DWTS’s Anna Geary

My life in food

What did your mother make you?

If I was coming home, which I don’t get to do too often, she makes the classic roast — with everything done all the ways I like them done, as only a mum can. I’m solid country too, I love a bacon and cabbage dinner.

The meal you will always remember?

I went to Dubai, and it was such a lavish food experience. I’m more of a pub-grub kind of girl, but I love food. Needless to say, I didn’t weigh myself for about a month after I got back!

What’s the first dish you ever cooked?

I can hardly remember the last dish! I’m not one of those people who finds cooking therapeutic. I’d rather do a basket of ironing.

What is your comfort food?

I don’t have a sweet tooth — I’ve sweet teeth. I love anything chocolate.

What’s your hangover cure?

Fresh doorstep bread, toasted, with butter. I’m always saying, ‘Take the bread away from me, Kev’ to my boyfriend.

What do you drink?

Playing sport, I didn’t have an opportunity to drink that often, and now, with the dancing, I’m up early all the time, but I do like a whiskey and ginger ale.

You can only eat three things for the rest of your life, what are they?

Porridge; eggs; and chocolate.

How important is food to you?

I’m an athlete, so I understand the importance of food. It’s about being very conscious of what fuel your body needs. I’ve simple tastes, but I love good-quality food. Food and sleep are the most important things.

What’s your favourite restaurant in Ireland?

Mammy’s kitchen! You can order anything you want there, and they have to bring it out!

What do you refuse to eat?

Cottage cheese. I’ve never seen the appeal.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Pizza, or anything sweet.

Are you careful about what you eat?

I try to eat well 80pc of the time, so I can have my treats and I don’t waste time feeling guilty. The way we look at food is important. Food is an experience; it’s meant to be enjoyed.

“The way we look at food is important. Food is an experience and it’s meant to be enjoyed”

Are there any foods you’ve had to cut out or cut down on that you miss?

When you’re training, you realise that you can’t eat certain food that much. I try to limit bread, because there are much better complex carbs, such as oats or rice. Bread makes me feel a bit lethargic. And I do have to step back from the biscuits.

What’s always in your kitchen?

I’ll always have eggs, oats, fruit and veg. Greek yoghurt and nuts are my go-to snacks. I have cordial, because I think it’s better to be drinking enough water, even with a little something in it!

What’s your perfect family meal?

It’s about the people who you laugh with and share it with. I love Christmas Day — the roasties, the turkey, the ham and the gravy. It’s the one day you can go back for seconds without any raised eyebrows, though I couldn’t do that last Christmas with the dancing coming up! Catch Anna Geary on ‘Dancing With The Stars’ on RTE One, Sundays at 6.30pm. She was also a coach in ‘Ireland’s Fittest Family’