Emmy Award-winning television host and bestselling author Daphne Oz has redefined homemaking, emphasizing well-being, balance and joy in her approach to domestic bliss.
What inspires your passion for promoting a healthy and joyful lifestyle, and how do you bring this passion into your work?
As women and as moms, it can feel like the goal is to do it all. But doing it all, much less doing it all well, can be wildly exhausting and unfulfilling when you’re rushing down a never-ending to-do list where the goalposts keep moving. I think the pursuit of doing it all, all at once, is what robs us of any real joy in the experience.
I try not to force too many things to happen at once. When I’m with my family and friends, I dive in. When I’m at work, I dive in there. When I can make time to learn new things that interest me and invest in myself, I seize that opportunity. In other words, when I make my goals attainable and let my desire to do my best stay focused in the moment instead of being scattered all over the place, my happiness level skyrockets and my ability to do what I really care about well follows. Part of allowing myself to stay focused means becoming really disciplined about saying no to as many of the things that are distracting or energy-sucking as I possibly can.
I’ve found that feeling good in my body is as much about making food choices that fuel me and not letting my days get too sedentary as it is about relishing the indulgent moments and making purposeful choices to prioritize pleasure, fun and memory-making. One of the many reasons I love being friends with women who are older than I am is I get a lot of perspective on the ways they refused to hold themselves back—or wish they hadn’t. Get in the picture. Wear the outfit you love. Cultivate confidence daily in the way you speak and show up for yourself. You get to do each day once, so I try to learn from it and make it fun.
You often speak about finding balance at home. Could you share some of your favorite ways to infuse joy and harmony into your home and family life?
I feel very lucky to be part of a big, close-knit family that got together all the time when I was growing up. Nearly every weekend, we would gather at a table of 16 or more to share a gorgeous meal that my grandmother and mother made. Th e memories I have of watching them taste and tinker in the kitchen—and the joy I saw as everyone gathered together and felt the community of that meal—are the most motivating features of my cooking style today. I want to be happy, and I want the people eating my food to be happy. I love leaving it rustic and abundant. I love trying new things and spicing it up. I love making it light and flavorful or captivatingly indulgent. It was a very liberating way to embrace cooking as creativity and not a chore.
I love getting my kids together with me in the kitchen—and my husband discovered the grill and the pizza oven and has become quite the cook now, too—so every weekend we all make big family meals together and then gather around a table the same way I did growing up. We set the table and light candles. We listen to fun music and chat. It’s the perfect mix of making it an occasion but leaving it casual and kid-friendly. These are some of my happiest moments.
My mother and grandmother are the inspiration for my cookbook The Happy Cook, and my most recent release, Eat Your Heart Out, is about capturing some of the healthful eating tools I learned from them and from my own trial and error along the way cultivating a healthy lifestyle with meals you genuinely wanted to devour.
Can you tell us about any exciting projects you’re currently working on?
I have a new jewelry collection out with Soru Jewellery (sorujewellery.com) called the Siren Collection. Each of the 11 pieces is inspired by some of my favorite personal finds I’ve collected over the years—and ones I’ve always wished for!—for an instant hit of magnetic femininity and glamour with any outfit.
The collection is named for three generations of women in my family and a choice few favorite carbs (a dream combo!) And is expertly handmade in Italy in small batches. Choosing my jewelry is a daily pleasure that makes me feel immediately elevated, elegant and adorned, and this collection is particularly transportive with its decorative references.
One example of the fun the sisters and cofounders of Soru, Francesca and Marianna, and I had bringing the Siren Collection to life is the Divine Feminine necklace, a sparkling collection of vessel charms inspired by a sixth-century Byzantine necklace meant as a reminder to search out the things that fill up our cup every day.
I’m also working with Kilte (kiltecollection.com) to bring out a capsule of washable cashmere pieces for women and girls, coming this fall. Kilte’s quality is impeccable, and to be able to have that with the convenience of tucking these items in the wash if you need to was music to my ears as a mom of four who spends a ton of time in the kitchen! I love that it’s a woman-owned and -run company, and the founder, Hannah, and I worked hard to ensure that each silhouette has the versatility to be comfortable and cozy but still flattering with a defined waist or elegant neckline. They’ll be perfect for pumpkin picking, baking with the kids and holiday parties alike.
What activities do you most enjoy during the warmer months in the Hamptons?
