Eating habits fascinate me. Not just what people consume, but how, why and with whom.
I can’t help browsing cookery book collections in other people’s kitchens. I like to peer at grocery lists and peek inside pantries filled with store cupboard staples. The bit in MTV Cribs where they show you the inside of their fridge? That’s my idea of heaven.
After almost six years of documenting the food we eat on Love Audrey, I thought I’d go into a little more detail regarding our diet. My hope is you’ll return the favour and satisfy my innate curiosity by sharing similar information about yourselves in the comments below.
For us, food is an integral part of family life. The four of us eat together twice a day, every day, and mealtimes tend to be the focal point of our weekends too. Food is definitely my love language. Few things make me happier than watching people enjoy a meal I’ve prepared.
I do most of the cooking, but Mr L.A. makes a marvellous sous chef. I plan our meals on a weekly basis, poring over my extensive collection of recipe books before ordering groceries online via Ocado. We spend roughly £100 a week, but I’m more than capable of tightening the proverbial belt when freelance life is a little more famine than feast. When we’re feeling flush, we probably eat out a couple of times a month.
Here are a few basic principles I follow when feeding my brood. They’re not hard and fast rules, just habits we’ve fallen into as a family.
- As Little Processed Food as Possible
I’ve always enjoyed being in the kitchen, so cooking from scratch is no big deal. I’m not a complete saint. I don’t bake my own bread and I wouldn’t dream of denying the children the odd fish finger, but you’re unlikely to find a ready meal in my fridge.
- Meat is a Treat
Our diet is predominantly a pescatarian one. We often go weeks without eating any meat at all, but on average it probably features once or twice a month. At the risk of sounding preachy, I believe limiting the amount of meat you consume is one of the best things you can do for your health, your wallet, and the environment.
- Something Raw with Every Meal
I adopted this idea when the children were little, but I quickly realised it could benefit the whole family. It’s a great way to increase your intake of fruit and veg without worrying about loss of nutrients due to cooking. Treating salad as a main event rather than a hurried afterthought has revolutionised the way I eat. Another good rule of thumb is to think about how colourful a meal is. Generally speaking, the brighter and more vibrant it is, the better.
- The 80/20 Rule
Much of The Londoner’s Anti Diet resonated with me, but the 80/20 rule in particular reminded me of my own attitude to food. 80% of what we eat is healthy, nutritious and incredibly good for us. The other 20% is made up of ‘naughty’ food like Salted Caramel Marble Cake, Lemon Drizzle and those huge weekend breakfasts you know we love.
- If We Have to Have ‘Junk’, I’d Rather it was Homemade
I rarely buy cakes and biscuits. Not only do I enjoy making my own, I feel better about the children eating a simple mix of sugar, butter, flour and eggs over something shop-bought that’s also pumped full of preservatives and flavour enhancers. Friday is our designated ‘treat day’ when the children are allowed to buy penny sweets from the corner shop. They look forward to it all week and it stops them from trying their luck every day!
- Variety is the Spice of Life
We all know it’s vital we eat a varied diet. I’ve found it’s also important for me to mix things up in order to enjoy the daily grind of feeding a family of four. I like to try at least one new recipe a week. I endeavour to maintain a balance between food I know the children love {and will eat with little or no fuss} and more mature meals that might mean we have a fight on our hands.
What can you tell me about your eating habits? Do you follow any of my principles?
Love Audrey xxx
I’m so glad to read this post, so much of it echoes my thoughts on food and cooking. I’m passionate about cooking from scratch and agree I would prefer to have home made naughty treats rather than processed gunk (apart from chocolate that is haha!)
I tend to make a bit extra on an evening then bring it in for lunch the next day but it has resulted in my colleagues calling me posh as I don’t eat the ready meals and pot noodles that they do. How cooking from scratch is deemed posh baffles me.
Will you share more of your veggie recipes on here please? I’d love to cook more veggie meals although the Mr isn’t so keen haha!
Thank you Clare, I’m really pleased you enjoyed this post.
I’m really surprised by the idea that cooking from scratch is ‘posh’. Bringing leftovers for lunch is the height of frugality if you ask me!
I’ll definitely share more veggie recipes. I’m hoping to share a whole series of my favourite salads soon, that should be a good start. My husband is with your Mr by the way! He generally thinks everything I cook could be improved with a little meat, but he eats it anyway! He’ll thank me one day.
xxx
I must admit our diet is really bad these days, processed food all the time. I’m working full time and trying to build my own business and the Mr has started working for himself and that is my lazy horrible excuse (not to mention how sluggish and yukky I feel) its just whatever is quickest. To be able to fling it it the oven whilst doing other chores is what I do. I love cooking meals from scratch and doing some baking but I’ve fell away from it.
Preparation is key, I’ve taken Friday & Monday off from work and it’s basically to get organised and catch up with myself, how bad is that! Hopefully will get some baking in too. Mum bought us a slow cooker for Christmas and its still in the box. Will be dusting it off this weekend too.
I always look in peoples shopping trolleys, I think you can tell a lot from a person from there groceries !!
