Superfoods Superfast with Superwoman, Julie Montagu
Julie Montagu has a lot on her plate. As a mother of four, holistic health icon, best-selling author, yoga teacher and Ladies of London star, she’s always on the go.
Julie’s new book, Superfoods Superfast, is for all of us who want to nourish our bodies amid our hectic lives. A sequel to Superfoods, this book is full of quick, simple and super nutritious meals. Packed with whole foods, each recipe pops off the page with its unique combination of flavors and mouth-watering, stunning photos.
Julie hasn’t always been passionate about nourishing food. As a teenager, she gorged on junk, and as an adult, she didn’t give much thought to what she ate. But in 2009, during a yoga teacher training session, Julie noticed the healthy, colorful snacks that her fellow yogis ate. Intrigued by this vibrant food, Julie began (voraciously) reading about how food affects our bodies, energy levels and moods.
After getting a taste, she knew she had to make a change. And she’s never looked back. Thankfully for all of us, Julie has inspired and invited others (including her four kids!) to join her on the journey.
We called Julie up - from across the Atlantic - to get her take on superfoods, her “strategy” for coming up with unique dishes, and her kid-friendly food tips for parents everywhere...
Why did you write Superfoods Superfast?
With this book, I wanted to demonstrate that even with a hectic, busy, crazy, chaotic life like mine, we can still take time for small moments of self-care. With technology, our lives are not slowing down. In fact, they’re getting busier and busier. So, I really wanted to give people a cookbook that they can actually use in their busy lives.
It’s about making sure that you get 20 minutes in your day to feed and nourish your body. Your body really wants that energy, that nutrition, that nourishment. It will make you perform much better in your crazy, hectic life.
Julie’s Spicy Pico de Gallo Lettuce Tacos. Click here for the recipe.
What makes a food “super” to you?
There is all this hype around “superfoods.” They can be very expensive though, and I wanted to make this book very accessible. My point is that all of the whole foods that we eat are super, and a super healthy, nutritious meal doesn’t need to break the bank!
TURMERIC! (One of Julie’s favorite superfood spices.)
I love the unlikely combinations of ingredients in your recipes, like lentil brownies, turmeric in a breakfast dish, or grapefruit in pesto. I’m curious as to how you come up with these things…
OK, my process is this: I look in my fridge, pantry or cupboard, and I think, “Without going back to the supermarket, what can I create from what I have?”
I had done black bean brownies in my last book, but one day, probably because lentils were just sitting there, I was like, “Why don’t I try lentil brownies?!” And I did. I didn’t tell any of my kids that the brownies had lentils in them. They came back from school, and they ate the whole thing. It wasn’t until afterwards that I told them about the lentils, but they loved them anyway. It’s their favorite brownie recipe.
Julie’s Curry Chickpea Snacks. Click here for the recipe.
You’re a mother of four. Do you have any tips for parents who want their kids to eat well?
I get asked this a lot, and my biggest tip is (1) Don’t force feed your kids too much information, but do focus on educating them. I don’t say, “You must eat this because it’s good for you.” I have to have some proof to back it up. I say, “I made this, and I would like you to try it. It’s got this, this, this and this in it, which means you’re building your bones, or it’s good for your eyesight.”
If I’m being perfectly honest, even when they all try something new, it’s very hard to please all four kids. I may get three out of four to like something, but the one who doesn’t like it will at least have tried it!
(2) My other piece of advice is to get kids more involved in the kitchen. Have them set the table or cook with you. When they’re older, it’s about making sure they can be independent in the kitchen. Now, it’s amazing, my kids will throw together smoothies in the Vitamix, just from basically having watched me do it.
(3) It’s also a great trick to read the back of food labels with them. When two of my kids were much younger, they had come home from a birthday party with a packet of sweets, and they said, “Can we eat this?” I said, “Yeah, but let’s read what’s on the back of the package...Do you guys recognize these ingredients?” They were like, “No...” So, I said, “OK, well, it’s up to you if you want to eat it or not.” And they didn’t end up eating it!
Julie’s Avocado Toast with Flax Meal. Click here for the recipe.
In the beginning of your book, you ask your readers to take stock of their relationships and the way that day-to-day interactions affect their life and health. Can you say more about this?
It’s about the big picture. If you’re going to take 20 minutes to cook for yourself or look for those small moments of self-care, you should also look at the rest of your day. Look at the rest of your life, look at what’s going on in your job, in your home life, in your relationships. What are the things that are stressing you out, and what small changes can you make?
What are your hopes for this book?
Books with the word “diet” in them sell. But it’s not about that. I really want to get the message out that when you’re nourishing yourself with good foods, you’ll feel great. You can feel great and eat well in 20 minutes or less. It’s not hard. In fact, it’s really simple, and I want to make it really simple for you.
To follow Julie’s super delicious food recommendations - customized for you - visit her Lighter profile. All of her meals are kid-approved, packed with superfoods, and easy to throw together.
COMING SOON: On September 1, Julie is launching a new wellness membership site, Truly Julie. Each month, Truly Julie members explore a different theme together. Members receive affirmations, podcasts, recipes and resources to create a more vibrant life and find small moments of self-care. Learn more here.
More from Julie:
The Flexi Foodie
JulieMontagu.com
Truly-Julie.com
