MIGUEL MAESTRE 'I LIVE TO INSPIRE WITH MY FOOD'

The Spanish chef wants to spread the word about healthy eating

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Everything Miguel Maestre does is done with the utmost enthusiasm, and his latest role as a healthy eating ambassador is no different! The Spanish chef, 45, is on a mission to help Aussie households start cooking and eating that little bit better, after teaming up with Diabetes Australia.

So many people have diabetes in their family. Is that your experience?

My grandfather had diabetes but he was from a generation who didn’t believe too much in the doctors. He loved eating sweets, he wasn’t supposed to drink but he loved a good glass of red. And he lasted very late in life but he had a stroke, and maybe he should have listened a little bit more to the doctors. So healthy eating is something I’m passionate about, I’ve got two children, I come from Spain where the Mediterranean diet is the best diet in the world. So I thought it was a great project to join.

Have you found people are generally open to healthier eating?

Doing the cooking demonstrations around the country, it’s great to see how people are so interested. I love people, I prefer to work by talking to people more than through TV, that’s why I do my live shows. There’s nothing more exciting than helping people to be a little bit better, and love for food is very contagious.

What tips do people want?

People are always trying to find a way to healthier cooking, there's so much information out there and I think they're a little bit lost. People ask me a lot, 'How can I make food taste good without putting salt?' I'm not a nutritionist, I'm just a chef, but in your career you learn, for example, how to use fresh herbs to make everything more delicious... put some more chives, mint, a handful of basil - that can change the structure of a meal.

Do you have a favourite recipe from the cookbook?