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We live in an age where there has never been more interest in food and cooking and yet many children have no idea where the food they eat comes from. We have a huge problem with childhood obesity and yet many children lack essential nutrients. Writer Michael Pollan’s mantra ‘Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants’ rings true, but we have no hope of achieving this unless we allow children to be part of the ‘farm to fork’ journey

We live in an age where there has never been more interest in food and cooking and yet many children have no idea where the food they eat comes from. We have a huge problem with childhood obesity and yet many children lack essential nutrients. Writer Michael Pollan’s mantra ‘Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants’ rings true, but we have no hope of achieving this unless we allow children to be part of the ‘farm to fork’ journey

It’s amazing what a little smoked paprika can do to the humble potato. To keep the Spanish theme going finish them off with garlic and parsley and serve with fried eggs.

Fruit salads are great all year round, but a little harder in winter. However more hearty in its flavours, this dish does the trick.

A jalousie is a slatted window and gives its name to pies which have a pastry lattice top.

This soup is filled with ham and vegetables, a great complete meal to serve in winter.

This recipe isn't fussy, just pure and simple beefy flavour with lashings of tart cheddar cheese for a bit of bite. This Kiwi staple makes a damn fine meal.

This easy dish is even better if marinated overnight. Simply bring chicken to room temperature before cooking, then place in the oven! Remember to turn it during cooking, and you’ll have moist, tender, golden, spicy chicken.

This cake is made with oil but it has a light texture and crumb and is fragrant with cinnamon which makes a nice variation from regular run-of-the-mill chocolate cakes.

This savoury tart is ideal for lunch, dinner or even a picnic as you can bake it a day in advance. Slice up this chunky vegetarian meal for a nutritious feed.

This dessert is simple but delicious with just four ingredients. Topped with sweet Mango slices, this is the perfect Summer snack.

A lamb dinner that’s a cut above the rest.

Sprinkle over the bhuja mix just before serving, to preserve the crunch!

Keep a healthy theme going by swapping fried chicken or nuggets for delicious poppy-crumbed bingo wings.

Pizza with a twist! Pile your base high with veges that are packed with nutrients.

This creamy caramel rice pudding is even easy enough for the kids to make.

My favourite nifty nibbles are just perfect for parties.

Leaving the fruit intact will give your presentation a professional edge.

The bird is the word! Cheep and cheerful, nothing will go to waste with chicken.

Homemade satay is simply the best with its crunchy peanuts and tangy flavour. You can use nibbles, drumsticks or thighs for this recipe. The noodle salad makes it a complete meal – and in just 40 minutes.

From carrot and beetroot to cheese and bacon, fill the rolls with whatever ingredients you like!

My artichoke tart packs a flavourful punch that the whole family will love.

Any kind of poached or honey-glazed fruit goes well with creamy rice.

Family Fave! A pie is the perfect way to feed the masses.

Soup’s on and this is so simple to make.

A roasted root vegetable salad will still taste great as leftovers the next day.

Virgin Mary is a fun beverage to brighten up your day at work. Keep some Tabasco sauce in one of your desk drawers and add a few drops right before you drink it.

The salty feta balances out the sweetness of the dates, basil and cherry tomatoes.

These almond power bars make a terrific schoolbox snack for the kids!

To make lunchtime morsels, add a few rocket leaves to the mix with the salmon, then bake in regular-sized muffin tins.

Toppings could include pickled peppers, gherkins, Swiss cheese or herby butter.

You can also add fresh blueberries or diced apple to this recipe.

Muffins can take you from breakfast to dessert and every snack in between, so line up the tins and get a batch (or two) going.

If you’re after a quick fix, ditch the syrup and serve these heated with ice cream or natural yoghurt.

Mike’s Top Tips: The yoghurt sorbet isn’t an instant dessert as it takes a while to freeze, so best to make it the day before you want to eat it. Try freezing this delicious sorbet in a metal container as the metal will act as a temperature conductor, freezing the sorbet twice as fast as […]

It’s time to dig out the slow cooker and make the most of cheaper cuts of meat. Get them chugging away early in the day, so that by dinnertime the house is filled with gorgeous savoury aromas and you’ll have everyone clamouring around.

Forget sugar-laden shop-bought muesli bars. These rich but healthy fruit and nut-filled treats make for an energising snack.

Luca Villari turns caveman in the kitchen

Forget sugar-laden shop-bought muesli bars. These rich but healthy fruit and nut-filled treats make a tasty energising snack or on-the-go breakfast.

It’s time to dig out the slow cooker and make the most of cheaper cuts of meat. Get them chugging away early in the day, so that by dinnertime the house is filled with gorgeous savoury aromas and you’ll have everyone clamouring around.

Indulge your sweet tooth with a big slice of this humble apple cake. We've added an extra layer of flavour with a beautiful cream filling.

Light and full of bold tropical flavours, this soft mousse cake has a melt-in-the-mouth texture with a healthy, crunchy base

It’s time to dig out the slow cooker and make the most of cheaper cuts of meat. Get it chugging away early in the day, so that by dinnertime the house is filled with gorgeous savoury aromas and you’ll have everyone clamouring around.

Ward off winter maladies with this wonderful seasonal salad

This hearty breakfast dish really turns up the flavour to keep you satisfied.

Light and tasty, this healthy paleo salad is packed full of protein. The combination of crunchy macadamias and sweet apples with tender chicken is a real winner, making it a go-to lunch option.

These homemade muesli bars are packed full of healthy fruit and nuts to keep you fuller for longer, without the sugar and other nasties!

Apples make the most wonderful comfort food – hardly glamorous, but reliably delicious – every day.

Mandarins are a burst of sweet freshness on a crisp winter’s day. During winter, they’re abundant and inexpensive to buy, and if you’re lucky enough you might have a mandarin tree at home dripping with deep orange orbs. Make the most of them!

