Through Creative Practices and Caring Communities
we build a better world for all
Photo by Diana Muresan
Is sustainable living too hard, expensive, or complicated?
What if green were more than just a buzzword?
What if we could make sustainable choices with ease?
What if the answers could be found in what's in front of us?
Hi, Puneeta here!
I'm a climate advocate, food writer, speaker and the voice behind the scenes here at Maple and Marigold. I care deeply about the links between the climate crisis and food systems around the world, and I believe our actions in the kitchen and at home can have a tremendous impact on the world. I am passionate about sustainable living practices, nature-based solutions, and teaching people how to make accessible, planet-forward choices.
My debut book, Good Food, Healthy Planet (GFHP), was a Globe and Mail and National Post Top Cookbook of the Year and was featured widely in broadcast and print media, including CTV’s The Social, Breakfast Television, CHCH Morning Live, CBC Radio, BBC World News, The Vancouver Sun, Calgary Herald, and more.
In the book, I expand on the notion of 'good food' to one that includes people and planet, along with a new way to understand what we eat. With 250+ pages, 81 recipes, and a framework that I cheekily named “Eating with Benefits,” GFHP has been referred to as “category-expanding” and "a comforting yet inspiring read." Above all, in this time of crisis whack-a-mole, I hope to help people regain their sense of agency and to learn to cook simply and sustainably.
For those of you who have left a review for me on Amazon or Goodreads: thank you! I am grateful!
My work is rooted in climate science, food and mood research, and what generations of grandmas have known all along: what's good for us is good for the planet, and it's the other way around, too.
No more baby steps. If we are to counteract the environmental impacts of modern life and push back on the worst effects of climate change, the world needs a giant leap of faith, with persistence and optimism. And the goal? To build a world of abundance and enjoyment for all.
MapleandMarigold.com is my food and culture blog. Maple represents Canada and my life today. Marigold, with its colour and significance in Indian culture, represents my roots in India. What started out as a love letter to India and Canada not only helped me put down roots when I moved here 22 years ago, but it has helped others feel grounded, too.
Thank you for visiting my digital home and inviting me into your real one.
With gratitude and optimism,
Puneeta
Photo by Diana Muresan
Featured On
A Globe and Mail and National Post Top Cookbook of 2024
Good Food, Healthy Planet
Your Kitchen Companion To Simple, Practical, Sustainable Cooking
Available NOW
Canada
Amazon.ca | Indigo | Shop Local
United States
Amazon.com | Bookshop.org | Barnes&Noble
Give your people the expertise and optimism they need.
Canadian author and sustainability expert Puneeta Chhitwal-Varma inspires creativity and courage to connect science with what generations of grandmas have known all along. Her debut, Good Food, Healthy Planet is A Globe and Mail and National Post Top Cookbook of the year.
Book Puneeta for your next event, workshop, TV programme or podcast.
Recent Appearances
See more appearances and check out my upcoming events.
What people are saying about Good Food, Healthy Planet
"I love your book, Puneeta! I love that you are encouraging me to think out of the (plastic) box and that you are willing to hold my hand (via your little shares at the top) while I do it.
One of my favourite cookbook authors is Dorie Greenspan because she has a story that she shares about a recipe. I feel like you have done the same and more so because you are helping us to be better stewards of this beautiful Earth. Sending lots of applause to you!"
– Stephanie K, Ontario
Reviews and Praise
"Love your book, Puneeta! I love that you are encouraging me to think out of the (plastic) box and that you are willing to hold my hand (via your little shares at the top) while I do it. One of my favourite cookbook authors is Dorie Greenspan because she has a story that she shares about a recipe. I feel like you have done the same and more so because you are helping us be better stewards of this beautiful Earth. Sending lots of applause to you!"
– Stephanie K, Ontario, Canada
"Eating in a way that benefits both people and the planet may seem overwhelming. . . Chhitwal-Varma isn’t daunted by the enormity and urgency of the situation. Instead, in her guide to “simple, practical, sustainable cooking,” she focuses on the difference small changes can make."
—Laura Brehaut, National Post, May 2024
Puneeta, I have been reading the information at the beginning of your book and I am loving that here, in your elegant words, I suddenly am reading about things that I have questioned and had only a budding understanding of. I see the connection between our food choices and the impact on the planet and I am so busy rethinking my playtime in the kitchen. I am exploring and trying more of your recipes. Thank you!
– Kelly M., Ontario, Canada
"This collection of recipes will help folks make that critical mind-body-planet connection, starting with the food on their plates. Puneeta soothes the sense of overwhelm that often arises when thinking about our current climate reality and how to best look after ourselves. I also appreciate her realistic tips for reducing meat consumption, meeting people where they are. With the variety and abundance prevalent in these recipes, you'll never feel a sense of deprivation."
– Laura Wright, creator of The First Mess Cookbook
"I first met Puneeta on our Morning Live set in 2019, and she's taught me so much since then!
From her, I've learned to use every last bit of produce in my fridge, and how to make those fruits and veggies last longer. I save money with her advice to 'shop my pantry' and 'shop my fridge' (especially helpful during pandemic lockdowns).
Puneeta, my lovely friend, you have no idea how many times I think of you — and what you'd do — in my kitchen."
