Don’t let the weather put a dampener on your easy summer diet!

THANK you for the positive and constructive feedback of my last healthy eating column. Please keep sending your comments and what topics you would like covered — even though I can’t reply to you individually, I do read your comments and take them on board.

The weather has been amazing this summer, which led to many of us feeling determined to make an effort to eat lighter and healthier than before. When it’s sunny, people are less tempted by greasy, doughy, unhealthy choices as warm weather seems to make us more positive and maybe even happier, thus making it easier not to seek comfort in food.

However, just because the rain is making a more frequent appearance now, there’s no need to change your eating habits.

I believe food is the fundamental base for a healthy lifestyle and the only way to ensure you get it (most of the time) is to cook it yourself.

Based on your feedback, this week I will give you more ideas for light summer eating with some of your favourite classics that I have tweaked to make them healthier.

While I was doing my weekly shopping the other day I saw some really nicely smelling and perfectly ripened cantaloupe melons.

We used to eat these often while living in South Africa, where they are called spanspek. Once we moved here, I bought them once or twice and was horribly disappointed as they tasted of nothing.

Maybe it was the warm weather that reminded me of our years in South Africa and made me hope again that I could taste the sweetness of these melons — so superior to anything found elsewhere.

I was delighted when I cut the melon open and it tasted sweet and juicy. While living in Italy I used to eat it wrapped in parma ham so I thought I would attempt this again.