Is there such a thing as a healthy burger? You know, I could say "no" and have this as the shortest column I've ever written?. but where would the fun be in that? Now of course, after months of persuading you to avoid bad, saturated and hydrogenated fats, I'm not about to send you all off for a big old burger at Ice Queen either.

However, lots of people have asked me if there is a healthy alternative and yes, I think there is ? so if you're a burger fan on a health kick, then this column's for you!

So many of us are on a restricted diet. Whether we're simply aiming to optimise our health, or are actively addressing a health concern such as high cholesterol, lots of us have foods that we try to cut back on. Burgers tend to fall into this category and it's the same deal for pizza, KFC, doughnuts and chips ? we all know they're bad for us, but we still really, really want them! So wouldn't it be nice, if burgers could instead be incorporated into a normal and healthy diet?

Now if you're a burger purist, I suggest you stop reading now. You just can't take the grease, cheese and bacon off a burger and have it taste exactly the same!

In many ways, maybe we shouldn't even bother. The idea that if you can't have the real thing, just don't have it at all, is often a valid one. I did actually subscribe to that theory once ? after I made a really terrible wheat-free, dairy-free lasagne ? never again! Yet if you want to make your diet healthier, whilst still enjoying some fast-type foods, you are going to need some imagination.

The burgers I use for this recipe are the organic Sunshine Burgers. You can buy them frozen at both Lindos (Devonshire) and Harrington Hundreds.

Unlike many of the other vegetarian burgers, there's no long ingredient list of odd and suspicious foods.

Sunshine burgers are made from brown rice, sunflower seeds, carrots and spices ? and that's it!

So for the healthiest of healthy burgers, follow the recipe below:

Ingredients:

1 sunshine burger

1 100% wholewheat bun

1 slice low-fat cheese

1 slice lean, baked deli ham

1 small tomato, sliced

Romaine lettuce leaves

Ketchup/mustard to garnish

Organic oven chips (optional)

Method:

(I'm sure you've figured this out already, but for the truly kitchen shy?.)

1. Bake the burger (from frozen) at 375F for 15 minutes, turning once

2. In the meantime, prepare your other ingredients and during the last 5 minutes of cooking time, cut the whole wheat bun in half and toast it in the oven

3. Assemble as you wish and serve with organic (they taste so much better!) oven chips. Mmm!