Munya Vomo

YOU’VE got to love this job. The other day, minding my own business, I got a call from the Sandwich Baron, asking whether I was open to doing an experiment, a Banting experiment.

Banting is a low-carb and highfat diet which was named after William Banting. But the moment I heard I had to take in fat I panicked as I’m conscious about my body. But there is a science behind it. By switching to a diet rich in fat, the body in turn burns fat instead of carbs for energy. As a result, you lose weight.

As I write this I am on a twoweek Banting diet, courtesy of the Sandwich Baron. They will supply me with meals to put this theory to the test. So far, I have been delivered foods such as bacon, omelettes and biltong, accompanied by a green salad. I must admit, I miss my pap and bread, although I did get to enjoy the low-GI variety as part of a chicken mayo sandwich. The other key ingredient seems to be water.

I spoke to the founder of the Sandwich Baron, Sally J’Arlette- Jo, and she shed more light on the Banting diet.

“Banting is not about losing weight. It’s all about putting good stuff into your body. It’s not a matter of just eating fatty foods. It’s actually an overall health benefit,” she said.

“Banting is pretty popular in South Africa. A lot of people are researching it. Banting is the in-word now, and a lot of people are going on the internet to see what it is about and looking for more information,” she explained.

The Sandwich Baron is spending just under R100 every day on the breakfast and lunches I am getting.

So how affordable is the Banting diet, especially when there is still supper to consider?

“Banting doesn’t need to be expensive. It depends on what you need. There are a lot of recipes so it is possible to make Banting affordable,” said J’Arlette-Joy.

“Anyone can make Banting food at home. There are so many Facebook pages with banters and everyday they have recipes that you can try.

“I find that there are things like my Banting omelette… people like so much of what I have to offer,” she added.

I am on this diet for a fortnight, but the right results will keep me on it for much longer.

Asked whether the two weeks would be enough to see changes, J’Arlette-Joy said: “Two weeks is enough for you to see if it is going to work.

“You definitely begin to feel better. So I think after one week you will feel something. If you are not used to eating that kind of food, then you might get a headache.

“With Banting you don’t have much to eat. The main thing is water,” she said.

Good thing that I love my water more than Michael Phelps does.