I don't like diet books. Then why is there one in my bag?
I've had Lola Berry's The 20/20 Diet Cookbook for about a week now and I can't put it down.
It promises on the cover that it will "transform your life and body with high energy wholefoods" -
Lola Berry on her new book The 20/20 Diet
By Leah McLennan
NZME. regionals·
4 mins to read
Subscribe to listen
Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber? Sign in here
Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
Lola Berry
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Browsing through the sections - brekkies; smoothies and juices; snacks; vegan and vege dishes; fish, poultry and meat; and sweet treats - I find dozens I want to try. The recipes use ingredients that are high in nutrients and low in potential allergens, with no table sugar, wheat, gluten and very little dairy.
What to make first?
The pecan and pumpkin pie spice smoothie? Or the world's best avo mash? Her paleo shepherd's pie for six? Or mackerel and super greens with yoghurt dressing?
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
As I'm not hugely into "clean wholefoods" I have to take a trip to the supermarket before I begin. On the shopping list: coconut water and oil, almond meal and milk, a load of avocados, dates and quinoa.
Pantry refreshed, I start with her delights in glasses: banana-maca-rama, a mixture of bananas, macadamias, dates and almond milk; and then her avocado-coconut dreamboat, a blend of avocado, banana, baby spinach leaves and coconut cream. These recipes are simple and delicious.
For lunch, I try the vege pizza with a base of "blitzed-up cauliflower and almond meal". Initially I fear this may be too complicated for my average cooking ability, but I soon discover it's not - the recipe just has a longer list of ingredients than the others.
For dinner the other night I served Berry's paleo shepherd's pie for main and for dessert, the easy-peasy "chocolate" mousse (avocados, dates, bananas, cocoa powder and cinnamon all mixed in the blender).
The pie, with its top of cauliflower rather than potato, was a hit with my family, but just as I thought I was about to win the battle to get my toddler to eat her first piece of avocado since she was a baby, the meal came to a halt.
"I don't like it," she proclaimed, after her first bite of the "choc" mousse. No offence to Berry, my toddler says that about nearly everything at present.
Never mind, all the more "choc" mousse for mum.
I asked Lola a few questions:
WHY IS EATING HEALTHY SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?
If you want to be the best version of yourself then you need to look after your health. If you make your health a priority, the rest of your life will start to fall into place or be a lot more in balance.
You're never going to have a perfect day, some days you'll have relationship issues or work is stressful, but if you have your health in check, you're on your A game; you're clearer.
WHO DID YOU RECRUIT TO TEST YOUR RECIPES?
Always my Dad because he is the most straight-down-the-line critic. I test on friends but they're all really nice so I prefer testing on my dad because he doesn't beat around the bush.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
HOW DO YOU FIT IN EXERCISE WHEN YOU'RE BUSY?
I'm a yoga teacher so I do a lot of yoga to balance the mind. I make sure the yoga teaching and practice is a priority. I don't like bike riding so you won't see me on a bike, and swimming is not my forte, you have to do what you enjoy.
WHAT'S YOUR MORNING ROUTINE?
I set my alarm for 5.15am and the first thing I do is have a big drink of water, then go to yoga, come home and make a big smoothie.
WHAT DO YOU EAT WHEN YOU'RE SHORT ON TIME?
Even today is one of those crazy busy days and I've already got my chicken breast defrosting in the fridge. I'm a Virgo, I'm a nerd. If you have eggs on hand you can throw four eggs in the pan with some coconut oil, kale, cherry tomatoes and chilli - that's all you need, that's yum.
