So now that we’re on the eve of Lent, are you thinking about what you might give up? For the next 40 days, most people tend to give up those indulgent little treats such as crisps and chocolate, or even tea or coffee.

 

 

But for many of us – myself included! – giving up our breakfast coffee or that dreamy chocolate dessert after a hard day at work might prove to be more difficult than it sounds. If you can relate to this, why not set yourself a more realistic goal that you know you can stick to for the next 40 days?

 

Rather than ‘giving up’, why not think about ‘taking up’? Instead of (or, if you’re feeling really motivated, as well as) breaking an old ‘unhealthy’ habit, try adopting a new ‘healthy’ one. What about a small change, such as giving up sitting at your desk at lunch time; instead you could take a short walk to the local park. (Take a look at page 49 of The Inside Out Diet for fitness expert Nicki Waterman’s ten top tips for better walking.)

 

 As you may know, Shrove Tuesday is the last day before the fasting season of Lent begins. In keeping with the traditional Christian ritual of using up all ‘indulgent’ ingredients in a feast prior to the 40-day period of abstinence, many of us now make pancakes on the day, using butter, milk and sugar.

 

But don’t worry – those of us sticking to our New Year’s resolutions and staying away from such indulgent treats can still enjoy all the fun of Pancake Day without the added calories!

 

Why not try our special ‘gut friendly’ pancake?

 

For the pancakes:

120 grams (4oz) wholemeal flour;

1 medium egg;

300 ml (10 fl oz) skimmed milk (makes 8-10);

Olive oil spray for frying;

 

For the filling:

5 bananas;

Punnet of large strawberries;

Punnet of blueberries.

 

Whisk together the milk and egg in a bowl, then add the flour and blend to a smooth mixture. Heat a few sprays of olive oil in a frying pan and pour in two or three tablespoons of batter, ensuring that the mixture covers the pan evenly. Hold on the heat for a couple of minutes, then flip the pancake and cook the reverse side for a further minute. Serve immediately.

 

To fill the pancakes, slice the strawberries and banana and use them to cover the inside of the pancake – then simply chop the blueberries and sprinkle on top.

 

 

For a little bit of extra sweetness, add a teaspoon of honey or a tablespoon of Greek yoghurt.

 

This would make a great start to the day for those of you who fancy a bit of pancake tossing first thing next Tuesday morning! And then of course, Wednesday presents a perfect opportunity to reinforce those New Year’s resolutions by giving up a luxury treat for the next 40 days. So will you be giving anything up – and if so, what?