Get your fill

Gone are the days of restrictive diets. This stunning book shows you how to fill up and fuel up – and enjoy every bite

While most of us look to aspirational Instagram accounts, Pinterest and recipe books for meal ideas, Nadia Damaso, author of Eatbetter

Notless, puts them together from scratch – and judging by the mouthwatering recipes in her new book, we’re glad she’s put them down on paper. ‘My head gets overgrown day to day by new recipes,’ she says. ‘I think in colours and pictures, and love to try out new combinations and create taste explosions.’ Her inspiration comes from nature and travelling to new places, where she looks to local food culture for new ideas. It shows: her book is diverse, full of flavours and doesn’t play by the rules. It’s a fresh way to eat well while keeping everything exciting from breakfast to dinner.

The idea that you have to eat less to eat well is truly debunked in this book. Food is nourishment, so why would you want less of that? ‘The problem with strict rules or diets is that you always have to restrict yourself and – let’s be honest – this doesn’t make you happy,’ she explains. ‘This book shows that healthy food can be just as delicious and fun, makes you feel good and is something we can enjoy!’ What you’ll learn from trying the recipes in Eat Better Not Less is that you never have to be super-strict when it comes to eating well – there are always options to make it the best version for you. There’s no right or wrong, Nadia reckons, and the point is to satisfy yourself. ‘You will not only feel better but also radiate that positivity,’ she adds.

So what makes Eat Better Not Less different from every other cookbook out there right now preaching health-giving benefits? Not only will it give you meal ideas, but it also seeks to inspire lifelong changes in your eating habits that will make you feel good, without placing any strict rules on them. ‘It is a healthy eating cookbook but without any restrictions, just some changes in the use of products,’ reveals Nadia. ‘Also, I hope that my passion about food shines through the book and makes people who might have a hard relationship with food learn to love and appreciate it again.’ If you’ve ever needed a little push to get out of your comfort zone in the kitchen, this book will do just that. It makes healthy eating and cooking seem completely normal – which it can be with Nadia’s advice.