Starch nemesis

Katie Caldesi substituted healthier options for carbs

- By ELLA WALKER

BUMP into food writer and restaurateur Katie Caldesi while hungry and she'll have something for you, just maybe not the kinds of snacks you're used to.

“I carry sardines in my handbag,” she explains, in all seriousness. “A teaspoon and a can of sardines. I know, it’s so weird, isn’t it? But it shouldn’t be weird, because actually it’s a really good idea. They're 40p, easy to eat straight from the can, fill you up, high protein, healthy fats, so good for you.

“To eat a biscuit that’s ultra-processed and contains emulsifiers, additives, sugar and refined wheat, that’s not going to do you any good, that’s totally un-nourishing, I think that’s weird. “Eating a can of sardines should be the norm.”

It makes sense. Snacking on cakes, crisps and biscuits contributes to weight gain and obesity, increasing your risk of some cancers, heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. According to Diabetes UK, one in five Brits has pre-diabetes or diabetes, 90% of those have type 2 diabetes, which can be managed and even brought into remission with diet changes.