We’re all familiar with mood swings, but how about food swings? If you’ve ever felt the push-and-pull tension of wanting to eat healthy and light with the desire to plunge head first into a rich and gooey chocolate cake, then you know exactly what we’re talking about. Jessica Seinfeld does too, which is why her latest cookbook, Food Swings, features more than 125 recipes that address both ends of the healthy-indulgent spectrum. Here, we talk to Seinfeld about the book — which is neatly divided into Virtue and Vice sections — and get her recs on throwing a great summer gathering. Spoiler alert: It involves “dreamy bossa nova” and “welcome” shots of tequila.
The inspiration behind the vice-virtue theme of Food Swings…
I wanted to quiet the ongoing “want to eat” vs. “have to eat” conversation in my head. I knew if I created a structure for myself for everyday eating, balanced with some indulgence, I would think about food a lot less. So, the book is broken down in two sections: Virtue and Vice. Virtue recipes will keep you feeling satisfied and not punished, and the Vice section is all my favorite comfort foods that I reward myself with for having a healthy, guilt-free approach to eating.
Favorite Virtue recipe…
I love the Breakfast Glory Bowls. The chia bowl especially allows me to get creative with fresh fruit and crunchy nuts, which keeps me satisfied for hours.
Favorite Vice recipe…
The Vice section is all favorites. The chicken parmesan is on a weekly Sunday-night rotation at our house. The chocolate cake is our go-to birthday cake for friends and family. And people have gone mental for the Peach and Sriracha Chicken, which makes me so happy.
The mood is always relaxed, yet festive — so all of our funny, unpretentious friends feel right at home. I usually play dreamy bossa nova in the background on an ambient volume (so people can have conversations), and I serve delicious comfort food, family style.
My menu of choice for a summer gathering…
I always serve surf and turf — steaks, hot off the grill, alongside fresh fish bought off the dock in Montauk (a much-appreciated luxury). I prepare simple fresh veggies from our garden — often squash and zucchini, roasted and caramelized, as well as some steamed freshly picked broccoli or cauliflower and lots of sugar snap peas with mint. I always have a big bowl of pasta for my vegetarian/vegan friends.
And summer cocktail of choice…
An ice-cold, perfectly stiff martini with a green olive or a lemon peel, in a very chilled glass.
My top tips to preparing the perfect summer gathering…
Think hard about who is coming and make sure you seat people next to each other who could potentially become friends, work together professionally, or have other things in common. And timing is so important. People want to go home if they sit too long after dinner. Immediately after we finish the meal, we take those willing for a group walk in the gorgeous summer air. We walk around the block a few times to make room for dessert. It is really refreshing and gives the group more energy after a big meal. I always have paper cups ready to go if someone wants to make their drink a “Roadie”.
Having guests do a quick “welcome” shot of a fine, clean-tasting tequila upon entering our home. People love this tradition at our house. Everyone settles in quite quickly and nicely.
Most memorable summer dinner ever attended or hosted…
The most memorable summer party happens at our house! Jerry and I host an annual benefit that helps to support The Good+ Foundation, an organization I founded almost 17 years ago to help families living in poverty across the country. Old and new friends come to our house on a summer evening to support our work pairing goods — such as diapers, strollers, cribs and car seats — with transformational family services that gives parents tools to build more stable futures for their children. We have given out over $35 million in children’s product to keep children safe and healthy, while ensuring parents get the long-term support they need.
As a cook, I could never be without…
Olive oil.
The word or phrase most overhead in my kitchen…
Eat your vegetables.