I met Alila Doakes when I was invited to participate in a live broadcast during Epidemic 2020. Since then, along with three other remarkable women, we have established the "Instituto Comida e Cultura," providing food education to everyone within a school environment.

Upon hearing about this book, I was extremely delighted, of course for Alila, but primarily for the children who will have the opportunity to understand, learn, and share fundamental concepts that profoundly change life, moving closer to a healthier, cleaner, and fairer food system.

Food is a very influential theme and action in our lives, yet it is strangely seldom addressed in an educational manner, either at home or at school. Children are our future, and food is the foundation of our existence. Combining these two means envisioning a future where everyone has more opportunities, more responsibilities, and thus more freedom to choose their dietary habits and be aware of all the consequences. Food education is key to reducing an unhealthy future where living healthily and enjoying the pleasures of life become the norm rather than the privilege of a few.

When we grow up close to the land and the hearth, growing and cooking become more natural and easier. When we do not have the opportunity to be close to these elements, Alila and Maisha guide us through this beautiful book. Based on a wealth of knowledge, it is a path to a good life.

— Bella Gill
(Chef, author, television show host, and activist, acclaimed as the "Muse of Healthy Eating" by the Brazilian magazine Veja. Recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the "Zero Hunger Medal" in 2019 for her efforts and achievements in combating malnutrition and world hunger.)

Did you know that our diet can affect the entire planet? Deforestation to create grazing land for livestock directly affects the Earth's climate. Not to mention the pollution of rivers and the impact of the food industry on nature. And let's not overlook food waste and the improper disposal of packaging. In this book, you will learn about how food is produced — from cultivation to industrialization, understand the importance of local and traditional foods, the relationship between food and health, and how to find a balance between human needs and environmental protection. Throughout the book, you will find various suggestions to get you involved, as well as tips for activities to do at home or at school. Remember: your diet can change the planet!

[Author] Alila Doakes
With a degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo's School of Communication and Arts (ECA-USP), she has been working for many years in film and television production and directing, and has been involved in projects related to education. Although she knew how to cook from a young age, she decided to delve into the culinary arts of her Moroccan heritage passed down by her grandparents and opened the Tanger restaurant in São Paulo, beginning a splendid 17-year adventure. During this time, she received culinary training at the Wilma Kövesi School, got married, and had two children who learned to walk and talk in the restaurant.

After breastfeeding, her relationship with food began to change. She began to study the issue in greater depth and realized the importance of the origins of food, the value of our food choices, and the importance of reconnecting children with delicious food from childhood. She is currently the Director General of the Instituto Comida e Cultura and one of the co-founders of the organization.

[Author] Maisha Zachocki
Maisha graduated from the Radio and Television program at the FAAP (Faculty of Arts of São Paulo) in São Paulo. She directed the X-Tudo and a Ilha Rá-Tim-Bum programs broadcasted by Cultural Net. She served as the director for the Zapping Zone program on the Disney Channel. She created and directed educational games for the Ministry of National Education. Worked in international affairs at ESPN Media Brazil's channel and directed web music programs for the portal Veja. She was an artistic consultant for the Video Nucleus team, a professional team of the Cultural Channel of the São Paulo State Department of Education. One of the four books they authored, published by Panda Editor, was selected for the collection of the National Foundation for Children and Youth.

[Illustrator] Bruna Barros
Illustrator, born in 1988 in a small city in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Studied at a school in Belo Horizonte, where he obtained a degree in Interior Design. After graduation, he traveled to different places to live and work. Currently residing in Venice, he is pursuing a degree in Graphic Arts and is dedicated to illustrating children's books.