The chef says we need to forget fads and focus on the joy of good food cooked with love• Yotam’s recipes for roast chicken with butter beans, and perfect potatoesThe kids normally have breakfast at 7.30. I make eggs – soft boiled, scrambled or an omelette – sliced cucumber, toast with butter and a bowl of yoghurt on the side. Whether I eat too depends on how much I ate the previous night – and how late.Last year, I decided I’d skip breakfast altogether. I was reading everywhere about the benefits of intermittent fasting (IF) and it didn’t feel like a huge sacrifice. Apparently, if I managed to avoid food for 16 hours, half of it spent sleeping anyway, I was more likely to sustain weight loss compared with following any other diet. On top of that, fasting periods are said to allow the body to repair cells and, as a result, help to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, general inflammation, memory loss, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other maladies. Continue reading...
Yotam Ottolenghi tried intermittent fasting and disliked it, finding it messed with his brain and contributed to weight gain. He argues against fad diets, advocating for a return to basic, joyful cooking and eating routines, emphasizing the importance of human interaction, conviviality, and culture around food rather than focusing solely on nutrition.
