Destination Everyday Recipes: Aotearoa – Where Culture, Coastlines and Clean Eating Meet

Food has always been more than fuel for me.

As a nutritionist, I’m passionate about how ingredients nourish the body, support healing, and make everyday eating simpler and cleaner. But as a traveller and cultural explorer, I’m just as fascinated by the stories behind food — where it comes from, who prepares it, and how traditions shape the way we cook and share meals.

That’s what inspired this new recipe series: Destination Everyday Recipes — a collection of simple, nourishing meals inspired by the places we visit and the people we learn from along the way.

We’re beginning here in Aotearoa, New Zealand — a country that has completely captured my heart.

Over recent trips, we’ve spent time moving through coastal towns, rural communities, and hidden local spots, seeking out authentic food experiences rather than restaurant menus. We’ve talked with locals, learned from home cooks, fishers, growers, and listened closely to Māori influences on preparation, seasoning, and the respectful use of natural ingredients.

One of the greatest gifts of this country is its connection to fresh, local food.

From just-caught fish straight from the sea, to kūmara, wild greens, shellfish, and seasonal produce, the emphasis here is on simplicity — letting the quality of the ingredients speak for themselves. These are recipes born from necessity, tradition, and deep respect for the land and water.

For anyone managing dietary issues like myself, focusing on clean eating, or simply wanting to feel better in their body, this approach is powerful.

When you prepare your own meals using fresh, whole ingredients, you control what goes in — no hidden additives, no unnecessary sugars, no mystery oils. Just real food, prepared with intention. That’s where nutrition and culture beautifully meet.

Throughout this series, I’ll be sharing:

• Everyday recipes inspired by our travels around Aotearoa

• Plenty of freshly caught fish and seafood dishes

• Māori-influenced methods and flavour combinations

• Tips for adapting recipes for dietary needs and clean eating

• Stories from the places and people behind the food

  
  

These aren’t complicated, restaurant-style creations. They’re practical, nourishing meals you can recreate at home — whether you live by the ocean or in the middle of a city.

This series is about slowing down, reconnecting with food, and discovering how travel can change not just what we eat, but how we think about nourishment.