Healthy Eating...

Just before Christmas, the head of Stranton School in Hartlepool dining at Portofino asked if I could help with a healthy eating competition.

Monday morning saw the launch of its healthy eating campaign involving pupils and their parents. It was attended by the Mayor of Hartlepool Stuart Drummond.

I videoed Mark Earnden of Expo Chef demonstrate how easy it is to create fresh food free from additives. The kids loved most of the food Mark got them to taste.

A few parents have signed up for weekly cookery lessons. There will be a competition in March which Mark and I will judge.

Eat to save your life...

Last night I watched Jamie Oliver's "Eat to save your life".

I am sure that many telespectators must've had a bit of a shock at the amount of rubbish in supermarket ready meals.

Salt, sugar, fat... These hidden ingredients in foods and drinks are the reason the nation is becoming fat.

A few weeks ago, after Madjid was diagnosed with angina, I mysteriously began having headaches and feeling dizzy. The doctor prescribed some antibiotics and a series of blood tests.

The antibiotics got rid of a harmless head cold!

And the blood tests came back all clear.

I was so relieved that since then I have had a few bottles of red wine to celebrate this happy news.

And then last night the following ingredients were listed as the healthiest in our diets:

Bran

Olive oil

Oily fish

Red wine

Nuts

Pulses

Vegetables

Dark chocolate

Now, I am not one to crow (yeah, right!) but this is exactly my diet.

Just go and ask Nicola who's been plundering the staff Christmas chocolates.