Everything in moderation.
This is something I have not yet mastered; I’m not even close.
They say that even too much exercise is bad for you. (I love ‘they’, don’t you? They also say that balance is the secret and I still manage to bungle it most of the time).
I can’t stop at 2 glasses of wine, and cover the top with a smug ‘no thanks I’ve got an early day tomorrow’ smile.
I can’t just have 2 blocks of chocolate and put it away and I definitely need my sauce on my meal, not on the side. Sjoe, why have it on the side? To look at it? To tease yourself? To tease everyone else? I don’t get it.
Moderation is hard.
I try to eat well, but as soon as I have an indulgence bloeps, it’s all over and I eat something lardy like pizza (the whole thing of course).
I end up filled with double salami and garlic guilt and a pot belly I can’t possibly pull in. Gorgeous.
I know I would have been happier with a beautiful piece of fresh fish and roasted tomatoes.
The point is, you can eat wonderful meals that have sensational flavour without giving in to the hunger trap of eating only high-fat unhealthy foods. With a little planning and some easy recipes, the world is your chickpea salad.
It’s not about turning into a barefoot, sprout-munching health fundamentalist. Just keeping it real and remembering the good stuff too.
Try this Italian summer on a stick, the salty parma ham goes beautifully with the sweet melon, and can be served as a starter before you throw some tuna steaks on the braai.
Here’s a great tip: wrap ingredients in foil and steam them in their little packets in the oven. This allows you to avoid all the fats used in pan-frying and the flavours are intense. Try my chicken and mushroom parcels, they’re a great party trick.
Try different combinations like; ginger, coriander and chilli for an oriental infusion. Or sun-dried tomatoes, olives and capers for some mediterranean magic.
One of my favourite desserts is an unadulterated bowl of Greek yoghurt, honey and nuts with a few juicy red strawberries for lusciousness. Keeping it pure and simply delicious.
What’s your good-stuff meal? Send us yours and you could WIN a Kalahari voucher!