There’s nothing more challenging than inviting friends and family round for a meal if you are on a diet. No-one wants to be a diet bore and dish up a salad or simple vegetarian recipes to their nearest and dearest but then again, if you have been virtuous all week, you don’t want to blow all your good work and pile on the pounds that you have managed to lose by having a blow-out at the weekend. With a bit of careful planning, it is possible to eat healthily whilst also dishing up a delicious meal for everyone to enjoy.Soup is a good starter. Serve it with some nice crusty bread for the non-dieters to enjoy.
Just make sure that it is not a creamy soup although some, such as carrot, can be served with a swirl of cream to make it that bit more special. Use crème fraiche for yours and no-one will be any the wiser. French onion is another favourite but don’t be tempted to serve it with the traditional topping of bread with melted cheese.
For the main course don’t serve anything fried. Instead grill your meat or fish with some of the calorie free spray available in the supermarket. If you are cooking a dish with a sauce give yourself a smaller portion of sauce and if you are having potatoes then boiled are best. If you really need to serve roast potatoes (and after all Sunday lunch is not complete without some crispy roasties) then use the spray oil. Pasta recipes can also be very healthy options.
I have experimented with making desserts where you substitute artificial sweetener for sugar, and crème fraiche for cream and to be honest they just don’t work, or at least they haven’t satisfied my sweet tooth. Instead, you are better off with some fresh fruit, depending on what is in season. You could also make some meringues and allow people to make their own pavlovas. If you are tempted to serve ice cream, why not substitute it with a fruit sorbet, which is far healthier and every bit as tasty?
If you are on a diet or trying to keep your cholesterol low and are looking for a healthy recipe for dinner that is full of flavour, filling (and not a salad), why not try a stir fry using a recipe from Schwartz Cooking Club?
Many people who are not great fans of vegetables worry about not getting their five a day but a stir fry is a great way of getting plenty of veg, all cunningly disguised in a tasty sauce! It is also a great dish for sneaking vegetables into children’s diet, so is a winner for all the family.
Vegetables are fat free and low calorie and if you also use chicken, another low fat food, you can afford to serve the dish on a small portion of rice or noodles. Of course if you want to feel really virtuous you can skip the carbs altogether and, as vegetables are so efficient at filling you up, you won’t feel hungry.
The secret to a good stir fry lies in the preparation. Make sure all your ingredients are chopped up before you start. Separate your ingredients according to cooking time i.e. things that take longer to cook need to go into the wok first. When cooking your stir fry you need to use an oil with a high smoking point such as corn oil rather than olive oil.
You can use all sorts of ingredients for your marinade but a few favourites include stock (chicken or vegetable), soy sauce, garlic, chilli sauce, hoi sin sauce, cornflour, brown sugar, rice wine or dry sherry. As anyone who has tried the Schwartz Cooking Club will know, the holy trinity of Chinese cooking is garlic, chillies and spring onions, so make sure you add them to your stir fry to give a true Chinese flavour. A stir fry is a great way of using up whatever vegetables you have, so don’t be afraid of experimenting.
Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight will know how difficult it can be to sample cuisines from around the world while staying conscious of those pesky calories and saturated fat levels. All of a sudden, Indian food is a no-go, while your weekly Chinese takeaway becomes a distant dream along with your favourite cheeky pizza delivery on a Saturday night.
However, one cuisine that even the most health-conscious individual can indulge in, at least to some extent, is Greek cuisine. In fact, as with healthy vegetarian recipes , not only can closely following Greek recipes at least a few times per week allow you to shed a few pounds, but it can also radically improve the health of your heart.
The people of Crete have long been known the world over for their healthy hearts and long lives and a major factor in this is the Greek diet. Olive oil is used in the majority of Greek dishes and, when used in moderation, the healthy fats contained in this sort of oil can help to reduce the risk of heart disease. The fact that olive oil tastes great, even if you simply use it as a dip for some fresh ciabatta, is an added bonus!
Greeks also tend to eat a lot of beans and lentils. When combined with fresh vegetables and aromatic herbs and spices, these dishes can make a filling meal alongside freshly grilled meat. There’s no reason not to eat meat if you’re following a diet, but make sure you grill it, rather than fry it, and try marinating your choice of meat rather than pouring over a sauce.
Grilled fish, often served alongside fire roasted baby new potatoes in Greece, also makes for a tasty, healthy meal that is suitable for all the family. It doesn’t matter which type of fish you opt for; just make sure it’s fresh.
Follow these simple Greek-influenced guidelines, and you’ll soon notice the benefits not only for your waistline, but your heart health too.