My relationship with food completely changed about 2 years ago.
As in I stopped cramming my face with 23658 carbs a day and then wondering why I couldn’t fit in my jeans. It always ended in tears.
I didn’t realise how unhappy I was with my weight until I actually shed two stone and realised ‘blimey, I feel a bit more like me now’. It was a sad thought, but it was true.
Me and food are now pretty harmonious and we enjoy a leisurely relationship that relies on me eating strictly during the week, with a little splash of ‘eating wild’ on the weekend. (I’ll inhale a gluten free pizza on some occasions, and maybe I’ll eat some white potato. A little bit of Chinese duck here and there.)
I know, I’m such a party animal.
You can read about the lifestyle change that helped me lose two stone here.
Okay so I know I just made eating healthy sound horribly boring but I do actually enjoy every single thing I cook up in my kitchen. I eat an awesomely varied diet full of fresh, colourful food and I’m always experimenting and trying new things.
You should too.
Here’s some meal ideas that I LOVE and that are genuinely alright for you. Promise. Try them. Dare you:
Curried Chicken & Mango Salad
I know it’s not everyone’s cuppa tea but I’m a huge fan of adding fruit to salads. Like I am 100% all over chucking in some mango/ pomegranates/ peaches/ strawberries into my dinner.
Don’t you dare turn your nose up to it unless you’ve tried it, Sassy Pants.
I force fed this to my friend who came round for dinner last week and she genuinely enjoyed it and asked for the recipe. AND made it for dinner herself 2 days later. That’s saying summin’ right?
It has this dreamy curry/yoghurt dressing to go with it that gives me all the wants.
If you’re looking for something light to get your Indian cuisine fix, this could be the one.
And a portion of mango is enough to fill anyone’s day with sunshine.
Find the full recipe here. But it’s basically chopped mango, baby gem lettuce, chicken & a yoghurt dressing (Greek yoghurt, mango chutney, curry powder & lime juice).
Do it.
Corgetti & Beef Ragu
Let me set the scene.
It’s a Sunday evening and all you want is a hearty, meaty dinner. Something smothered in gravy or something sitting on a mountain of pasta.
Enter the ‘Corgetti & Beef Ragu’ dinner. Saving me from myself on those days when all I want is the above.
Pasta is the devil. Remember that and you will do well.
This Hemsley & Hemsley recipe is the nuts. And corgetti is a dreamy concoction that can really do wonders. It fills you up and when it’s got some sauce on it you can’t MASSIVELY notice the difference.
Apart from the fact that you don’t feel like you’ve got a bowling ball in your stomach after you’ve eaten it.
I’m so ‘pro corgetti’ it’s unreal.
You can find the recipe here. And if you like it, maybe invest in their amazeballs book. Don’t be scared off by the ingredients list. It’s easier than it looks and you can miss some of the fancier ingredients out.
An absent bay leaf never hurt nobody.
‘Naked’ Turkey Burgers topped with avocado & red pepper
I find that this makes for a great Friday night meal. It’s quick and easy and you feel like you’re kinda treating yourself a bit ’cause, shock horror, it contains cheese.
I know. Really pushing the boat out.
By serving it ‘naked’ (cheeky!) and replacing the usual beef patty for a turkey one, it makes it a much lighter option.
Top it with avocado and pepper to give it a bit of a twist, and I like to serve mine with a small portion of sweet potato wedges.
When I first discovered this a few weeks I ago I made it about 4 times in two weeks. Max looked like he might turn into a Turkey Burger. Oops.
All you have to do is mix up turkey mince (try and use breast mince for a leaner bit of meat), grated cheese & chopped spring onion. Form into pattys and chuck ’em in the pan. I finish them off in the oven to make sure they’re cooked through.
Full recipe here.
This would make great BBQ food for the summer. WAH why is it not Summer now?
Tuna Steak Nicoise Salad
A classic for a reason.
I freaking love tuna steak. Yes, it can be expensive, but it makes a bloody good dinner.
It’s pretty simples really. Season your tuna steak and pan fry it each side. I like to leave mine slightly pink in the middle.
Poach an egg and cook some green beans. Chuck some salad in a bowl (leaves, olives, tomatos) and top with your tuna steak, green beans and poached egg.
Voila.
The beauty is that the soft poached egg covers the salad so you don’t need to make a dressing. Score.
I kinda freestyle this one. I remember eating it in East Coast Social once and then just cooked it from memory. Yes, I know, I should be on Masterchef…blah blah blah.
If you’re looking for an alternative to salad, try covering the tuna steak in a Thai inspired marinade (ginger, chilli, lime juice, garlic & soy sauce) and sear it on both sides, serving it with rice and veg. It’s lush.
Courgette, Spring Onion & Feta Frittata
Here’s one for you vegetarians out there. And egg lovers like me.
Do you ever open the fridge and stare into it for a good 10 minutes hoping some food will materialise? Yah, we’ve all been there.
Well this is a really good recipe for when you’re fridge is looking as baron as my bank account at the end of the month.
You can pretty much throw anything into a frittata, so use your creative minds people and try different stuff. It’s literally a case of mixing it all together and baking with love.
I got the recipe out a magazine and I can’t seem to find one quite as easy. So basically, roast courgette and spring onion in a dish for 10 mins. Take out and add the whisked eggs and top with basil and feta. Chuck back in the oven until it’s done.
OH and it tastes even better cold the next day for lunch. So darn good.
Chicken & Grilled Peach Salad
Again with the fruit yes, yes, yes.
This is a recent discovery and I’m kinda wondering to myself ‘peaches where have you been all my life?’
Season both your chicken and peaches and drizzle with a little olive oil. Stick ’em under the grill. Whilst they cook, prep your salad (leaves, crumbled feta cheese, crumbled walnuts).
Make up a dressing by mixing together honey, olive oil & sherry vinegar. Top your salad with the cooked chicken and peach slices and drizzle with the dressing. Sprinkle on some more crushed walnuts.
Come to mumma.
You can find the full instructions here.
These are light meals. I’m not a nutritionist but I wouldn’t suggest eating these meals one after the other every night (as Maxwell & I have just done for the past week…soz babe)
You’ll see that there isn’t a huge amount of carb intake there, and it’s probably wise to mix up salad with other types of dinners as well.
That’s what I do.
But these are my fail safe meals that I’ll eat when I’m feeling like my jeans are pinching a wee bit because LOL just ate a whole box of cookies and a family packet of Quavers.
Eat happy, people. Eat happy and healthy. That’s what it’s all about.
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