Let’s talk: Nigella Lawson speaks about healthy eating craze

Nigella Lawson has made a name for herself as one of the most honest celebrity cooks out there and, staying true to her reputation, she had a few choice words to say about the healthy eating craze so many other chefs have jumped onto.

Speaking the The Australian, Nigella said she isn’t a fan of the ‘clean eating’ concept that has become so popular with many chefs, cooks, and health experts.

“I don’t like the term ‘clean eating’,” she told the paper.

“It comes from a place that somehow eating is a bit dirty and there’s a shame attached.

“But if you’re asking whether I think food that’s fresh and isn’t processed is a good thing, of course it is.

“I am also very aware that for many people it does become something that can tilt an unhealthy relationship with food in the wrong way.”

Clean eating has become hugely popular around the world over the past few years.

Revolving around the idea of unprocessed, wholesome, organic food it is definitely healthy, but is also restricting and expensive.

Chefs like Jamie Oliver and Pete Evens have released cookbooks devoted to the idea and restaurants specialising in only serving unprocessed, organic heath foods have popped up in hundreds of cities.

While eating healthy is of course important, the idea of a diet that prohibits you from even enjoying a slice of cake once a week is something that Nigella says she can’t support.

Talking to BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour last year, she said the notion of eating healthy is often a way for people to gain status over others – implying “I’m better than you because I don’t eat junk food”.

She said: “I think behind the notion of ‘clean eating’ is an implication that any other form of eating is dirty or shameful… I don’t like extremes. I think that’s the real truth.

“I think that food should not be used as a way of persecuting oneself and I think really one should look to get pleasure about what’s good rather than either think ‘Oh no, that’s dirty, bad or sinful’ or ‘eating is virtuous’.

“I also don’t like people thinking their better people themselves for the way they eat. We make choices for ourselves either for our health, delight, according to our income, according to our taste.”

What do you think about the healthy eating craze?

Do you agree with Nigella that some people are looked down upon because they eat junk food? Do you try to eat a healthy diet, or do you eat whatever you want?