Banting, boet.

For the better part of five or six years, South Africa has been hearing all about the Banting diet. We have Professor Tim Noakes to thank for that, as well as the thousands of people who have shed significant weight by following that advice.

It’s like CrossFit and veganism – people aren’t afraid to tell you about it.

A quick history lesson before we go any further. The diet actually goes all the way back to 1862 when William Banting, a rather obese undertaker [below], visited his doctor, William Harvey. Banting was told to follow what was, at the time, a pretty radical eating plan

Here’s a little more on the undertaker:

Banting suffered from what he called “the evil of corpulence” as he so eloquently put it.  So much so, that he could not negotiate the stairs unless he descended them backwards “being obliged to puff and blow” while doing so, nor could he tie his own shoelaces…

So excited was Banting with the results [of his diet] that he decided to publish at his own expense a pamphlet to distribute free of charge, called Letter of Corpulence, to inform society in London of his miraculous weight loss on the diet provided to him by his doctor.  It achieved global circulation, for which he was thrilled.

It eventually achieved 5 revamped editions, was translated into 63 languages and he sold 63,000 copies in the UK alone, but the influence was even greater in Europe and the USA. He was rewarded with over 2000 letters of gratitude from those who found benefit from his book. Today William Banting’s fame is global, and in the UK there is even a little tour you can enjoy to his birthplace, home, offices and grave.

That’s all good and well, but how did it take off in South Africa? Come now, you know this part of the story, especially if you’ve read the 2013 book Professor Tim co-authored, The Real Meal Revolution. The very simplified mantra – high in fat, low in carbs, which makes your body switch from burning carbs for energy to burning fat.

Now if you want to do Banting right you can go to a dietician, or you can read up online about Banting diets, and both of those might work for you, but we’re always fond of the easiest option.

Daily Dish has a wide range of dinner options available, and that includes a Banting option. Select, order, and have the ingredients for four Banting dinners delivered to your door.

Added bonus – R250 off your first Dinner Box order, because you’re special and we love you.

Now I know everybody has that one mate who thinks Banting is just about chowing meat off the braai, but that’s selling the diet short.

Here’s a simple guide of sorts:

The foods that you can and cannot eat are categorised into four lists. The first is a Green ‘eat to hunger’ list that includes foods such as all green leafy veg as well as others such as aubergine, cauliflower, peppers and tomatoes; all meats, and, its most controversial point, fats that include any rendered animal fat (lard, tallow, duck and bacon fat), firm cheeses, butter, ghee, olive oil and seeds. The foods on this list should make up the majority of what you eat on the diet.

The second is an Orange ‘exercise self-control’ list that features nuts, dairy products such as full-fat cheeses and milks; certain vegetables such sweet potatoes, beetroot and parsnips, tea, coffee, lentils and a wide array of fruit such as berries, apples, bananas and kiwis.

Great, but I’m an idiot who’s pressed for time and wants to find the simplest way to achieve my goals. I also know that dieting is best done after consulting with the experts, who can help devise a dieting plan.

Last week, that involved ordering the Daily Dish Banting Dinner Box, which arrived on Monday with everything I needed for my week’s meals.

There’s a certain satisfaction that comes with tearing open the box to see what’s in store. Each meal comes with an easy-to-follow recipe card with the ingredients measured out, and a picture of what your final product should look out.

We use the word loosely, because the 2OV team have had ‘mixed’ results.

Let’s start with the Sautéed Sausage & Kale:

Atchar masala mince with white wine, kale & tenderstem broccoli, topped with a poached egg.

Tandoori Chicken Salad

Red onion and roasted cherry tomato salad, topped with tandoori chicken fillets.

Creamy Stroganoff

A creamy bacon & mushroom sauce, infused with smoked paprika & thyme, served with courgettes.

Rosemary Burgers

Juicy rosemary patty topped with pickled red onion, and tomato slices. served with rocket and cabbage slaw.

30 minutes prep time, no trip to the shop that involves finding parking and wandering the aisles like a lost fart, and four damn tasty meals.

No, mine didn’t end up looking exactly like the recipe card, but that’s half the fun. Look at this Tandoori Chicken Salad:

In the interest of honesty, Chelsea actually made that dinner.

Or look at this cracking Sautéed Sausage & Kale:

OK, that was actually Damon’s, but I want it on the record that he cheated and used one of those silicone poached egg cups.

Whatever – my meals turned out lovely, I shed a little weight, and felt fantastic.

That’s where Daily Dish really hits the spot.  If you’re keen to try out a week’s Banting dinners, or want to dabble in that Vegan lifestyle, or just can’t be arsed to go the shops to sort dinners that week – consider it done.

There’s none of that food waste guilt, you get to try new recipes you otherwise would never cook, and you can order week by week.

Give it a bash, and save R250 off your first Dinner Box, here.

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