How to cope with post-MasterChef depression

We’d crammed into the living room as our generous and energetic host, inspired by recipes from the MasterChef site ran from kitchen to television screen – wooden spoon in hand – as we awaited the result.

It was a fun way to spend a Sunday evening and a deliciously fitting end to a series that has inspired about 3.7 million of us to think more about what we eat, how we cook and then talk about it with everyone we know.

But if you ask me, the true impact of the show is yet to be seen.

What will you be doing after work this week, a little bit down in the dumps ‘cause it’s all over?

Cyndi O’Meara is a nutritionist and author of the book ‘Changing Habits, Changing Lives’.

She says the educational and inspirational aspects of MasterChef are a great starting point for making positive changes to our eating habits.

“It’s very hard these days to know just what is in the ‘convenient’ food that we buy to save time. By far the best solution is to cook from scratch and that’s what’s been great about MasterChef. It inspires us to do just that,” she said.

O’Meara says the key to good health and enjoyment in the kitchen is all about using the foods that are our parents and grandparents would have used 30 years ago.

“When the body is given real food instead of meal replacements and foods made in a chemical laboratory, it automatically knows what to do and weight drops off without any calorie or food component counting,” she said.

“Butter, sugar, sea salt, and balsamic vinegar. These are the foods that satisfy us. If you have them in the cupboard it’s really not that hard and it takes minutes to create nutritious dinner,” she said.

Here are her top five tips for beating the post MasterChef blues:

1. Clear out the pantry and buy basic, natural ingredients: butter, full fat milk, sea salt, sugar and balsamic vinegar

2. Cook everything from scratch. Don’t use packet sauces or products.

3. Grow a vegetable garden or for those stuck for space try a pot of fresh herbs. The phytonutrients in fresh herbs are the same as taking a vitamin pill.

4. Make dinner time important. With the right ingredients it takes “a matter of minutes” to whip up a meal.

5. Buy a recipe book or find the website of a chef that inspires you. O’Meara’s favourite is Jamie Oliver for his use of fresh, natural, ingredients.