Luca Villari turns caveman in the kitchen

Ward off winter maladies with this wonderful seasonal salad

Luca Villari turns caveman in the kitchen

Freeze-dried raspberry powder is available from specialist food stores. Note

This twist on eggs and soldiers salutes the imaginary world of Dr Seuss by using pale green-shelled Araucana bantam eggs, or simply dy white eggs with green food colouring.

This is the kind of thing to whip up mid-week with inexpensive fish. Simple and satisfying.

By brushing the pastry with beaten egg yolk before baking, you will get a lovely golden crunch on the pie crust. Perfect pastry for a point scoring pie!

Two of your favourite things in one boozy cup.

This cocktail makes a great palate cleanser between courses or a low-fat dessert.

Who says bread can't be the star of the meal? This hearty flat bread is filled with herbs, nuts and tomatoes that give it extra flavour and make it perfect to share with friends.

Succulent chicken schnitzel drizzled with mayonnaise and enjoyed in a doughy bread roll. What more could you want? It's the 20 minute wonder you'll be making again and again.

What could be better than meringues? Nutella and whipped cream sandwiched between two perfectly formed choc-hazelnut meringue kisses.

Tender, sweet pears are poached to perfection in a fragrant ginger broth in this beautiful dessert. Serve with a dollop of spiced ricotta for a fruit filled after dinner treat.

These light and fluffy cupcakes have a twist: the addition of pieces of rhubarb. They take just half an hour to make but are such a tasty treat you'll wish you made more.

Share the taste-bud love with these fried potato sticks, covered in herbs and complemented with a spicy tomato salsa.

Delight your kids and any fish enthusiast friends with this fun, creative treat. It looks complicated but is actually so simple you could even get the kids to help make the jelly or cupcakes.

Can't choose between the tart flavours of lemon meringue pie or the creamy filling and biscuit base of cheesecake? Why not have both. These lemon meringue cheesecakes are simple and enticing, perfect for afternoon tea.

It's the winning dessert duo you just can't resist: strawberries and cream. Sandwiched between delightful shortcake biscuits it's a treat that will impress everyone, even your grandmother.

This quick and mouthwateringly delicious meal is made more grandiose by swapping the usual chicken egg with a gently fried duck to accompany the hearty filling between two thick slices of bread.

The flavours of this fresh salad brighten the whole meal.

So cheesy! Googly-eyed puffs and chewy, tasty scrolls go down a treat with adult guests too.

Treasure these recipes – they’ll make any children’s party go off with a bang.

This colourful, cheeky caterpillar will be the star of the show – and he’s great fun to make.

Treasure these recipes – they’ll make any children’s party go off with a bang.

The trick is to get the icing colours just right (try gel colours from cake shops). Finish with marshmallows and chocolate coins.

These tomtato, cheese and ham scrolls will go down a treat with the kids! Easy to assmeble, these make for a fun lunchbox idea or get the kids to help make them in the school holidays! Looking for other food ideas? Try these school holiday snack ideas, and find some lunchbox inspo for when they’re […]

A Sunday roast in a pie – this recipe will become a repeat hit with the family!

A crisp base and sweet citrus syrup make this almond cheesecake a divine dessert for all.

Beef things up at home with this sizzling, delicious dinner

Beef things up at home with this sizzling, delicious dinner.

Filled with wholesome jumbo prawns and green vegetables, this fish broth with lemongrass and jumbo prawns is a complete meal in a bowl.

These are best served warm, dripping with butter and maple syrup – go on, try them!

A crispy, golden meal that bursts with sunny flavours

This is a brilliant one-pot mix and the results are scrumptious! The nutty caramel flavours work well with coffee, or you can wrap them individually to give away to guests as they leave.

A layered cake provides a show-stopping centrepiece. Make this easy lemon-scented butter cake in advance and freeze or chill for your special occasion...

Zucchini and feta are a delicious combination, your Mum will love these on Mother's Day! Warm savoury treats always go down well, so make plenty or prepare ahead and freeze.

These meringues are a real treat. If you can’t find strawberry powder, swirl in 1 tablespoon of runny strawberry jam instead. It won’t be quite as pretty, but will taste divine. Serve with plenty of cream and berry sauce, or sandwich together with whipped cream.

This quick version of lemon curd is made in a microwave and food processor and will keep in the fridge for several weeks.

Mums spend so much time looking after everyone, why not return the favour? Celebrate Mother’s Day in style with a special afternoon tea shared with close friends and family.

Easy to freeze and defrost when you please!

Wrap this slice with kitchen paper and string to add to the sense of occasion.

Top of the morning! Treat mum to a healthy breakfast spread that’s sure to make her smile

Made with love for Mum. Say 'Thank you' with a sweet and savoury feast. Dainty sandwiches with tasty fillings are great for parties and can be made a few hours ahead, as long as you keep them covered and chilled. Try these two simple, yet delectable fillings.

Cut down the calories in your cooked breakfast.

Warm savoury treats always go down well at a party, so make plenty or prepare ahead and freeze. These tartlets have a simple base, but the creamy feta and sweet-and-sour onions make them flashy and flavourful. Note

Sweet treats that really take the cake!

The addition of watercress gives this soup a complex peppery flavour, which is surprisingly delicious.

The chilly weather is on its way. Work on your internal insulation with Sarah Bowman’s rich and warming dessert

This hearty, filling burger will please vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.

Nuts bring a wide array of nutty, toasty and sweet flavours to dishes – think the sweet butteriness of pine nuts, the milky sweetness of fresh almonds, and the toasty coffee-like taste of roasted hazelnuts. Texturally, they add that much-loved crunch, and make an interesting contrast to smooth or soft foods.