Relish these nuggets

Relish these nuggets

Daphne Oz, the eldest child of American television’s popular personality Doctor Oz (Mehmet Oz), and actress writer Liza Oz, is all about nutrition and fitness. The host and one of the judges on MasterChef Junior, and a guest judge on MasterChef US season 10, which currently airs in India only on Star World, Daphne also hosts a podcast called Mom Brain where she chats with celebrities and experts about all things parenting. She is also working on her next cookbook to be ready by 2021, and has her hands pretty full with four kids, the youngest born six months ago. 
She shares how she dealt with her hardest pregnancy yet, her opinion on a healthy diet and being on cooking reality shows with kids and adults.

How did you get back into shape after pregnancy? 
It takes me about six months to feel strong in my skin again after having a baby and 10-12 months to really get back in shape. When it comes to losing baby weight, a healthy diet is the most important factor. My basic rules are to try to avoid gluten, added sugar and red meat, but I don’t deprive myself of meaningful indulgences, and I make them count! Any eating plan has to be easy, fun, and delicious if you are going to stick with it long term.

What does your kids’ diet consist of? What are some things that are absolute no-nos?
If my kids had it their way, they would have chicken fingers, French fries, pizza and buttery rice or pasta for every meal. But they are all obsessed with kale chips and other strange healthy things too. My grandmother gave me the best advice: Don’t make your kids resist you more than their food, so I don’t fight with my kids about food. We have a rule, which is that big kids try everything once. That means they have to try everything I put on the table once. I serve everything family style so they can be in charge of what they put on their plate. I have found they are starting to feel proud when they try new foods, and I have seen them slowly starting to develop new likes and discovering that they actually like foods they never thought they did. I make most of their food at home, so I try to make the healthiest version of foods I know they love. I add flax seeds and ground almonds to their chicken fingers, we usually do sweet potato fries or I add pureed squash in with their mac n cheese. And my husband and I set an example with the way we eat. We try to make it exciting and adult to eat a variety of different foods and to be excited about sharing a meal with family, it’s a privilege.

Cooking should be taught to kids of all genders as a life skill. What is your take on this? 
I agree. It is a life skill to be able to provide for and nourish yourself in this most basic way, and knowing how to whip up a few delicious, healthy meals is such an easy way to boost your confidence. Plus, it’s a skill you can continue learning and honing for life, and it’s the best way to pass on family heritage and traditions. Cooking is always filled with memories, and it’s my favourite way to make new ones. 

You are joining Gordon Ramsay and Aarón Sanchez on the eighth season of MasterChef Junior. Tell us about your experience of working with them? 
It’s always fun when you can work with real friends, I laughed all season! And as silly and game as they could be, it was equally amazing to watch them get serious and coach. One of the best parts of MC Jr is that, when the chefs jump in to teach our young contestants, you are really watching them bring decades of professional kitchen wisdom and boil it down to bite-sized pieces kids will learn and remember. These nuggets change the way you cook or inspire a tweak that makes all the difference.

You are replacing Christina Tosi on MasterChef Junior. How have you managed to claim the role and what do you bring to the table? 
I have been to culinary school and have hosted food television for nearly a decade, but I am most excited to join the show as a mother of four. It’s incredible to see what such young home cooks are already able to accomplish and the pride and passion they exude. My job was to offer the perspective of someone who cooks regularly for a family at home and to share all the ways I try to teach my kids to excel at what they love.

What is your attitude towards the participants? What qualities in them matter to you as a judge? 
Young home cooks still have skills and techniques to learn through experience, but their creativity is at the peak because they are willing to experiment and try things that have never been done before in terms of flavour, presentation, and dish creation. I am looking for the contestants to have a clear perspective. The real test is to see if they can refine an idea to highlight just the best elements on a plate that keep the eater interested, excited, and not overwhelmed. 

What are some healthy recipes one can try out for family get-togethers? 
One of my favourite everyday healthy recipes for a family get-together is a Veggie Chili. I load mine up with whatever veggies I have in the fridge, a can or two of beans, some chipotle in adobo (if you and the kids don’t mind a nice smoky kick of spice), and a bottle of beer which gives a ton of depth to the veggie broth. Let is simmer for as much time as you can. I serve it loaded into a baked potato or over quinoa or brown rice with a healthy sprinkle of herbs and a wedge of lime. 
And we make roast chicken at least once a week, my kids love it. I season the chicken all over and under the skin with butter mashed with fresh thyme, scallions and salt, and I roast it over a bed of carrots and sweet onion. The carrots get beautifully caramelised and tender, and the onions get sweet and juicy, plus the whole thing is done on one pan.
 

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