Story by Brent Moya
A new cookbook, Healthy Eating the Middle-Eastern Way with Laila Wragg, aims to cater for the growing interest in healthy multicultural food.
Laila, a Palestinian who was raised in Jordan and has lived in Britain for over 35 years, working extensively in education during her time here, Laila says the book is based on what she has been taught throughout her life “It’s a collection of my experience,” she said. Laila promotes healthy eating but at the same time aims to get the most out of food, “I used to eat lots of vegetarian dishes when I look back they were all healthily-made meals.”
To make her food healthier, Laila takes these very simple steps, “I reduce the oil, fat and protein contents while using fresh produce only”. Cooking from the age of six, Laila’s enthusiasm was fired by she learning to cook from mother and grandmother while in Jordan, “Sometimes my mother would ask me to finish the dish myself,” said Laila.
Laila received such interest in the cooking she did for friends that she decided to move into teaching cookery. In one cookery class there were once nine different nationalities of students in the same group, something Laila is particularly proud of. “My courses are in great demand from men and women of all backgrounds, I would like to share the pleasures of middle-eastern food with everyone.”
The most important piece of advice Laila adheres to is the presentation of food. She went on to say: “We eat with our eyes, so presentation, in terms of colour and image is essential.”
Asked what it is that enticed her to teach, Laila replied: “I’m just committed to doing something that will benefit others – I want to influence the younger generation through their mothers and fathers.”
Laila also insists that culture plays a big part in influencing people and bringing something new to society: “We should be proud of our culture, it’s the most important thing in our lives and enables us to become acknowledged by others.” For this reason she says that this book is not only aimed at Arabs but people of all backgrounds and for easy, tasty, timeless, freshness and presentation.
Having now retired from teaching, Laila is very focused on writing her cookbooks and plans to come back with Volume 2. She joked, “This is only the taster, I’m coming back for more!”
Inspired by her students who, she says, not only learned how to cook but also to cook healthily, Laila sent this message to thank all those who helped make her first cook book a success: “I would like to thanks all my students, assistants, staff at The Furnival and all the other people I know who’ve helped me with writing this book.”
Friends gathered, including the Lord Mayor, Jackie Drayton, on 27th June to launch the book. Healthy Eating the Middle-Eastern Way, which was funded with a small grant from BNDfC, will be on show for purchase at the Abbeyfield Festival on 9th July. For more information contact Laila on 284 5128.