Forget drab diets – they don’t work… Because ‘healthy’ food can sometimes taste pretty boring.
If you want to drop a dress size or several , but still stuff your face with gorgeous grub, then Cook Yourself Thin chef , Gizzi Erskine, is about to come to your rescue.
Have your cake and eat it … get ready to Cook Yourself Thin.
In the all new Cook Yourself Thin we visit one curvy contributor in their home each day and get to taste their Downfall Dishes – their three favourite dishes that they they just can’t live without. Our chef Gizzi will teach our buxom babe or bloke how to prepare and cook the exact same three dishes, but for a fraction of the calories and fat content.
Be assured… we won’t be sacrificing taste or satisfaction!
In each show our contributor will be desperate to lose the inches. They love their food and all have struggled with their weight and have tried every diet in the book, but they have never quite managed to win the battle of the bulge. But this time they have their own expert chef on hand to help them fight the flab.
Episode 15 – HELEN
Chef Gizzi Erskine meets biscuit bingeing mum of two Helen Fudge from Woking. As a working mum Helen chooses convenience over calories when making meals for her family by opting for processed pasta sauces and packet sauce casseroles. Gizzi shows Helen how to change those habits and cook clever alternatives with less fat and more flavour.
Recipes:
Episode 14 – YVONNE
Today Chef Gizzi Erskine meets 31 year old single mum and student Yvonne Voeght. Lazy cook Yvonne lives on a diet of takeaway pastries, fat filled fry ups and doner kebab dinners containing a huge 100grams of fat. Gizzi’s challenge is to create healthy alternatives, packed with flavour and crunch.
Recipes:
Episode 13 – EMMA
Today Chef Gizzi Erksine meets mum of two and photography student Emma Patterson. Indulgent cook Emma uses only the highest quality ingredients in her downfall dishes but the fatty ox cheek stew, cream laden fish pie and 4000 calorie rocky roads have helped her to pile on 5 stone. Gizzi shows Emma how to cook clever alternatives using less fat but keeping all the flavour.
Recipes:
- Turkish Delight Chocolate Brownies [6]
- Pink prawn and crab open lasagne recipe [7]
- Rich beef stew with root mash vegetable [8]
Episode 12 – DAWN
Today chef Gizzi Erskine meets 38 year old receptionist Dawn Nelson from Hackney. Dawn’s downfall dishes include cheesy ciabattas , deep fried chicken dinners and a sticky spare rib meal containing a whopping 1200 calories. Gizzi’s challenge is to transform these downfall dishes with healthier and tastier alternatives that still pack a punch.
Recipes:
Episode 11 – LIV
Today on Cook Yourself Thin Chef Gizzi Erskine meets sweetie loving student Liv Thompson. Liv’s hectic lifestyle means ready meals have replaced regular meals and her snack fix is handfuls from the huge sweetie jar by her bed which contains an enormous 12,000 calories! Can Gizzi work her magic on Liv’s downfall dishes and persuade her to give up the Sweetie jar for good?
Episode 10 – MARION
Today on Cook Yourself Thin chef Gizzi Erskine meets 49 year old ‘convenience queen’ Marion Gibbs. Marion’s long working hours means she has little time to cook so falls back on shop bought cakes, pre packed paella’s and chubby Chinese takeaways seeing her weight nearly double since her 20’s. Gizzi shows Marion how to change those habits and cook clever alternatives with less fat and more flavour.
Recipes:
- Moroccan lemon and orange flower water cake [12]
- Baked seafood and saffron risotto [13]
- Mixed dim sum [14]
Episode 9 – SEEMA
Recipes:
Today Chef Gizzi Erskine meets yo yo dieter and bride-to-be Seema Johnson who is desperate to shift some pounds for her forthcoming wedding. Seema struggles to give up her daily chocolate snacks, and the full fat flavours of her traditional West Indian mutton curry and fried chicken with rice and peas. Gizzi’s challenge is to re-invent these downfall dishes and create healthier AND tastier alternatives.
- Pork bun cha recipe [15]
- Curry goat with rice [16]
Episode 8 – STEVE
Today Chef Gizzi Erksine helps 20 stone minicab driver Steve Truby battle the bulge. Steve’s piled on the pounds by indulging in takeaway burgers, calorific curries and his own naughty nacho recipe containing a shocking 3000 calories! Gizzi must work her magic on these belt busting dishes and create slimmer, but flavoursome alternatives.
Recipes:
Episode 7 – DANIELLE
Today on Cook Yourself Thin Gizzi Erskine helps 17 stone former footballer Danielle Wood curb her 7 cans of fizzy drink a day habit and kick her staple East-end favourite, pie & mash, in to touch. Gizzi tackles what must be the world’s unhealthiest homemade cheesecake which contains a staggering 650g fat!
Recipes:
- Blackberry and Orange Cordial [20]
- Meat Pot Pie [21]
Episode 6 – SHEILA
Chef Gizzi Erskine meets 28 year old PA and cheese addict Sheila Foolheea. Sheila’s piled on the pounds by indulging in her carb laden downfall dishes including pub bought cheesy chips, takeaway fried chicken and her supersize spaghetti Bolognese containing a whopping 1000 calories. Gizzi’s challenge is to create clever alternatives to these dishes to cut the calories but still contain all the flavour.
Recipes:
Episode 5 – SUZY
Today Cook Yourself Thin Chef and food writer Gizzi Erskine will work her magic on sweet-toothed Suzy Aikman from Glasgow. Suzy’s downfall dishes include a belt busting breakfast muffin , a calorie crammed Thai Curry and The Queen of Sheba Cake containing a staggering 410g of fat. Gizzi’s challenge is to transform these downfall dishes with healthier AND tastier alternatives
Recipes:
Episode 4 – ZOE
Today on Cook Yourself Thin Gizzi helps 35 year old serial dieter Zoe Harris battle the bulge. Zoe’s downfall dishes are her belly busting breakfast baguette, the mother of all pizzas containing a whopping 60g fat , and Zoe’s favourite Chicken Katsu Curry. Gizzi must create some quick and clever recipes to persuade this takeaway queen to change her ways.
Recipes:
- Mushrooms on Toast [28]
- Gratin Pizziola [29]
- Chicken Katsu Curry [30]
Episode 3 – GUNAY
Cook Yourself Thin chef Gizzi Erskine meets security guard Gunay Shekerali. Gunay’s in love with his deep fat fryer and struggles to give up his fatty filo rolls, deep fried breakfast containing a staggering 270g fat and his favourite fish and chips. Gizzi’s challenge is to create healthy alternatives, packed with flavour and crunch.
Recipes:
Episode 2 – CATIA
On today’s show Cook Yourself Thin chef Gizzi Erskine meets Portugese Project Manager and indulgent cook Catia Lopes who piled on the pounds after a knee operation. Catia has a weakness for full fat ice cream, Portugese Shepherds Pie, and a calorie packed leg of lamb. Gizzi’s challenge is to transform these downfall dishes with healthier AND tastier alternatives.
Recipes:
Episode 1 – BILLIE
Cook Yourself Thin chef Gizzi Erskine meets comfort cook & semi retired food critic Billie Josephs. Billie wants to shift some weight for health reasons but struggles to give up her favourite full fat fruit crumble, a double portion of Turkey Schnitzel and Roast Chicken with all the trimmings. Gizzi’s challenge is to transform these downfall dishes with healthier AND tastier alternatives.
Recipes:
- Plum and almond clafoutis [35]
- Vietnamese pot-roast chicken recipe [36]
- Crispy chicken and homemade coleslaw [37]