Just had an idea in the supermarket today - and no, I wasn't in the bakery aisle!

I don't much like celery, but it is a very good vehicle for creamy dips in this warm weather. For the dip, take a carton of my favourite Total 0% fat yogurt, and add:

1. some crushed garlic and grated cucumber and a bit of chopped mint if you have any, OR

2. some curry powder and a squirt of tomato puree out of a tube, OR

3. some chinese 5 spices powder and a tiny splash of sesame oil

Good enough to serve up to those not on diets too!

... then for my lunch today (I usually have a sandwich) I decided to have a healthy salad instead.

Line a large bowl with mixed lettuce. Grate 1/2 a carrot and 1/2 a courgette together (I just put them in the Magimix because grating them by hand's too much like exercise!) and toss on top of the lettuce.

Mix half a pack of mixed seafood (220g from Sainsbury's) with a dessertspoon of VERY low fat mayonnaise (Hellmann's is pretty palatable) and arrange decoratively on top of the salad. Sprinkle balsamic vinegar round the lettuce.

My daughter's just like you - won't touch celery, but when we are at a restaurant that serves you it with dips while waiting for your order, she'll finish it no probs. Like your suggestions Fiona.

Watermelon - I know it's summer when I see them at the market. Are they OK for us? and the water content, surely that would count towards 3L a day?

What about those layered salads in the supermarket Fiona - aren't they easier to buy?

Well done on your healthy choices.

... easier to buy but more expensive and sometimess the layers contain hidden quantities of mayonnaise and other calorific things.

Having said that, they're what I eat in London if I can't be bothered going out, or eating in the hotel (fed-up with the same 2 dishes off the never-changing menu!).

Krispy Kremes indeed!!! Pah!!!

These sound wonderful Fiona. Have 2 big pots of o% in the fridge!

I really cannot stomach celery though I'll endure it in a cooked dish like chili or something.

Must think of some healthy eating ideas to add.

Got some gorgeous round pitta breads in the supermarket - The Food Doctor (multiseeded?) pittas - delicious in the toaster and cals not bad at all.

They can be a pain with all the pips, not sure if I fancy eating them. I often nibble on celery though-even better with garlic dip.

Just had Ostrich steak and a big plate of salad for tea.



Have you ever tried celeriac, we sometimes have it mashed with carrot instead of turnip.

To be honest I eat them - they come out the other end just the same!!!

watermelon is brilliant for you and easily ups your water intake, you've only go to slice the thing and watch the juices flow

... have you counted them Emm? Perhaps you're not overweight at all - that tummy could be a watermelon seed that's germinated and is now fully-grown

Celery's a diuretic, it could help those on the M31C.

I love Watermelon and Generally the redder the flesh of the melon the sweeter it is and more flavour it has. The pinker ones can taste a little 'cucumbery', yet are still very refreshing fon a warm summer's day, nice with low fat fruit yogurt. I eat the pips, I think they're meant to be good for you, they're crunchy, not like Honeydew melon seeds, which are unedible. You seem to get alot for your money too. Pineapples are also delicious and it's cheaper than buying it in tins. I used to be put off buying them as I couldn't be bothered to skin and prepare them but it's really easy. You just chop off the stalk and other end. The cut into slices, lay the slices on their side and chop all the way round at an angle with a sharp knife until all the skin is removed. Cut each slice into quarters and then chop the tip of each quarter off to tak out the core. Sounds hard but it's easy. There's even a special gadget you can buy to core them now.

The dips sound delicious Fiona, are they you're own creations. I will have to try them, now that the warm weather's here I don't mind eating cold foods.

Here is my list of warm weather foods: Tabbouleh, gazpacho, vichyssoise, tomatoes and buff mozzarella, EVO oil, garlic, grilled sardines, strawberries and Pimms.

...................and the watermelon mentioned above!!

I thought I should do this now, after brekkie, and not return to it when peckish! Love the list above! Gazpacho a particular fav.

