Food Glorious Food: Give yourself a healthy treat during lockdown

There is definitely a connection between boredom and eating and I have spent many years trying to break the two apart, like a pair of squabbling children.

Poor planning and emotional stress can also trigger bad food choices, but boredom can be the biggest killer of our intentions to eat well.

Lockdown could possibly be a new lifestyle that is causing us a few issues when it comes to eating habits.

If you are working from home, you may be more tempted with the multiple trips to the cupboard or fridge; if you are home schooling you may be preparing snacks and food all day that you could be picking on; or if you are home but usually out and about, you are perhaps feeling frustrated and lonely and you, too, may be finding some solace in snacks.

Food can be helpful for our anxious minds and it’s a comfort, but we still need to be mindful of our diet.

Crisps and savoury snacks do seem to have the biggest portion of the moans and groans when it comes to eating too much saturated fat and salt, but it is interesting to hear that according to the latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey, savoury snacks only contribute to one per cent of our average intake of saturated fat currently.

This may be hard to believe but it may have been helped by smaller packets and the industry making changes to their production.

Alternative vegetable oils, such as sunflower, rapeseed and olive oils, are being used and there is almost a complete elimination of partially hydrogenated vegetables oils.

Let’s face it, whilst we are in lockdown, or even beyond, we are not going to stop eating snacks and, to be fair, the huge industry provides us with many jobs and trade, but we could be a little more aware, communicate and make alternative choices too.

Manufacturers have listened to dietary advice and are making healthier changes.

They have reduced saturated fat, reduced salt and given us more choice, such as popcorn, lentil-based products and nuts, and this is all positive.

But be mindful. Eat in moderation still; be tempted by the cupboards a little less; and make your own when you can.

If you do have small children or extra time, this recipe is a simple idea and a number of different ingredients can be used, depending on availability.

Cheesy Veg Bites

1 head of broccoli (you could use cauliflower, courgettes, peppers, carrots, parsnips, fennel or other vegetable to slice).

2 tbsp grated Parmesan

1 tsp dried herbs

1 egg white

Slice the broccoli finely and lay on to a lined baking tray. Brush a little egg white on to each piece and then sprinkle over the cheese and herbs.

Place in the oven and bake at 200C for 20 minutes until a little crusty. Use cocktail sticks to eat and enjoy.

They are full of fibre and have a lot more nutrition than many of the pre-made savoury snacks that we may have stockpiled!

Stay well folks and keep applying the same thought... make good choices as much as you can, get some form of exercise and stay as social as you can.