Seasonal Berries - Seasonal Berries Interviews

Juliette Kellow

Do you have any detoxing tips to keep you going beyond January?

I’m not a massive fan of detox diets as there’s little scientific evidence to support the idea that our bodies need ‘help’ to get rid of waste products – after all, that’s what our liver, kidneys and lungs are designed to do. Most detox diets ban several groups of foods including dairy products, meat, and wheat-based products like cereal and pasta. This can leave us short on many nutrients if we follow such a diet for more than a few weeks, potentially lowering our immunity and resulting in conditions such as anaemia due to low iron intakes. Weight loss is simply the side effect of a very low calorie intake. This of course, can give us a real boost but as soon as we start eating normally again, the weight normally goes back on, leaving us feeling despondent. On the positive side, detox diets certainly get us thinking more carefully about what we eat and encourage us to eat more fruit and veg, drink more water and cut out processed foods and alcohol, which have little nutritional value. My advise is if you want to try a detox diet, choose one with the least restrictions and use it to kick start a longer term healthy eating plan that includes foods from the four major food groups: fruit and veg; bread, cereals and potatoes; milk and dairy products; and meat, fish, eggs and other protein-rich foods. Finally, if you eat well most of the year, there shouldn’t be any need to detox at all!

How easy is it to make indulgent dishes low in fat?

Berries are low in calories and fat so are a great choice if we want to lose a few pounds in the New Year. They’re also naturally sweet, making them a great alternative to chocolate or sweets – something that we often plan to cut down on as part of our New Year resolutions. They also contain vitamin C, which is important for a strong immune system. In fact, just 7 strawberries provide all the vitamin C that an adult needs each day. Blackberries also contain vitamin E, another nutrient that’s essential for immunity.

How important is a healthy diet to you?

Berries are the ultimate quick and easy food as there’s no preparation needed. They’re really versatile too – you can add a handful to cereal or porridge for breakfast, they make a great snack and are perfect for making smoothies. They’re also a great choice for adding to fruit salads or hot puddings like crumbles.

What is your favourite berry?

That’s a tricky question as I love them all. I grew up in Cornwall and so every summer the family would head to a local strawberry farm and spend the afternoon picking strawberries. I also used to go blackberry picking with my dad in the Autumn – we would come home with literally bucketfuls of blackberries and my mum would spend much of September making blackberry jelly and jam and stewing blackberries for freezing. There really was a never-ending supply of blackberry jam in the kitchen cupboard and as a student I would go back to college with a fresh jar every term.