Walking to Il Buco al Mare for coffee, olive bread and gorgeous bomboloni. Rosie’s for a breakfast burrito with the kids. Bike rides everywhere. A fresh haul the minute we get to the house from Amber Waves—sun golds, stone fruit, local feta and yogurt and melons, the kale and chive scone!—and cooking and eating outside all summer long. Carissa’s for the Honey Oat loaf and the most magical cakes for special occasions, all swirling with glistening meringue and fresh flowers. Finding new favorites at the Amagansett Library. Beach days at Atlantic or Indian Wells Beach with picnic lunches from the Snack Shack or sandwiches from The Cheese Shop in town. Wine at Wölffer. Boating over to Sunset Beach so the kids know about day parties and, hands down, the best french fries in the Hamptons. Trying new workouts that pop up. The Hamptons farm stands are the only place I love wildflowers. BuddhaBerry. Hampton Chutney. Bonfires at Albert’s Landing. Nights that are starting to get chilly with red wine and blankets. Sparkling mornings in the pool when you know fall is in the air, but you’re soaking up every last drop of summer. Unrushed dinner with friends as often as possible.
Are there any local spots in the Hamptons that hold a special meaning for you or your family?
We do a family photo shoot every August with Sara Beth Turner and I am always so amazed at the way she captures these beautiful candid moments. It’s the best investment to have these photos of the kids growing up in the same place year after year, and we always snap a few shots running along the beach and in the ocean at Atlantic Beach with a pit stop at the Snack Shack as the final shot. And I’m pretty sure we pay rent at Il Buco al Mare and Rosie’s in Amagansett at this point.
Summer is a great time for travel. Do you have any specific destinations or plans for this upcoming summer?
We will visit family in Turkey—there is no breakfast like a Turkish breakfast! To replicate at home, get yourself small plates of olives, honey, fresh fruit, yogurt, feta cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, olive oil and spices, Turkish bagels called simit (or your favorite crusty bread for dipping), and wash it all down with fresh orange juice and strong black tea and make it a morning to remember. We have a fun European trip planned where I will attempt to visit every single farmers market to ogle the ugly but exquisitely delicious produce. And then we’ll be in Maine and Amagansett for August!
With your varied commitments and public presence, how do you manage to carve out personal time?
I try to walk 3 to 5 miles most days when I’m home, and this is a seriously meditative and releasing experience for me. I listen to an amazing book on tape, podcast or music, or sometimes I multitask on a call or while posting, and at the end, I always feel incredible. Walking is such an effective way to activate your body’s natural detoxification system (lymph) while being mobile and gentle on your body at the same time.
How has motherhood influenced your approach to your career and your visibility in the media?
Most people who recognize me are excited to tell me about a recipe they tried and loved or the new winged liner they have been wearing and feel so beautiful in, or the wooden salad bowl they found after many months of hunting.... and it makes me incredibly proud to feel I’ve helped someone learn new skills that make their lives a little bit more beautiful, more fun or more delicious. My kids aren’t on social media, so they don’t have a lot of context for what I do online, but I’m a judge on MasterChef Junior, and they love watching the show with me! It was such a cool experience to have them get to participate and enjoy something that I worked hard on and that took me away from them for certain stretches of time, but that I hope they were proud to see come to fruition. This season, I got stuffed in a box and turned into a duck as part of a magic act, and I think that may have been their favorite episode.
Balancing family life in the public eye can be challenging. What strategies do you use to maintain privacy and normalcy for your children?
When it comes to my kids, I try to focus on sharing what it’s like to mother them rather than sharing about them directly.
Are there any upcoming trends in health and wellness you’re particularly excited about or think are important?
When it comes to wellness, I frequently err on the side of what was good enough for my grandmother is good enough for me, but I have been cold plunging recently. It is much more pleasant after tennis or a workout or sauna, but I find it even more valuable if I can’t get a workout in but still want to start my day with a win. Th is spikes my energy, reduces inflammation and wakes me up, but as with any opportunity to do the hard thing first, it breaks any inclination to procrastinate and gives me a sense of accomplishment and follow-through that I find drives my efficiency throughout the day.
“YOU GET TO DO EACH DAY ONCE, SO I TRY TO LEARN FROM IT AND MAKE IT FUN.” -Daphne Oz
Looking ahead, are there any new avenues or challenges you’re eager to explore in your personal or professional life?
I have really enjoyed doing capsule collections with some of my favorite brands the past couple of years, like Minnow, Soru and Kilte, and I am looking forward to creating my own products to really speak to what my audience tells me they want and need—stay tuned!
Photography by: PHOTOGRAPHED BY CARRIE WEIDNER