Leiths do a fab recipe for grilled mackrel with a crunchy salad. I love bbq'd fish. Squids stuffed with feta, bbq'd, so the cheese oozes and starts to caramalise. ASPARAGUS! It's the season; dry fried in a pan, and a slug of balsamic when they're still warm. Steamed, with a (very) little butter.

A chilled glass of rose, or a chilled Pouilly Fume. Nectar.

Of course asparagus, lovely!

I too love bbq fish - although mackerel I can still taste days later, not great!

Hmm perhaps we should end this thread before the hips spread

Ah, bbq'd mackerel - yum. 2 years ago for my b/day we went "sailing" but as there ws no wind, we just drifted around for a few hours. Threw some lines over and caught loads of fish in 10 minutes. We had them barbequed the next day - I swear I still recognised their little faces!

Hmm... Or may be I can try and rescue it..

I am known in my family as the salad queen (amongst other things). Children have been known to try a "Julia Salad", where lettuce is usually seen as the food of the devil. They are always a work of art (I shall have to photograph one and post it), and I use all sorts of things. Asparagus will feature heavily at the mo... (nuked in the micro for 1 min, cooled in cold water, and arranged on top), but green beans are good in this way. Also, I like crunchy food, so pumpkin seeds often feature. The best dressing, in my view, is freshly squeezed lime juice. It seems to lift the taste of the veggies.

I read somewhere that food needs to delight all the senses (Jamie, possibly?). I try and think about the presentation of my food, as much as the taste. Fiona's description of her layered salad suggests she does the same?? So, think of the sight, smell, sound (I guess this is my crunchy link), and taste.

The other great thing I found last year in Waitrose was Avocado Oil. Just lovely, and as a food stuff of the angels, has many good properties..

Did I rescue?

Yes Andrew - not one for creating time-consuming dishes - I like to get maximum impact for as little effort as possible.

Do you have a shop called "Oil & Vinegar" nearby? They do little tins of "Dipper" that you add to yogurt, mayonnaise, fromage frais etc to make up tasty dips. I love that shop - they always have loads of stuff to sample so I need to stay away!!!

I agree that makes all the difference.

I've just been out for lunch with a couple of friends and had fishcakes and salad. The salad turned out to be a few lettuce leaves covered in oily dressing - how exciting is that?

However, I did succeed in leaving something on my plate - the big splodge of mayonnaisey stuff that came with the fishcakes - how good is that?

Got the usual garlic and sesame oil but fancy the Avocado, is that Waitrose own?

I love salads and would love to see photos of your creations.

Did you see Heston Blumenthal make an Xmas dinner for the celebs? That was certainly a feast for all the senses. I think the guy is a genius but it's not for every day cooking!

O & V sounds very tempting - nearest to me is Windsor! Is it truly worth the visit?

Very - well done indeed

... only if you starve yourself beforehand. Loads of lovely oils and dips to taste - in fact you could probably go there for a free lunch!

No, it's not Waitrose own, but that's all I've found it in... Tho O & V might (never heard of them, but will be looking).

"OLIVADO Gourmet Foods" are the maker (from New Zealand). There is a website on the bottle, www.olivado.com, haven't tried it.

The Heston program was awesome. You have to be a bit mad to be so creative, I think. I still muse at the steam of leather chair and pipe smoke!

Very well done Fiona. Your AbFab halo shineth!

... yes I think we need to campaign for a halo smilie!

Ooh, yes. And a little devish one with horns for when one is feeling wicked...

Anyone out there 'listening' THC?

Hi all
I especially agree with Fiona C, Julia WH re food. I enjoy a prawn salad with mixed leaves and a good olive oil. Mackrel also good and salami. As I am on a low carb regime these are good as well as a good ripe brie or soft cheese.

I am so pleased I am getting close to having lost 1 Stone! I mile stone only 2 more to go

Here you go:

And for you Julia:

Yes, I'd forgotten about that. I've got the M&S slimmers' book (a family heirloom from the 70s) and that has a wonderful recipe for gazpacho - probably very exotic in the 70s. I'll have to dig it out and post it. I remember it being tastier the next day.

I've never made Gazpacho - I'll have to try it!