn veggies into fun shapes.”

Connect with growers

Chantelle recommends taking your kids to local farmers’ markets, orchards or farms to explore where food comes from. “My family enjoys visiting our farmers’ markets and I let my kids pick out the fresh fruits and veggies that catch their eye. Since they choose them, they’re more excited to eat them and include them in their lunch boxes and dinners.  

“We especially love our local avocado lady, who chats with the kids and has taught them a fun trick to check if an avocado is ripe – by gently pressing it, just like she demonstrates with her nose. The kids adore visiting her, and it’s no coincidence that avocados are their favourite.

The grater is your friend

While Chantelle prefers her children to visually see veggies and make their own choices, she acknowledges there’s a place for sneaking them in occasionally.

“Finely grating veggies and adding them to recipes like bolognaise, lasagna, or casseroles works well. You can even incorporate them into cakes and muffins.”

Getting your family to eat more veggies doesn’t have to be a battle. With a little creativity and some fun in the kitchen, even the pickiest eaters can discover new flavours and textures. Whether it’s through hands-on recipes or trips to the farmers' market, Chantelle’s approach proves that eating healthy can be simple, enjoyable, and even a little playful.

To try Chantelle’s favourite Tofu larb lettuce cups and more like it, download your free copy of our latest plant-powered cookbook, Easy Eats.