My Struggle with Dieting and Matriarchy
A week of celebrations, good food and housemate rivalry
We’re all going a bit lockdown crazy in my house.
At one point, I walked in on Jenny and Polly giving Lola (Cockapoo) a haircut. They were, “Making a Valentine’s Day card for Louise.”
I backed out of the room slowly.
Coping strategies have mainly involved food. Rukmini Iyer’s Roasting Tin series is my new religion.
No more pans. No final 5 mins of chaos. Just get everything ready — pop it in the oven — watch Netflix while it cooks. Game changer!
A few months ago, our bubble introduced a weekly Come Dine With Me on Friday nights. When that ended, we moved onto Come Brunch With Me. Realising the weight was steadily piling on — I tried to sell them on Come Diet With Me.
No dice.
I even bought a new recipe book and tried to rebrand as,
‘Sa-Lads On Tour.’
They weren’t convinced.
Refusing to get pulled into their Come Cake With Me nonsense — we retired the theme.
In its place, we’ve decided to up the celebrations on all the (not so) major holidays. Burns Night was a roaring success. We had vegetarian-haggis-Scotch-eggs with neeps, tatties and whiskey sauce. Followed by caramelised Scottish oats and Scotch ice-cream. Well tidy scran.
The new theme made me unusually aware that Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day and Pancake Day all fall within 7 days.
A fiesta you might say.
I decided to make a veg-friendly feast of it. I’m not usually one for taking pictures of food — but for this week only — I made an exception.
Day #1
Spinach, olive, sundried tomato and feta pizza
With fattoush salad.
An upgrade on a Tesco’s vegan pizza.
Roasted squash, cherry tomatoes and crispy lentils
With pomegranate, yoghurt, Dukkah and mint.
Day #2 – Chinese New Year – 🇨🇳 🎉
General Tso’s cauliflower
With steamed rice, sesame seeds and coriander.
Louise and Polly made this one. Probably involved pans — amateurs!
Steamed bao buns
With pulled jackfruit and pickled veg.
Also their work — 谢谢女孩们 🙏
Day #3
Shakshouka
With avocado, feta, coriander and a poached egg.
You may be wondering how I made poached eggs in a roasting tin.
Fair question.
Every religion has its challenges. Christianity has premarital sex. Mine has poached eggs 🤷🏼♂️.
Roasted squash and pearl barley
With watercress, feta and pomegranate seeds.
Thoughts on meat-free
I’ve been on a low meat diet for a good number of years now. The thing that’s surprised me most— I prefer the food.
Veggie chefs are smashing it these days.
Day #4 – Valentines Day – ❤️🧸
Sorry pup.
Spinach and red pepper quiche
With broccoli, asparagus, sundried tomato and pesto salad.
Spinach gnocchi with cherry tomatoes and peppers
Topped with ricotta and parsley.
Day #5
Spinach, mackerel and potato salad
With cherry tomatoes, olives and a lemon-mustard dressing. Topped with poached eggs.
🤫
Baked salmon, new potatoes and asparagus
With garlic, rosemary and hazelnuts. Topped with lemon-yoghurt.
A note on organic
How did I only just learn organic ensures much higher standards of animal welfare??? I found veganism a bit hard—but I’ll gladly pay more to reduce animal cruelty.
Day #6 – Pancake Day!!!– 🥞 🎉
I was doomed to fail here. It’s got pan in the title!
Crispy tofu, fennel and pak choi
With peanut and red chilli sauce.
Pancakes
With banana and cocoa-Nutella chocolate sauce.
I suggested we go for banana pancakes, yoghurt and blueberries — to be a bit healthier.
Death stares.
Like I’d just suggested skinny Santa and chocolate-free Christmas. I decided not to fight the matriarchy on this one.
Day #7 — Final Day
Pear and courgette salad
With blue cheese, walnuts and a garlic-lemon dressing.
Courgettes, sundried tomatoes and olives
With lemon-coriander-couscous and feta.
That’s the end of the holiday festivities. Luckily, I don’t have to wait too long for the next major holiday. International Women’s Day is right around the corner.
Everything I’ve seen suggests balancing governments is key for meeting the demands of the next decade. Combating climate change and wealth inequality are top priorities. Electing women at all levels of government is a vital part of these efforts.
March 8th is a chance to celebrate a year of incredible work from women in politics. They’ve certainly earned our support!
P.S. If you want your own fiesta — 22nd-25th April is the time! Earth Day, St. George’s Day, World Frog Day and Penguin Day — all rolled into one. It’s going to be HUGE!
