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Switch to fish for BBQ season

Something different: Try barbecued fished this summer. Writer Catherine Burns has a recipe you can try today.

There are very, very few drawbacks to having a cleaner. But finding half your husband's End-to-End caveman costume folded neatly in your underwear draw is one of them. I presume this means she thinks the idea of me wearing a leopard skin headband and a furry waistcoat is within the realms of possibility. May I just clarify that it is not? To add insult to injury, I could wrap the waistcoat around myself twice. And there I was, already feeling a little disheartened after my first bikini outing since Belle.Kids are nothing if not honest, so after deliberately trying on said bikini with the curtains drawn, in the flatteringly dimmed lights of our bedroom, I should have braced myself for reality. I had just smothered little Belle in sun cream and was about to tackle Chloe when she said (prodding my midriff), “You have a big tummy mummy!”This was swiftly followed by, “You must have eaten toooo much food!” and - I am not kidding “Is there a baby in there?”Oh my God. I was crushed. If she hadn't also just given me some big post-nap hugs and murmured I love yous into my neck, I swear I would have put her up for adoption.Of course the lovely husband found this exchange very entertaining. He tried to muffle his laughter in a pile of beach towels, but was not particularly successful. I think he is feeling a little smug as with both the End-to-End and the half-marathon under his belt, he is looking leaner than ever. I have to say I am proud of him. But isn't it insanely irritating that men never have to tackle the post-baby bulge?Anyway, to remedy this bikini situation I am now running at lunchtime, have signed up for Zumba, and am committed to some TRX personal training sessions with my neighbour. I am not really sure what TRX is, but I have an alarming feeling that it involves suspending myself from the beam of her patio and being shouted at. We shall see. If you hear of a house collapsing in Warwick, you will know what happened.Obviously, I'm stepping up my nutrition too and with summer well underway, I have been trying to find ways to make our barbecue a more healthy option. Given the opportunity, the LH would cook ribs seven days a week, so I have a hard time diluting the red meat during the summer months. Still, I have worn him down over the years and he'll now happily barbecue fish as well, so things are looking up.Red meat, while tasty and easy on the grill, is often loaded with saturated fat. It's saturated fat that can cause your blood to become sticky, promotes inflammation in the body, blocks the uptake of good fats and causes weight gain. It can form part of a healthy diet, but you must choose lean cuts and limit your intake to two servings a week. Switching to fish is a great alternative. It's lower in total fat and rich in the good essential fats that are beneficial for your mood, memory, skin and heart. It's also a quality source of protein.The only problem with fish is that the flavour is more delicate. Some people enjoy that quality but if, like the vast majority, your taste buds have been desensitised by a constant barrage of food rich in sodium, saturated fat and sugar, you may find fish too bland. I often season fish really simply, with garlic, black pepper, lemon and fresh herbs. However to encourage a switch in your house, you may want to choose one of the healthier marinade options out there.Using the basic instructions below, you can use any fish and any marinade that appeal to you. Stonewall Kitchen and Ginger People are two fantastic brands that offer fabulous flavours like sweet chilli, smoked hickory, ginger lemon grass, maple chipotle and sesame ginger teriyaki. Delicious! Try not to overdo the marinades as they can be heavy on the sugar/salt just gradually reduce the quantity you use as your palate re-sensitises.(By the way, Chloe is still guzzling down her avocado-banana-berry smoothies in the morning. If you missed the cut-out-and-keep smoothie box, e-mail me and I will send you back a copy.)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 is a fully qualified nutritional therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in the UK. Please note that she is not a registered dietitian. She can be contacted at nourishbda[AT]gmail.com.

Barbecuing fish

(serves 2):

Ingredients:2 fillets fish (skinless and boneless)5 tbsp Ginger People or Stonewall Kitchen marinade2 sweet potatoesDark green salad leaves (spinach, arugula etc) and salad veg (peppers, tomatoes etc)

Method:1. Marinade the fish in the sauce (minimum of 15 minutes, preferably one hour.)2. Prick the potatoes, wrap them in foil and bake at 385F for one hour, or until soft in the middle3. Prepare the salad4. Place each fillet of fish on two or three squares of silver foil. Bring the sides up and secure into a “pouch” by folding over the top and side edges.5. Barbecue the fish on a higher shelf, away from the most direct heat, for 15 to 20 minutes, till thoroughly cooked. The flesh should become opaque and not look translucent.6. Serve with the salad and baked potatoes. Easy!