I love your foodie posts, I’m to have a look for some of your recipes.
Have a lovely Easter weekend with your family and I look forward to your weekend post. Fingers crossed for some better weather! x
I’m sure you’re not lazy or horrible (but dumping the processed food might help with the sluggish, yukky feeling)! It’s really, really hard when you’re tired and all you want to do is veg out. You’ve definitely inspired me to put together a post about cooking from scratch when you’re exhausted and busy.
You’re right about the prep, being organised helps. Definitely get that slow cooker going, coming home to a hot meal is the best feeling.
Thank you Marlene, I hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend too.
xxx
Loved reading this especially as I’ve particularly enjoyed your recipe posts over the years. A few lemon drizzle cakes and snickerdoodles may have been whipped up in our kitchen as a result! I’ve always wondered how on earth you can stay so gorgeously slim but having read your post it’s actually because you have the right attitude to treats, you plan carefully and pretty much everything is cooked from scratch. As someone who’s just had a baby (ahem…probably can’t use that excuse anymore….he’s one!) and recently back at work full time, plus I may need to shift some wobbles, I think these factors are all key. I actually love cooking, have studied nutrition and devour new books but the reality of our new routine is that too often we grab an M&S supper at the train station before a packed commute and collapse on the sofa.I need to embrace planning, batch cooking and find my healthy food mojo again particularly as I want to set a good example to the toddling rascal! I’m so pleased you’re writing again! xx
Thank you, I’m glad to be writing again too! I love hearing that people have tried a recipe I’ve shared on Love Audrey!
I can see I really need to write a post about cooking from scratch when you’re knackered! Have you ever thought about trying a slow cooker? I used to rely on mine when the kids were little and I was out at uni all day.
xxx
Some great advice here – all sounds good to me. I eat way more meat than you but not every day. I definitely agree with making your own treats, this is something I am trying to do more these days – I’m no baker but I am learning to make treats like marshmallow. The best bit of advice I have been given about food is one you also mention – a colourful meal is a healthy meal.
Thank you Zoe, I’m always telling my kids to ‘eat the rainbow’! It’s good advice.
I’ve never tried making marshmallows, but I’m feeling inspired after reading your comment,
xxx
We aim for similar here but I think we probably fall short more often than you seem to. I blame work, being busy and not being around on the one day of the week the fish van is here! One of my children is veggie (your daughter is too I think?) and I definitely struggle with variety. It’s easier just to go for the favourites that I know will be eaten, especially when they are simple to tailor to different tastes (baked tatties every week for example – choose your topping. Salad on the side). One thing I do is make LOADS of soup – I means easily 3 large pots a week – and that way I know there’s always something nutritious and homemade if either of them turn up their noses at dinner. It’s also good to take to work.
My dh would happily go veggie, it’s me and my son that are the carnivores but we keep it to good quality meat occasionally. We all love pulses luckily.
It’s so hard when you’re working hard and tired as a result. As I said, they’re not hard and fast rules. When my husband and I have major deadlines we’re really good at flaking out and ordering a takeaway! I guess it comes back to the whole 80/20 rule.
Soup is such a good idea, you can cram so much goodness in. One thing I’ve been doing reacently is roasting root vegetables {sweet potato, butternut squash or parsnip etc} with a few herbs {rosemary and thyme are great}, and then pureeing them with a little vegetable stock to make pasta sauce. It’s quite similar to making soup really. Freezes really well and you can make a delicous pasta bake or just toss it through spaghetti.
xxx
It’s definitely about forming {and sticking to} good habits, isn’t it? You’ll get back on track if you put your mind to it.
As for popping to the Co-op, maybe it’s just about making the right choices? I always feel quite proud of myself when I rustle up a healthy meal from stuff I’ve bought at our local corner shop! This mixed bean goulash is a current favourite, it’s delicious…
xxx
Really enjoyed this post, Franky. I’m always curious about what and how other people eat too. I actually have a diploma in Holistic Nutrition, and have tried many different eating styles…sometimes to the point of being a little bit obsessive. I find what works for me now is moderation in everything and as little processed food as possible. However on crazy busy days sometimes frozen pizza happens! I find that with having a B&B and a slightly crazy schedule (especially in tourist season) I really need to focus on planning ahead. It helps a lot when I cook extra portions of dinner. That way it’s available for lunch or the next night’s dinner – so that hopefully frozen pizza is less likely to happen!
Moderation is definitely a good approach Joanne. There’s no point beating yourself up about the odd frozen pizza either, convenience food has it’s place, doesn’t it? It all comes back to the whole 80/20 thing I guess.
I agree, planning is key and I like the ‘cook once, eat twice {or even thrice}’ idea too.
xxx
This is such an inspirational post – this is basically a snapshot of how I’d love to live my life! With no kids, two gruelling jobs and a 2 hour plus commute each day, our diets are shocking. Ready meals and processed food a go go – I try to batch cook where I can but it becomes like a factory line, without much joy or experimentation.
