Forging Ahead

Before today's food-related item, a little backstory. A while ago I met the owner of a nutrition and wellness centre. She was just moving into a new place on her own, where previously she had been sharing premises. Eventually, I asked her why she didn't provide meals to her clients. She gives advice, treatment and so on, but as soon as they leave her place they are free to eat what they like. She thought it was a great idea and asked me to do it. The two rules were: they had to be vegetarian, and they had to be low low low calorie. Under 600 calories a day for two meals.

I said yes without really thinking because ... well ... because I didn't really think about it. That was over a month ago and here's what I know.

It is really hard to make dishes low calorie, vegetarian, tasty, healthy and varied.

However, I have recently entered the trial and testing stage and I must say I have had some success. But just cooking and preparing and thinking about vegetables all day every day takes its toll. Especially when you are constrained by calories so that means almost no oil, cheese or dairy.

But, a breakthrough came today when I convinced her to let me cook some chicken and  fish dishes. In a fit of productivity I promptly made a salad and three soups. They are:

A green bean, tuna, cherry tomato, olive salad with a lemon vinaigrette.

[Note to self: if you are going to pile a dish up high, don't take the picture from up top and make it look all flat.]

And, from the left, a Sun-dried Tomato Soup with White Beans and Swiss Chard; a Cauliflower, Apple and Tarragon Soup with Chinese Bak Choi; a Summer Green Soup (served chilled).

I also made for dinner - kind of as a celebration of being free from vegetables - a penne pasta with Italian sausage, cherry tomato and cream sauce. No pics. It was all eaten too fast.

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Tomorrow I need to make three entrees and two salads, and pack them all up in little boxes to deliver on Monday for the next stage of testing. Oh, and I invited some people round for a barbecue, as if I didn't have enough to do. How's that saying go again: If you need a job done, give it to a busy man. 

I bet a guy with nothing to do but sit around and think came up with that one.

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