Mike’s fruit and nut mix

In October this year, I’m releasing my new cookbook especially for children – the Good From Scratch Kids Cookbook, and will be visiting schools and community groups all over New Zealand to talk about my Good From Scratch Philosophy, and showing them how to make some of the recipes from the book.

I’ve partnered with some fantastic companies to make this all possible – ecostore, Skoda and Rydges.

Ecostore is a fantastic Kiwi company and I use their products every day when I’m cooking. This tour is not just about healthy eating, but healthy kitchen practices and that includes making sure you wash your hands, wipe down surfaces and clean dishes properly to avoid cross-contamination. I like the ecostore range because a little goes a long way, and the products have no nasties so you know they’re safe for everyone to use. Their ultra-sensitive range is especially good for little hands.

Skoda has generously loaned me a Kodiaq – I need a big car to tow a trailer full of books, and cooking equipment all over the country! – and Rydges are kindly letting me stay with them in the locations they have hotels in New Zealand.

The best thing about this tour is that thanks to our sponsors, we are able to tour in a way that schools and community groups can use this as a fundraising opportunity. They will get 100% of the profit from ticket sales to go back to them. – and they don’t have to worry about bringing me to their town or putting me up for the night!

The next step is I need YOU to let me know if you’d like to be part of the tour!

The tour kicks off on October 15 and runs through till mid-December. You can see where I’ll be and when here on my website, as well as all the details on the tour and how to apply to be a part of it.

Since I’m going to be on the road for so long I’ve been thinking about what snacks I can have in the car to make sure I have a healthy meal on hand and am not tempted to get fast food!

Mike’s fruit and nut mix fit for any road trip

• 1 cup roasted almonds
• 3/4 cup roasted cashews
• 5 brazil nuts, rough chopped
• 2/3 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
• 2 cups popped popcorn
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened dried cranberries
• 2 tablespoon sultanas
• 2 tablespoons dark chocolate chips
• a touch of sea salt

My new book Good From Scratch Kids Cookbook is available from October 5, and the tour will kick off October 15.

See you later this year for some healthy cooking!