I was raised vegetarian for 14 years of my life, eating beans, drinking molasses… iI learnt a lot from my mama and acquired my taste for unique foods here.

In my teen years I rebelled when I saw Mc Donalds and other fast food joints that appeal to kids… I then started see-food diet when I was 14, meaning i ate anything I could and shouldn’t!

Around 18-19 I had gained weight (7kg-10kg) so I went on the Atkins diet and dropped 4kg in a week so yes it really works but is not sustainable long term for I gained it back a few weeks later as well as  developed an ulcer due to high acidity levels in my body.

Then because it became a trend  and appealed to me I started banting and I even met with Tim Noakes, this worked for a while until I

got sick of putting coconut oil in my coffee (I still enjoy some of the recipes in his book, aside from the controversysome recipes ARE in fact healthy and delicious).

After realizing he may not “know it all” I started on paleo and LCHF dieting.

This somehow did not make me feel good so I started googling alkaline diets realizing acid is might be the real culprit my problem….

Following this everyone started going vegan and I too watched earthlings and decided eggs and dairy were supporting a very cruel commercial industry, but with all the bread and carbs I began eating I gained weight and felt more dreadful than ever, I found out I have slight gluten intolerance as i suspected when I read Tim Noakes. I was tested and I was found to be an O blood type, so I attempted to follow my recommended O blood type diet – apparently one of the oldest!

After much contemplation I realized ALL THIS just became too tiring, too taxing, draining and expensive to follow ONE SPECIFIC DIET and I found pros and cons to them all! At one stage I did a raw food diet which lasted approx 2 days!! The longest was probably the pescatarian diet I did (trying to feel the best I CAN I had to try them all!)

I understand everyone’s point of view but at the end of the day I decided to listen to my body (and I love eating out)….

Now I make use of a combo, I have experimented and now I listen to my body and try to reach a balance!

Not only did I do this for weight loss but for maintaining beauty, health and energy levels.

What you can do? (Besides try a whole lot of diets)

LISTEN to your body and what it craves, when it is hungry, when you feel good and when you feel groggy. Pay attention to your feelings, your stomach, your tastebuds and you should be just one!

Be Mindful Of

• know your blood type and get analysis for diabetes, high cholesterol, candida etc (this DOES REQUIRE diet change)
• portion size
• salt and sugar int`ake
• water intake (2 liters min)
• carb count
• fresh food
• calorie count
• exercise (eat only what you need)
• Note modd, weight, energy levels, sick feelings, good feeling toward food groups etc, food journal is recommended by many, I write mine on my phone daily

If you’re eating gluten free and you do not know what to buy:

Crackerbread – corn version

Rice and corn cakes

Gluten free bread (obviously)

Go for rice flour pizza from shops/restaurants

Rice or mung bean noodle

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What I eat:

I am addicted to eggs, potatoes, white meat, greens cucumber, spinach,brussel sprouts (weird right?)

What’s in my kitchen: lettuce, tomato, cucumber, potato, carrots, onion, tuna, lentils, chickpeas, rice, noodles, oats, bran, beetroot, pickles, feta, cheddar, bread in the freezer, veggies frozen, milk, cream, mayo, avoid, olive oil, flour, dark chocolate, broccoli, corn, beans etc.)

Snacks

– banana

– raisins

– almonds

– peanut butter (maybe that is weird)

– energy powder mix

– a shake

Breakfast:

– I usually have a Herbalife shake because quick and easy with peanut butter, chia seeds, berries etc.

– Omelette on the weekends

– 1 slice of toast with cheese/avo

Lunch

– yoghurt with fruit

– salad (with a toastie because I am naughty and only if I was good at breakfast time)

– sometimes I just have cheese or corn bread/thins

Supper

– 1 part protein, 1 part carb, 1 part veg e.g egg fried rice and vegetable stir fry

– chicken stir fry

– tuna potato bake

– curry and rice

– Anything else I can think up or find on Mr D/Uber Eats including tofu, soy, chicken or fish!

Some common home foods I eat regularly

– chicken soup/veg soup

– baked potato with cottage cheese

– potato bake (with cream or cheese sauce)

– roast chicken and veg

– basmati rice and lentils or paneer if I am ordering in)

– avo, humus toast

– roast veg

– stewed fruit

My fav health shops:

-Very healthy: Osumo (left pic of the wrap), Kauai, Plant, Nu, Shecter’s raw, The Hungry Herbivore

– Moderately: Simply Asia,

Please try Hare Krishna for amazing vegetarian wholesomeness (pic on the right)