5 minutes with Louise Keats
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5 minutes with Louise Keats
Once a lawyer, now a nutritionist and forever a foodie - Louise Keats shares her food philosophy and how she maintains a healthy in a world of sweets.
How would you describe your food philosophy?
I say to people that the best insurance policy anyone can take out is variety. I’m really opposed to thinking that one food is a miracle cure. I get asked all the time, ‘What is the best vegetable you can eat or the best fruit you can eat?’ And there isn’t one. The best vegetable you can eat is every single vegetable. I think it’s nonsense to think that using rice malt syrup is better than eating a banana, or to think that something that’s processed could be better than something that’s taken from the ground.
What are some of the things you consider when treating your kids?
I’ve never been on a diet. I think that’s because I’ve always just enjoyed everything. Growing up in a household where cake was just something that was available and it wasn’t a big deal – I wasn’t that kid who felt like I had to gorge at the birthday party table. We know from research that the more you tell a child that they can’t have a food the more they want it. The forbidden fruit does taste better. So I’d say to people, if you want to clean up your household, don’t be strict on your children – it just backfires – be strict on your shopping list. If you’re strict on your shopping list and you keep those foods out of the house, then you put an end to those mealtime battles. Just let your children eat whatever you have in the house, but don’t have anything in the house you don’t want them to have.
Do you consider yourself a sweet tooth?
Sometimes. Again I think it comes back to knowing what’s in the house. When I was testing the lemon tart recipe for Sweet Nourish I ate an entire lemon tart to myself in three days. Because I just loved it so much. It was there, and I just couldn’t rest until it was eaten!
How do you maintain your health and wellbeing (even while creating a book all about sweet treats)?
I do Pilates almost every day. I can’t stand the thought of people restricting their calorie intake then not having the energy to exercise. I’d much rather that people eat a bit more and then work out harder. The worst thing about calorie restriction is it makes you tired. Especially carbs, I’m not big on restricting carbs. I get very hangry, if I don’t eat regularly. So I have to keep the fuel up, and it keeps me in a better mood and makes me want to exercise and it makes me a happier person.
Grab the October 2017 edition of nourish for her full cover story and a selection of her clean sweets.
