It's amazing where just one kiss can lead a girl. Last week the lovely husband and I celebrated 15 years of dating, living together and ultimately marriage – surviving long-distance love, the ban of the meat-feast pizza and the turbulent world of parenthood along the way.

To celebrate, we went out for a cozy dinner and managed to cover topics such as why people get married and baby names, all without coming to blows. I am assuming that the love of my life was joking when in answer to the former, he told me he had "nothing else on that day". Cheeky. As for baby names, it's tricky to find a name you both agree on, that will suit an infant, toddler, teenager, adult and senior citizen – all whilst avoiding the potential for hurtful playground nicknames and unfortunate initials. We have decided to skip the 'P' section in the name book after realising that 'P. Burns' on a school roll-call might be more than a little unfair. For similar reasons we have friends with the last name 'Word', that had to forgo any name beginning with 'F'.

Yet of all the challenges we have faced, nothing has tested the lovely husband's patience more than the years I spent training as a nutritional therapist. Each time I came home from class, he would ask me what was next to be banned from our shopping list. Out went the hot dogs, cheetos, diet coke and pretend cheese slices. In came the lentils, berries, wholegrains and dark chocolate. Fortunately, despite being crestfallen at the reduction in junk, he embraced many of the new things that found their way in to the refrigerator. With a few exceptions. You should have seen his face the day I presented him with alfalfa sprouts.

I quickly learnt that there's no point forcing healthy food on anybody. Telling your toddler that they can't get down from the table until they have finished their peas will just make them hate peas more. Telling your husband the same thing will get you a divorce.

Instead, if you're trying to clean up someone's diet, the best bit of advice I can give you is to be patient. Lead by example, make healthier options for yourself, make them look tasty and soon your family will be asking to try them too. Of course, a little bit of stealth never went awry either, and whilst I think it's generally best to be honest with your family about what's in their food – hiding the odd healthy ingredient doesn't do anyone any harm (presuming you are aware of and taking into account any allergies.)

When I first introduced pumpkin seeds into our household, I was politely informed that seeds were for birds. However, as they are so nutritious I was determined to get them in somehow! Check out the nutritional info below for some motivation to include them in your family's diet – as you'll see, they are a great source of vegetarian protein, good fats and a wide range of nutrients. I've also included some tips that should help you incorporate them without too much domestic uproar.

Pumpkin Seeds: Tips!

n It's best to buy raw pumpkin seeds as roasting can affect the integrity of the omega 3 and 6 oils. You can buy raw pumpkin seeds from most healthy food shops and Miles.

¦ Store whole pumpkin seeds in the fridge, in an airtight container for up to six weeks. Ground pumpkin seeds also need to be stored this way, but should be used within one week.

¦ If you do buy roasted pumpkin seeds, the best brand is the Eden Organic brand, which roasts at a low temperature (available from Supermart). If you want to roast them yourself, pop them in the over for 15 to 20 minutes, at no higher than 160-170F. You can add flavor by spritzing them with a little low-sodium soy sauce or Braggs Amino Acids spray.

¦ Try adding pumpkin seeds to salads (raw or roasted).

¦ Sprinkle pumpkin seeds on top of roasted veggies before serving.

¦ Add pumpkin seeds to your granola or buy the Nature's Path Pumpkin Flax Plus Granola.

¦ Include pumpkin seeds in cookies or muffins.

¦ Grind pumpkin seeds in a magic bullet blender or coffee bean grinder and add to your flapjack (UK terminology!) or home-made granola bar recipe. (This has been incredibly successful in our house – Chloe and the lovely husband can't get enough of these.)

¦ Use ground pumpkin seeds in smoothies.

The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns BA Hons, Dip ION is a fully qualified Nutritional Therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in the U.K. Please note that she is not a Registered Dietitian. She can be contacted at nourishbda@gmail.com