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Living solo with a love for sweets makes healthy eating a challenge. It\u2019s a tricky food equation, but I\u2019ve finally figured out how to make it add up.<\/p>\n
As a single guy who loves junk food, sweet treats, and food delivery apps, the temptations are always there. It\u2019s a constant battle between convenience and healthy eating.<\/p>\n
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Neil McMahon has learnt how to balance his diet as a solo cook. <\/p>\n
I\u2019ve finally cracked the code to eating healthy without feeling like I\u2019m in food jail. The key is to have a little discipline around the broad parameters of my diet.<\/p>\n
The real shift in my eating habits came two years ago after a serious accident, when I started seeing a dietitian. The key takeaways were a total game-changer: eat more protein, broad guidelines for carbs and fats, and a side order of \u201cdon\u2019t sacrifice the foods you love\u201d.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a bit more complicated than that, but in short, it has worked.<\/p>\n
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Fill up on protein by eating mince, such as RecipeTin Eats\u2019 firecracker mince.Nagi MaehashiFill up on protein<\/p>\n
This is what my weekly shopping-cooking-eating rotation looks like \u2013 and what
my treat rotation looks like over the same period \u2013 because it can\u2019t all be penance and no pleasure.<\/p>\n
First up, focus on proteins, making it as easy as possible. The weekly shopping list should include a bunch of things that can easily become a meal (and just as importantly, leftovers that help you avoid reaching for the UberEats app).<\/p>\n
While it\u2019s good to treat your body like a temple, sometimes you need to treat it like a disco. <\/p>\n
On high rotation: recipes using beef mince (such as RecipeTin Eats\u2019 firecracker mince, pictured above), chicken mince, pork mince, sizzle steak (cheap, ready in three minutes), and fish. If cooking seafood gives you the icks or the yips, do as I do and buy frozen fish with a light batter. The air fryer is your friend<\/a>. <\/p>\n Related Article I also keep a bag of diced, cooked chicken breast from the supermarket deli in the fridge. No cooking, no slicing \u2013 just throw some in a pasta sauce or put it on top of an omelette.<\/p>\n Mince is incredibly versatile. It can be cooked in a multitude of ways and is robust enough to triumph over just about any kitchen shortcoming.<\/p>\n Do not succumb to the easy excuse of \u201cI can\u2019t be arsed peeling and slicing\u201d. Frozen vegetables are as good as fresh<\/a> and are made for a quick blast in the microwave.<\/p>\n Another useful trick: if you don\u2019t have a rice cooker, get one. I keep mine on the bench, with the packet of rice inside it, so I am never more than a few minutes away from having a pot of rice on the table. I don\u2019t even have to open the cupboard.<\/p>\n Should you meal-prep? If you spend any time on social media, you will have been shamed into believing you should, and I regret to inform you that an arvo or two of kitchen dallying at the weekend really does pay off during the week.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re doing the right thing most of the time, you can and should lean into pleasures occasionally. I don\u2019t go a week without a burger with the lot<\/a>; I eat pizza several times a month; and I never go without dessert \u2013 occasionally ice-cream but more often a compromise of blueberries, a nice yoghurt, some dark chocolate and a decent squirt of honey. It conquers all sweet cravings and is modestly good for you.<\/p>\n The key to making it all work is knowing what you\u2019re putting in. I use an app (MyFitnessPal) that does as advertised: keeping an eye on what you\u2019re eating, by the numbers.<\/p>\n The key lesson for me: healthy living and food pleasure aren\u2019t mutually exclusive.<\/p>\n While it\u2019s good to treat your body like a temple, sometimes you need to treat it like a disco. Staying alive should, occasionally, involve dancing with a pizza in your hand.<\/p>\n Related Article The best recipes from Australia’s leading chefs straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n Sign up<\/a>Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/d80768288cb9aa37c956399768c34eebc743da75.jpeg\")
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Neil has learnt to take time to stop and smell the peaches.Justin McManusAlways have frozen veg on hand <\/p>\n![\"Neil](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/6e6cdb2cc4fa62e675adae9dd10531bf9e23bd34.jpeg\")
Neil doesn\u2019t go a week without having a burger with the lot, like this one by RecipeTin Eats. Nagi MaehashiThat all sounds a bit virtuous, what about the treats?<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/42186c03c38ef33bb5551c523fb2b39fb44c65b8.jpeg\")
<\/a>Related Article![\"Neil](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/e9cee365322a635b1b083d7837dd4d7da1e87647.jpeg\")
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