Delicious magazine’s art director, Joss Bowerman, tries a working week’s detox from a new shop specialising in nutritious, healthy food that doesn’t stint on flavour. How did she get on?
After a December full of mulled wine and mince pies and a half-hearted attempt in January to kickstart a healthy eating plan, I was definitely in need of a detox. Like most people, the thought of it was quite difficult and unappealing. But undertaking the task with Food Secret’s help meant it didn’t feel like a detox at all.
Food Secret is a company with a healthy fast food store in central London’s Soho that will deliver breakfast and lunch every morning if you live or work near the shop; alternatively, you can just pop in yourself. Each dish is given a nutritional star rating (from 1 = an indulgent treat, to 5 = healthy and full of goodness). You can choose from Tailor-made Food – a leafy base, a carbs, meat or vegetables then a low-fat dressing of your choice; or Grab and Go – nutritionally-balanced sandwiches, soups and salads.
If you go for the delivery option, the food is beautifully packaged with a printed menu, detox tips, water, juice and tea. You can also tailor your dishes to any dietary requirements.
The food provided was so delicious and filling I could barely believe it was good for me! Both breakfast and dinner provided two courses – breakfast might have been a fruit salad followed by blinis with soaked orchard fruit or compote and yogurt followed by an egg and smoked salmon wrap. Lunch was usually a tasty broth full of lovely fresh ingredients (you add hot water yourself), which actually tasted like it was doing some good and was anything but bland. This was followed by a salad (such as pomegranate or leaping salmon) or a pitta filled with something like salmon and avocado – always nutritious and always appetizing. For dinner you’re left to your own devices; one flaw is that it would be nice to be given menu ideas for dinner, just to keep on track.
As well as different teas everyday, a variation of still and sparkling water and drinks such as Saintly Lemon and Ginger Barley Water and Orange and Raspberry juice were provided.
Food Secret really did make following a detox ‘diet’ a breeze and it definitely felt like what I was eating was really doing me good. It’s a convenient and delicious way to control what you’re eating, and the food is prepared to a remarkably high standard. I would carry on for weeks if my wallet allowed it!
PROS:
Really delicious food
All fresh ingredients used and nutritionally balanced
Varied menu – you never get bored
I never got hungry
Didn’t feel like a detox at all
Convenient
Well packaged
You can choose the dishes yourself
CONS:
Was delivered late a few times
Isn’t cheap (but it is a quality product)
Didn’t provide dinner ideas which would have been helpful
Lunch and breakfast plus drinks costs around £50 for a week. Individual dishes start from £1.57 for a breakfast pot; £3.33 for soup; £2.37 for wraps; and £2.72 for a small salad.
FoodSecret is based at 59 Broadwick Street, Soho, central London. Delivery is free within a mile of the shop; there are plans to expand the delivery radius very soon.
www.foodsecret.com