Darina Allen: Recent recipes from Ballymaloe sustainable food programme

It’s such an exciting time in food and even though the figures for obesity and Type 2 diabetes continue to increase, there are real grounds for optimism as growing numbers don their Lycra and take to their bikes or run or swim or walk.

I’m a fan of the latter and greatly enjoy hill walking now and then.

Most gyms are oversubscribed and despite my pessimistic prediction that Operation Transformation would never catch on, it has got many couch potatoes off the sofa and transformed them into messianic walkers or bikers.