Eating healthily is something we should all do as a matter of course.

For those undergoing breast cancer treatment, it is particularly important for them to focus on their health and wellbeing, as well as ensuring they get sufficient nutrition through their food.

A new recipe book, produced by breast cancer charity The Haven, offers seasonal recipes and nutritional advice to improve daily diets.

Called The Haven In Your Kitchen, the 130-page book contains almost 100 recipes and features a colourful healthy eating guide covering percentage recommendations for fruit, vegetables, fat, protein and carbohydrates, along with a handy guide to buy store cupboard essentials.

Recipes are colour-coded by season making it easy to keep track of what’s available each month, while providing some seasonal variety to menus.

Soups, juices, ‘Perfect Porridge’, Thai-style mussels and Earl Grey fruitcake are among the mouth-watering recipes for readers to prepare.

And giving us some culinary inspiration, as well as demonstrating how it is done, is Bradford’s Jonathan Davies, winner of ITV show Britain’s Best Dish, who cooked up some of the dishes at the book’s recent launch at The Haven in Leeds.

Puy lentil hotpot and parsnip, ginger and orange soup were among dishes Jonathan showcased from the book as part of his ongoing support for The Haven.

“It has been more of a personal family thing,” says Jonathan, whose involvement was through his mum and grandmother.

“We try as much as we can to help. It is such a good charity, I’ve built a rapport with these people and enjoy doing things that help The Haven.”

Since winning the TV competition, the former sheet metal fabricator has put his £10,000 prize winnings into opening his world food-inspired barbecue smokehouse, Moo, in Highfield Road, Idle, last October.

“I would have always been a chef if it wasn’t for my father having a family business in sheet metal fabrication. I’ve always cooked from a young age at home,” says Jonathan, who is promoting The Haven recipe book among his customers.

Sarah Lumley, senior nutritional therapist at The Haven in London, says the book was prompted by Haven visitors. “Our visitors were asking for it and that is the key thing,” she says.

Sarah adds that while the recipe book is useful for anyone seeking uncomplicated yet tasty and affordable recipes, it is particularly important for patients undergoing cancer treatment.

“It is so important because we are all very well aware of how our health is usually affected in our diet and when going through cancer treatment you are having lots of treatment and being told to take lots of medication and having various symptoms and side effects.

“Taking on a good balanced diet and really sensible eating can help you get through that time and can help you through your whole cancer experience and leading a healthier life.”

Sarah appreciates that people don’t always have the time to slave over a stove. “I am a totally lazy cook – anything longer than an hour and I lose interest – but there is a lot you can do in 20 minutes to get a nice bowl of soup and something decent for breakfast. It’s about having awareness,” she says.

“Health issues can arise when nutrients you need are missing from your diet on a regular basis. Spending a little time on healthy meal planning will help improve your nutrient levels, boost your sense of wellbeing and have a beneficial effect on your overall health.”

As the book shows, healthy eating needn’t mean tasteless, boring meals.

“Food is one of the most important medicines, and an easy yet effective way to contribute positively to your overall wellbeing,” says Sarah. “At The Haven, we believe no one has to compromise on flavour for healthy ingredients, and that food preparation, cooking, and particularly eating, should all be enjoyable.”

The Haven In Your Kitchen cookbook will be free to all visitors registered with the Yorkshire Haven from February 6, and through thehaven.co.uk for a suggested donation of £10. It is the sister publication of The Haven’s Guide to Healthy Eating.