• Nichill on April 30, 2016

  We are really finding this book useful. From a 5:2 diet point of view it's brilliant the way it helps you to adapt the same dishes for different members of the household, and the advice and recipes for preparing dishes ahead of the fast days. The recipes are tasty and interesting, with a proper appreciation of food. We are about to make the banana and apple loaf. I can't think of any other 'healthy eating' book from which I would trust a cake recipe to be sufficiently indulgent.

Notes about Recipes in this book

• Quick veg omelette

  • Nichill on June 07, 2016

    This wasn't entirely successful, but promising. I think I will reduce the amount of water next time: 3 tbsp is a lot for 1 egg.

• Quail eggs, beetroot and spinach salad

  • eeeve on January 17, 2024

    Lovely salad - used a few strips of leftover frittata in place of the quail eggs. So delicious.

• Blueberry, avocado and corn salad

  • Hannaha100 on January 09, 2017

    Love the idea of the 100cal boxes but could have cried when I saw the measly size of the salad. Added half a bag of salad leaves for an extra 25cal to bulk it up, felt much more substantial. Not sure the small amounts of avocado and feta make much sense on a fast day. Did love the blueberry, jalapeño and coriander though.

• Chickpea curry

  • Hannaha100 on January 25, 2017

    Spices added interest to standard chickpea stew. Don't think I'd have added cardamom or cinnamon but enjoyed it. Takes a bit too long for weeknight but great make-ahead meal.

• Courgette dhal

  • eeeve on May 07, 2025

    This can be a bit on the bland side, just have to up the spices/bouillon. Realky good with added spinach. I like the green colour!

• Lentil and red pepper chilli

  • Hannaha100 on January 25, 2017

    I didn't weigh the onion or pepper as instructed because that seemed a bit daft. This was tasty, simple and filling. Served with spinach salad. Very popular with baby. Would make a great shepherd's pie on a non-fast day. Again,takes too long for a weeknight after work but great for make-ahead meals.

• Tomato, lentil and broccoli soup

  • eeeve on January 26, 2024

    My lentils fell apart so much so that the soup essentially became a dhal, and I didn't puree it in the end. Flavour-wise, it's okay and alright for a fasting day, but it's not a favourite.

• Tahini noodles with greens and 6-minute egg

  • eeeve on November 23, 2024

    We enjoyed this dish; made with the suggested marinated tofu from a different recipe in the book, and not with a boiled egg. Thought the dressing was a bit too salty, I won't add the extra sprinkle of flaked sea salt next time.

• Sweet potato, lentil, kale and coconut curry

  • mondraussie on May 02, 2023

    Nice, easy weeknight option. Substituted silverbeet for kale, because I hate kale... Worked out just fine.

• Roasted cauliflower and butter bean salad with orange and olives

  • SugarFree_Vegan on June 26, 2016

    This was a very easy recipe to make into a fast day one too. I missed out the oil apart from a quick spray with my misting bottle, I also roasted the butter beans with the onions for 10-15 mins to make it a warm salad. Delicious either with or without the oil!

  • eeeve on October 28, 2021

    Loved this! Quick and simple to make too. The orange and olives make this dish, don’t omit! Also roasted the butter beans for 10 minutes, as not too keen on cold squidgy beans from a can. Had some leftover roasted tomatoes and added those, which worked well.

• Marinated tofu with greens and brown rice

  • eeeve on November 23, 2024

    Made the marinated tofu to go with the "tahini noodles with greens" recipe in the book. Didn't fry but baked it in oven instead and it turned out fine. Would make again.

• Winter greens fritter with smoked trout and chrain

  • Nichill on June 07, 2016

    I love this dish. The flavour is wonderful. It really doesn't feel like a diet dish at all. It's pretty flexible, too: the first time I got egg yolk traces in my whites, but it was still substantial and delicious. Strongly recommend.

• Lemon sole with celeriac colcannon and kale

  • Nichill on June 07, 2016

    This is a superb dish: my husband and I ate it as a proper tasty supper. The celeriac colcannon is a revelation. Yum.

• Golden amazing sauce

  • eeeve on September 25, 2025

    I must confess, I don’t find that sauce amazing! Somehow the flavours don’t meld, and it’s a bit too sharp for my taste.

• Tahini noodle dressing

  • eeeve on November 23, 2024

    Made this dressing for the "tahini noodles with greens" recipe in the book. Thought it was a bit too salty, so won't add the extra sprinkle of flaked sea salt next time, but otherwise enjoyed.

• Marinated feta

  • mondraussie on June 12, 2023

    Fabulous and easy. Lemon zest is essential.

• Banana and oat bars

  • eeeve on June 01, 2025

    I made these as cookies and they came out really well. Hard to believe there's no additional sugar in there (I did, however, add a small amount of chocolate chips to appeal to the younger generation). They were very moist due to the large amount of bananas used. Would absolutely make again.