Joe Wicks launches Healthy Start cookbook to help families eat together
Joe Wicks promotes his new cookbook Healthy Start, offering quick, simple family meals and advice on involving kids in cooking to tackle fussy eating.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Joe Wicks has released a new cookbook, Healthy Start, aimed at helping parents feed fussy children and build healthier family routines. In an interview on 5 News, the fitness coach and author said the book is about getting the whole family eating the same meal, rather than preparing separate dishes for children. He stressed the importance of involving kids in the cooking process, arguing that children are more adventurous eaters when they have helped make the food.
The book contains around 80 recipes, including stir-fries, curries, pasta bakes, homemade pizzas, burgers and pies. Wicks said the recipes follow the same principles as his earlier Lean in 15 series, focusing on speed and simplicity. He acknowledged that parents are busy, but said meals can be ready in about 15 minutes, such as a simple stir-fry. He also advised families to avoid children's menus in restaurants and instead share food family-style.
Wicks, who has four children aged two to eight, said his own kids are more willing to try new foods when they help prepare them. He described making a chicken pie with his children and mentioned a lasagna called 'Lenny's lovely lasagna' that he and his daughter made together. He said the book includes recipes that provide leftovers for lunch the next day.
The interview also touched on the wider issue of childhood obesity. The presenter cited statistics showing that a quarter of four and five year olds in the UK are obese. Wicks called this a serious problem, but said the food system is failing families because ultra-processed food is cheap and heavily marketed. He said Healthy Start is not a quick fix, but encourages parents to be consistent and not give up when children reject food. He suggested trying one new recipe a week, which would add up to 52 over a year.
Wicks also recalled that during his Lean in 15 days, sales of tenderstem broccoli reportedly rose by about 50% because he kept frying it in his recipes. He said he hopes the new book will have a similar impact, helping children develop a positive relationship with food that lasts into adulthood.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 |
|---|---|
| A quarter of four and five year olds in the UK are reported to be obese. | |
| Sales of tenderstem broccoli increased by about 50% during Joe Wicks's Lean in 15 period. | |
| The book contains around 80 recipes. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The channel focused on Joe Wicks's practical advice for parents, his own experience as a father of four, and the broader problem of childhood obesity. The tone was conversational and supportive, with the presenter highlighting the challenge of fussy eaters and the importance of involving children in cooking.
- “It's a healthy start is all about, you know food for the family and trying to get into a routine of having one family one meal”
- “But it's about being consistent and not giving up and trying again to offer them things.”
- “Apparently the grocery like magazine at the time said that Tender stem broccoli selling up about 50% during their lean in 15 days”
Broadcast Timeline
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