About Leena
My life and mission in a few bites
My name is Leena Saini and I’m a lifelong foodie who grew up eating Indian and other ethnic dishes from around the world. I started cooking with my mom at age 10, learning how spices like turmeric and mustard seeds could transform even simple potatoes into a mouth-watering, full-flavored curry.
After graduating from law school, I practiced civil defense litigation for several years in upstate New York. It was a career that munched away at my soul. Then, in 2005 I lost my best friend and mother to ovarian cancer. I was more than devastated. I picked up and moved to New York City to start life over, deciding not to waste time on things I wasn’t passionate about. I landed a job and developed my inner foodie, sampling cuisines from around the world, attending restaurant openings, talking to chefs, and otherwise eating my way through the boroughs and their ethnic enclaves. Living, working and eating in New York City brought me closer to my true self and opened the door for the new journey of marriage and motherhood that was about to begin.
Fast forward to life in New Jersey with my husband and children. When my eldest daughter, Kirina, refused to eat anything bland as a baby, I was inspired to make her food better by using spices, seasonings and diverse ingredients from around the world. It was such light-bulb moment. Nurturing tiny taste buds became an obsession! So much so that it led to a blog and a baby food cookbook, Around the World in 80 Purees: Easy Recipes for Global Baby Food (Quirk Books, 2016).
To this day, I remain passionate about introducing children to the different and wonderful flavors of the world. Cooking is love and culture and fresh flavors. No child should be eating bland, tasteless food, when the world has so much to offer in terms of diversity. Whether researching the science of how taste buds develop, or learning about what other cultures feed their babies, I am eager to get to know about it and translate it into mouth-watering recipes.
I hope you’ll join me and my little ones for this “passport on a plate” adventure!
Leena
As a new mom, I always had questions along the way! I would love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have about food, parenting and related adventures.
As an expert in getting children to eat diverse, I enjoy teaching parents how they too can raise an adventurous eater:
Speaker:
I am available to come speak at your parent’s group or your local library story time. My presentations/discussions share insights, tips and tricks for getting your little one to love food. I also bring homemade spiced applesauce or other healthy treats (which is really what hungry little ones are after).
Mommy and Me Interactive Cooking Demonstrations:
In small groups I teach parents and children how to use spices and diverse ingredients to create adventurous meals. A fun time cooking together and trying something new! Please contact me directly for more details.
Radio/Podcast/TV Guest:
Let’s start a conversation on-air! Food, flavor and fun make for delicious segments. As a warm, relatable and enthusiastic foodie mama, I can teach your listeners and viewers how easy it is for kids to eat well. Here’s my latest interview for the Good Food show on KCRW FM 89.9 Los Angeles, CA:
Freelance Writer:
I enjoy writing about food and parenting for blogs and magazines and would love to develop/write story ideas for your publication. Cook, eat, write is a mantra I live by.
Please see my media section for samples of my work and I look forward to hearing from you!