GRAIN AND GAIN

RHIANNON LAMBERT

Weightloss specialist Lambert makes toast of #cleaneaters doubting bread’s reign as the best thing since, well...

Bread’s image has been so badly burnt by #eatcleaners that simply feeding crumbs to the ducks could see you harangued for animal cruelty. Held responsible for all manner of modern afflictions, from obesity to diabetes, Mother’s Pride has lost its lustre. Yes, Bake Off might dominate TV ratings, but it’s a voyeur’s market out there: last year loaf sales dropped by 50 million as health-conscious lunchers renounced doorstep slices in favour of salad and supergrains.

But does bread deserve to be toast? Sure, any carb can cause weight gain if over-indulged, but most wholemeal loaves contain just 5% sugar, with a modest average of 90 calories per slice. (Bear in mind that a small serving of the dietitian’s favourite, the sweet potato, has 108 calories.) Even the salt content of our bread has been cut by 20% as a result of government health initiatives. In fact, owing to its hungerbusting fibre, moderate bread-munchers are more likely to maintain a healthier overall diet, according to a National Diet and Nutrition Survey.

“Bread can certainly play a crucial role in your nutritional wellbeing,” says Harley Street nutritionist and weightloss specialist Rhiannon Lambert. “The key is avoiding the refined carbs in cheaper brands, which contain artificial additives and undergo a short fermentation time that reduces nutrient quality. Freshly baked bread, fermented for longer, is packed with energy-boosting B vitamins and is much easier to digest. Source it right, and you’ll enjoy slow-release energy and a host of micronutrients.”

But before you start prepping a week’s worth of BLTS, keep in mind that the trick is to make good bread the virtuoso performer on your plate, not the full cast. Thankfully, an artisan loaf will stand a little imaginative treatment. With minimal prior preparation – and our expert chef advice – these five novel recipes will not only sate your carb cravings, but help you build a better, more efficient body. May you rise to the occasion.