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{{label}}James Colquhoun - 4 min read
14 August 2017
Want to impress a date? Have to deal with a surprise drop-in from Mum? Here are some delicious (and healthy) recipes to save you from pre-meal panic.
When you’re pressed for time and your culinary skills are considerably less than a MasterChef contestant, it can be hard to think up tasty meals, let alone healthy ones.
Regardless of the dinner guest – be it a date, a surprise visit from your mum or trying to cater for an extremely picky eater – we’ve got some basic, healthy recipes that are guaranteed to impress.
If you’re bold enough to offer to cook for a date, you’ll want to pick an easy meal. The key is to reduce the margin of error so you don’t make any silly cooking mistakes out of nerves. This doesn’t have to mean a toasted cheese sandwich and a wilted salad from a packet. The dish you’re after is this lower carb version of pizza, a delicious, simple and impressive recipe.
Traditional pizza bases are a pretty big hit of gluten, so this recipe subs in a cauliflower base which adds some extra servings of veggies to the meal. Plus, it tastes amazing, and you can freeze the leftover dough in an air-tight container in the freezer.
PERFECT PIZZA
Serves 2
Ingredients
(use organic ingredients where possible)
Pizza Base
Topping
Garnish
Method
It’s good to have a trusty recipe in your back pocket to impress the parents with. Not only does a coconut fish curry sound sufficiently complex (don’t worry, it isn’t), it’s so healthy that you’ll be praised for being highly responsible.
This recipe is chock full of medicinal spices like cumin seeds, which are good for digestion, and turmeric, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Curries are sometimes unfairly thought of as heavy dishes, but they can easily be made in a nutritious way. The best bit? This curry will only take you half an hour to make.
COCONUT FISH CURRY AND RICE
Serves 2
Ingredients
(use organic ingredients where possible)
Curry Paste
Fish Curry
Method
Everyone has one in their life – the person who refuses to extend beyond the confines of a limited palate. It’s usually safe to assume, however, that even the pickiest eaters will enjoy a big bowl of pasta.
Pasta can often seem like the kind of carbohydrate-rich dish that will cause you to spontaneously nap soon after eating it, but by switching the pasta to zucchini spaghetti you make a lighter version that tastes just as good as the classic recipe. You can serve the zucchini in several ways: raw and fresh, steamed or sautéed with some coconut oil for a crispy texture.
ZUCCHINI POMODORO
Serves 1
Ingredients
(use organic ingredients where possible)
Method
When you’re having a friend over, you want to make something quick and fuss free without sacrificing flavour. Chicken san choy bau is a classic, fresh dish that can be eaten as a snack or a full meal.
We tend to no longer eat with our hands, which distances us from our food in some ways. This is another reason why san choy bau is a great choice; it’s easily enjoyed while having catch-up drinks or snacking on while watching the footy.
CHICKEN SAN CHOY BAU
Serves 2
Ingredients
(use organic ingredients where possible)
Method
Let’s face it: we often put more effort into cooking for other people than we do cooking for ourselves. Not only is it an important self-care ritual to prepare a meal for yourself, it’s essential in keeping a healthy and balanced diet.
This beautiful bone broth is packed full of nutrient-rich vegetables, protein and vitamin C. Know why chicken soup is good for a cold? It actually helps lessen the side effects of upper respiratory infections. It also helps that it’s a comforting meal in the cooler months – and tastes fantastic to boot.
SOOTHING CHICKEN SOUP
Serves 4
Ingredients
(use organic ingredients where possible)
Method
Filmmaker of 'Food Matters' and 'Hungry For Change', and founder of FMTV, James has dedicated his life to discovering the truth behind nutrition and our food supply. James, alongside Laurentine ten Bosch, has transformed the 'Food Matters' film into a global wellness hub, with a community of over 3.3 million followers across email and social networks. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.
Disclaimer:
The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional, tax or other advice. It does not take into account any individual’s personal situation or needs. You should consider obtaining professional advice from a financial adviser and/or tax specialist, or medical or health practitioner, in relation to your own circumstances and before acting on this information.
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