“We need to realise that food is not our enemy and make friends with it again. Have fun with it and seek out easy and quick recipes that fit in with our hectic lives.”
Day Radley
The inspiration for my book, Love.Food, was me. Like many people, for years I suffered a negative and damaging relationship with food. When I went vegan, something lifted and it was through my explorations into fresh, unprocessed and animal-free food that I fell in love with a way of eating that nourishes us and allows us to flourish. I discovered that real food is a life force. It seems so obvious to me now that it’s impossible to feel that when you are eating the dead but, of course, we’re taught not to question that.
When I created the tagline for Love.Food, I had to come up with something that summarised succinctly a personal journey that was over 21 years in the making – no mean feat! However when my friends asked me to describe what the book was about, I simply said “it’s a 28 day plan to let go of chaotic eating and fall back in love with food” and I realised that was perfect. The way the majority of people now eat is chaotic. In our increasingly busy lives, we favour convenience over nourishment and the fast options on offer to us are unhealthy and destructive.
Damaging eating patterns, eating disorders and generally skewed relationships with food is something I talk a lot about in the book, and my personal journey of discovery is the case study that runs throughout it. I found out how I could cook and eat myself to health and empowerment and that is something I am now dedicated to passing onto others.
“Food is our foundation. It is either the foundation of a messed up life, or, it is the foundation of a positive and healthy life.”
Much research has been done into why it takes three weeks to a month to change a habit. The way we eat is habitual, so I wanted to provide people with a resource that enables them to make lasting and positive change. Love. Food is a different sort of cook book - it’s a self-help book, an autobiography of sorts, and a recipe book all rolled into one. In my work as a professional chef, I know what it’s like to be time-poor, so I also pass on all my tips and tricks for affordability, ease and speed - everything from how to prep ingredients and work your kitchen, to quick, healthy, budget-friendly meals and inspirational quotes. I’ve packed Love.Food with everything that encourages and motivates me and I sincerely hope that’s what it will do for others.
There is also a dedicated website that provides additional content like shopping list, food hacks, videos and other recipes for anyone who purchases the book. Love.Food is available to buy now at Amazon – I hope you enjoy it.
Day Radley, also known as Vegan Chef Day, is a professional chef, author, cookery show presenter and recipe ninja. She creates quick and easy, affordable vegan recipes that are gluten-free and healthy. Last year, she successfully crowdfunded to produce a pilot for the UK’s first vegan cooking show, which will be premiering on our screens in 2019. She is a regular festival presenter and cooking demonstrator and will next be appearing at Bristol Vegfest, May 27th.
For more information visit veganchefday.com or email [email protected].
Love.Food is available from Amazon now.