The greater South African population heaves a united sigh and with trepidation, anticipates the deflating ‘click’ that renders the office/home/shop/school, as dark as chocolate. The dreaded load shedding is back.
Ooh, did someone say chocolate? Yum! Which brings me to the primary focus of this particular post: the other load shedding phenomenon (AKA weight loss, AKA comfortably fitting into that summer outfit – if the jolly rain will ever clear!) Load shedding doesn’t have to refer only to sudden and unexpected power losses; it can also refer to one’s health goals and plans to lose those last few, stubborn, holiday kilos. Below are a few things we can learn from the current state of South African electricity when we apply ourselves to getting and staying in shape.
Here are a few healthy recipes that you can whip up without power! Yes – our very own electricity-free eats…soon we’ll have you saying: no power? No problem.
Zucchini Carpaccio
4 zucchini
salt and pepper to taste
1 onion, finely slice and then minced
1 lemon
1 Tbsp olive oil
Fresh herbs to taste
1 cup sliced rosa tomatoes
2 Tbsp pistachios
Slice zucchini lengthwise using a vegetable peeler and arrange in a weaved pattern, alternating yellow and green slices. Sprinkle generously with minced onion, lemon juice and olive oil. Sprinkle pistachios and rosa tomatoes. Season to taste, and garnish with fresh herbs.
Three bean salad
1 can dark kidney beans, rinsed & drained
1 can white or cannellini beans, rinsed & drained
1 can black beans, rinsed & drained
1 chopped red onion
1 chopped green pepper
3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
Juice of 1 lemon
3 Tbsp. low fat smooth cottage cheese
Handful chopped parsley
Rinse and drain beans. Place beans in large bowl with onions, peppers, lemon juice and balsamic vinegar. Toss to mix well. Garnish with cottage cheese and parsley.
Vietnamese Spring Rolls
10 Rice Paper Wraps
Fresh Coriander
1 Cucumber – cut into thin matchsticks
1 Red Pepper – cut into thin matchsticks
2-3 Carrots– cut into thin matchsticks
2 Reduced Fat Feta discs
¼ cup Low sodium Soy Sauce
Grated fresh ginger
1 Tbsp Sweet Chili Sauce
Prepare a container with hot water for the rice paper. Add a wrap for about 30 seconds, or until pliable. Lay the wrap on a clean wood surface and add a little of each veggie and a crumble of feta, to the middle. Fold the sides in first and roll up from the side nearest to you to the other end. The rice paper will stick to itself. Combine the soy sauce, ginger and sweet chilli for the dip. If you can’t get your hands on rice paper, wrap in cos lettuce leaves.
Salmon Ceviche
Salmon fillet, sliced
1 medium onion, finely chopped
5 ripe plum tomatoes, finely chopped
1 Fresh chilli, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 cup fresh coriander, chopped
Juice of 1 lemon
Juice of 1 lime
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients in a medium glass bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 3 hours, stirring every hour. Serve with extra coriander for garnish.
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