Food for knackered people (and food that’s quick to make) would be a WONDERFUL post – when I’m regularly getting in at 8:45pm and ideally need to be in bed 2 hours later!
So glad you found this post inspiring Kate. I’ve been jotting down my top tips for tired, busy cooks so watch this space. Goodness knows I’m one of them most of the time!
xxx
I have to admit, I hate cooking. I am queen of the burnt lunch (even tea towels, I’ve lost plenty of them to the hobs!) however now Sam is joining the world of self employment I’m going to attempt cooking for at least half of the week! Which recipe books are your favourite Franky?
I’m pretty good at burning tea towels too Becky, so don’t feel bad! I’m going to pull together a post on my favourite recipe books and blogs, but in the meantime I can tell you that Jamie Oliver’s 30 Minute and 15 Minute Meals are among my most used books for midweek cooking. The recipes aren’t quite as quick as the titles suggest, but it is simple, no-nonsense food!
xxx
I love those principals, I just wish I had a kitchen I could cook in. I keep meaning to start cooking at least once a week no matter how much it hurts nor how much Dad complains about it being too healthy. Two Blogs this week have been about balanced eating and now I feel even more motivated.
I hope one day to sample some of your cooking! X
I can only imagine how challenging it must be, but I hope you find the balance you’re after. I’d love to cook for you one day!
xxx
I would happily spend all day looking through cook books meal planning. It really is such a treat to take the time to get inspiration & one of my favourite things to do. Diana Henry ‘a bird in the hand’ and Clare Thomsons ‘5 O’Clock Apron’ are on my list.
I have let things slip recently. I used to work from home, with just a day in the office, in London. This meant I could get dinner prepped (& stick a load of washing in) during the day. Now I work closer to home and no longer have to travel but I’m less organised. I am making conscious effort with week day meals now.
We eat a lot of meat. We definitely need to work on that. It’s always good quality meat, from our brilliant local butchers (although I recently went into Aldi and they’re free range chicken is cheap…must be a loss leader) but still, maybe we have too much. Even when we have a meal where meat isn’t the protagonist there will usually be a bit of Parma ham or chorizo lurking in the wings.
I’m looking forward to your salad series- I loved the kale salad that you shared!
Anyway, sorry about the ramble!
Leeanne.x
No need to apologise, I loved reading your ramble! Thank you for the book recommendations too, I like the look of ‘5 O’Clock Apron’ in particular.
xxx
excellent post! your food ethics are really good. i must admit, i am not as good as i would like to be but i do ensure we get our 5 a day (usually more) and that the meals i make are balanced. i think it’s the snacking that lets me down! i was a veggie for over 8 years, i started eating meat again about 4 years ago. i know i could give it up again if i had to but i really couldn’t give fish up now. i think the homemade junk thing is something i would like to work on. i try not to have too much processed crap, luckily i love cooking and like a variety of foods (as does my partner and it seems our little one likes most things too!) – though this can be our downfall sometimes!
i don’t suppose you have been watching “back in time for dinner”? it’s a really interesting look at food in the home and from a family p.o.v from the 50s onwards. xx
Snacks are tricky, I agree. Luckily, I find the children motivate me to have lots of healthy things around. You might find this too as Sebastian gets older. The fruit bowl is always full and I keep small things like falafels, veggie sticks and nuts on hand. Of course we indulge in the odd treat as well! Love the sound of the TV programme you mentioned, I’ll see if I can find it online.
xxx
Brilliant post and it certainly got me thinking about my cooking and eating habits. As Mr R works away Monday to Friday and the boys have long left the nest, I find that I’ve resorted to ready meals and I admit with shame that I eat them straight out of the container to save washing up ! Now and again I decide that my body deserves better and pull the stops out and buy enough fruit and vegetables, grains, nuts and other healthy wholefood superfoods to sink a battleship! The trouble with that is I have to hide the till receipt to prevent Mr R from suffering a coronary!
Once one becomes two at the weekend we tend to eat a proper, cooked from scratch meal on Friday night eaten at the table to catch up with what we’ve been up to. Pasta is a regular favourite and I always make focaccia to go with it. Apparently my beloved thinks that my focaccia is the best in the world. For a man who has never been to Italy, this is hardly true, but I do make the best in my street (of 4 houses!)
During the day time wetend to graze, or pick up a panini at our local John Lewis. We are slightly embarassed that we are such regulars that they almost greet us by name!
I make my own cakes, although we very rarely eat them and they tend to end up being taken to work. I food shop in M&S (I spend less there than the Asda next door…how crazy is that) and I can literally spend hours in Waitrose. A fact that I keep to myself so that people don’t think I’m sad !
Oh I’m a good voyeur too. I was actually just planning to write a post a little like this.
One of the reasons I love your blog is that you seem to really enjoy food and eat a balance of treats and healthy without being preachy.
We are much the same- meat only once or twice a week (fish is really expensive here but we have it when we can). Very little processed food and most treats are home made (or chocolate :))
I also have 2 low carb vegetarian days per week to really get some vegetables into my diet.