HEALTHY TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR TAKEAWAY FAVOURITES
IF YOU’RE making your own home fakeaways, there are some tricks to ensure they not only taste delicious, but are healthy, too.
THAI
Thai food can be surprisingly high in calories. TIPS FOR THE CURRY: Choose lean cuts of meat or fresh seafood (0 or low SmartPoints on all plans). Add crisp veg such as sugar snap peas and broccoli, plus herbs and spices including ginger and basil.
Choose reduced-fat coconut milk and replace some of it with stock: the sauce will still be rich. FOR THE RICE: Swap white rice for cauliflower rice. Whiz the cauliflower in a food processor and then cook in a wok with a little water or oil. Add a little onion and turmeric for flavour. TIP: Save SmartPoints by opting for brown rice.
ITALIAN
ITALIAN takeaway staples such as pizza and pasta are often laden with cheese and oil, but you can still create your own amazing, healthy version. TIPS FOR THE PASTA: Substitute pasta for courgette ‘spaghetti’ made using a spiraliser. A tomato passata can be turned into a showstopper by adding basil, olives, aubergine and peppers. FOR THE PIZZA: Use a wholemeal flatbread for the base. Load up on mushrooms, spinach and peppers, and choose lean meat or fish.
Fresh herbs or chilli add a powerful flavour hit. Sprinkle a mix of cheeses on top — such as mozzarella with parmesan — for a strong flavour using less cheese.
FISH AND CHIPS
TAKEAWAY versions of fish and chips can be heavy on calories. TIPS FOR THE CHIPS: For a healthier version, slice potato or sweet potato into chips and coat with calorie-controlled spray oil. Sprinkle with ground rock salt and rosemary. Bake until tender.
Alternatively, peel and de-seed a butternut squash, cut into chips, season, and bake for 35 minutes at 200 c/fan 180c/gas mark 6. FOR THE FISH: Buy fresh white fish. It’ll taste great grilled with a dash of oil and seasoning. If you want a batter-style dish, dip the fish in whisked egg and coat in polenta sprinkled with parmesan. It’s super tasty and provides a great crunch, with far fewer calories.