Fortunately, after last week's hair disaster saga, I have a much happier story to tell!

I've just been reunited with the best hairdresser ever, the fabulous Bobbi at Willowstream. Bobbi has recently been off on maternity leave (how selfish!) leaving me to pine away the months without her. You see, just as you find 'The One" when you fall in love, for women, "The One" applies to hairdressers too.

Girls will be familiar with this scenario: one hairdresser cuts really well, a different one does amazing colour and another does a terrible job but is so much fun that you're tempted to go back. It should be easy to find one that does it all, but as with men (and OK, I'm sure with women too ...) it's hard to find the complete package!

The thing with Bobbi is this. Not only does she cut and colour brilliantly, but she is also a) a mind reader (good when you can't quite put thoughts into words) and b) a voice of reason (good when you're tempted to shave your head because it's so hot). On top of all that, what could be an ass-numbing three-hour torture session ends up being a social event even in the face of all adversity. Today for example, there was a power cut half way through my highlights. This meant relocating to the gym (which has a lot of natural light) and washing off the colour with freezing cold water, which was ? er ? invigorating?

Nonetheless, I left the salon flicking my hair about proudly, totally up-to-date with Bobbi's baby news and having laughed till it hurt. So as I sit here waiting for my lovely but distracted husband to notice my hair (sigh), I'm pondering on how great it is when you find "The One." And come to think of it, on how you can apply this one-and-only perfect package concept to so many things: The one movie that always makes me laugh, the one song that always makes me cry, the one chocolate treat I make that sorts out a cr*p day and (here's the tenuous link to nutrition) the one salad that is always a success, even with the unhealthiest of the unhealthy.

So continuing on our "healthy lunches" theme from last week, the great thing about this salad is that you don't feel as if you're compromising taste over calories. People always think that avocado is full of fat and therefore "bad" but it's actually rich in good fats, vitamin E (good for your skin) and potassium (good for your heart). Added to that, avocado also contains very slow releasing complex carbohydrates, meaning that it will fill you up and give you lots of energy throughout the afternoon.

Smoked salmon is often a healthy option but the difference between some of the brands is huge. For example, your average pack of smoked salmon comes from a salmon "farm". These fish haven't been exercising out in the wild, swimming up rivers and keeping fit. Instead they have been swimming around a very small and crowded pool. The upshot? Farmed smoked salmon usually contain over 6 grams of fat per serving, but the wild Ducktrap Farm salmon I have used in this recipe only contains 0.5 grams of fat per serving (whilst still maintaining a really great Omega 3 content.) And, not only are the serving sizes the same, but so is the cost ? a rare bargain in Bermuda.

So this month, continue your efforts to eat healthily (at least once a day!) and try out this salad at lunch time. If you don't like the idea of grapes actually in your salad, have them on the side instead. Next week: a healthy weekend BBQ.

Smoked salmon & avocado salad (serves 2)

Salad ingredients:

1 pack Ducktrap Farm Wild smoked salmon (Lindos, Supermart)

1 ripe avocado (flesh should yield under pressure, but shouldn't feel mushy)

6 spring onions (chopped)

1 handful red grapes (washed, halved)

1 small dark green/purple lettuce (the Wadson's Farm ones are excellent)

1 small lemon (squeezed)

Dressing ingredients:

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 tbsp apple juice

1 tsp honey

Black pepper (to taste)

Method:

1. Peel and chop the avocado into small chunks. In a small bowl, coat with the lemon juice (especially important if you are not serving the salad immediately as this prevents the avocado from going brown.) Set to one side.

2. Slice the smoked salmon into thin, bite-sized strips.

3. Chop the spring onions, wash and halve the grapes.

4. Tear up the lettuce leaves and wash thoroughly.

5. Put all the above in a large salad bowl.

6. Shake up or mix the dressing ingredients with a hand held whisk.

7. Toss the salad in the dressing and serve.

@EDITRULE:

The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns is a fully qualified Clinical Nutritionist. She can be contacted at 291-4725 or clinicalnutritiongmail.com