Bermuda has been home for me since 2004 and this is the first time ― maybe with the exception of Hurricane Nicole ― that I moved away from the windows and looked for somewhere safer to sleep. We live on the top of a hill and Ernesto was very loud … and long!!

There were a few moments where I thought we would honestly blow away, but here we are, safely out the other side again.

Thank you, Bermuda, for your amazing cement houses and for all the hardworking crew at Belco and other utilities. And thank you for not blowing in another centipede (yet).

So, after moving house and then clinging onto the roof, it was time for things to settle down. Except then I got Covid-19. So annoying!!

Back to passing groceries over the hedge and feeling like a leper. At six months pregnant I couldn’t have the good meds, so fluids, rest and paracetamol only.

Not a fun time, but I’m on the mend and ready for life to be more normal for a while!

After my lovely friend delivered groceries, she messaged me asking what I was doing with the Amy’s brown rice bowls and the Ducktrap salmon fillets I’d put on the list.

She’s always on the hunt for quick and easy dinners so I shared back this tip for when I really, am limited on time and energy, but also don’t want to do take out food.

As microwave meals go, Amy’s aren’t horrendous – they are often just a little high in sodium and tend to be lower in protein than I prefer.

Also, I really don’t like to put plastic in the microwave so because I take off the wrap and play around with the cooking time, I feel better that they are vegetarian. I wouldn’t mess around with directions for cooking chicken!

The Amy’s brown rice, black-eyed peas and veggies bowl is a great one to use as the base of a healthy meal if you are feeling really stuck or if you have man-flu//the plague.

I combine it with the Ducktrap roasted smoked salmon fillets to make it more hearty and often add extra veggies too.

This week, I sauteed some zucchini and yellow peppers. While they were on the go, I removed the skin and flaked the roasted salmon (you could use any roasted/grilled salmon but the Ducktrap range has a great smoky flavour.)

I then removed the plastic from the Amy’s bowl, heated it for 3 minutes, stirred in the flaked salmon and then heated it for 2 minutes more.

I topped it with the sauteed veggies and actually some diced avocado too, because it needed finisihing up!

The whole process takes about eight minutes and is pretty hearty and delicious. Exactly what you need when you feel like you are on your deathbed!

In general, most microwave meals can be made healthier just by adding a ton of sauteed or steamed veg.

Even if you were heating up mac n cheese, having a big side of veg (which provides antioxidants and fibre) would be a massive step in the right direction.

Unfortunately, most ready-meals don’t even come close to providing the half plate of non-starchy veg that most adults should be consuming with their meals.

Extra hint though – if you do ever turn to mac n cheese for something quick and easy, then try just making it on the stove top and don’t get a microwave option.

This is because the chemicals in plastics (which are known endocrine disruptors, meaning that they can interfere with hormone balance) are lipophilic i.e. they are drawn into fat molecules (especially over heat).

Even if you make the healthiest homemade mac n cheese ever, I suggest you store it and re-heat it in glass or something ceramic instead of a plastic container.

Hope that helps! Have a lovely weekend one and all, and here’s to life on the other side of the storm!

• 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 BA Hons, Dip ION, BNTA is a fully qualified Nutritional Therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in Britain. Join Catherine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nutrifitandnaturalnutritionbermuda or instagram @naturalbda.