Tasty and healthy

A guilt-free treat — is there any such thing? Treats can come in all shapes and sizes, and ideally in the form of something that tastes good and does the least damage to our body. There must be something we can enjoy without regrets. Wine was once a pleasure, but now we are told just one glass at a sitting is healthy and anything more is damaging to the liver and piles on the weight. One glass can deliver great pleasure if we savour every drop. All the more reason to spend a little more if that’s what it takes to have one we really like, and not a wine which makes our eyes water.

It’s all about how we see treats. When we train our children to see fruit as a treat, they appreciate it all the more. They will like it better if it is fresh and in its prime, so all the better for being local and brimming with energy. We are coming to the end of the strawberry season, so don’t try to stretch it by eating them at their worst.

Move on instead to the excellent range of apples available. Plant an apple tree for the best value. Garden centres have plenty and Seedsavers have wonderful old varieties which grow well in Ireland and will post trees to you www.irishseedsavers.ie.