Food & Drink: Healthy Eating

BY PALOMA LACY

Healthy eating isn’t always easy but it is once you know how and there is help at hand. Here are some pieces of kit that will make it seem less like hard work in the kitchen.

Everyone is raving about the benefits of the air fryer as a healthy alternative to frying. Fancy crispy chicken and chips that taste fried but haven’t seen so much as a millilitre of oil?

Then this could be for you. But what is an air fryer?  Air frying combines hot, circulating air with the perfect cooking temperature so you can fry, bake, grill, and even roast. High speed air convention technology ensures that you don’t require oil to get a perfectly crispy coating. No oil, inevitably means, no mess. And if frying is not top of your cooking list, you can also grill and roast meat and bake cakes.

The Princess Digital Aerofryer allows you to make healthy versions of family favourites, using its seven pre-programmed settings. RRP – £89.99 from Princesshome.co.uk

Kebabs remain a firm favourite but the takeaway versions are a long way from healthy so why not try making your own, with MySpike?

This handy culinary spike allows fast and healthy cooking of any meat. Marinade meats with the seasoning of your choice, pack onto the spike, place it on a tray and pop it into a pre-heated oven. Watch as meat cooks quickly on the upright MySpike, retaining succulence, while allowing the fat to drip away.

Every MySpike comes with a handy rubber oven glove, making carving super easy. I tried it out cooking chicken shawarma and the result was far better than I’ve ever achieved placing meat flat on an oven tray.  It’s also a great way to cook veggie kebabs quickly. Whatever you choose to spike, brush with a little oil for an even finish and to prevent sticking or for those watching their weight, spray kebabs with low calorie cooking spray.

The people at MySpike have thought of everything and stock a range of time-saving pre-blended spice mixes to complement a range of dishes, starting at £3.49, and including shawarma, tikka masala and piri piri.

For more information on MySpike (RRP £13.99). www.myspike.co.uk.

Put Christmas excesses behind you and embrace healthy eating. Cooking using a George Foreman Grill can cut fat content by as much as 42 per cent.

The Evolve Precision Grill allows users to take control of their cooking by selecting exactly how they would like their meat cooked.

Choose a setting and length of time and simply wait for the grill to auto shut off when the timer is done.

Experience juicy and succulent meat in no time at all.

Available widely on the high street.