On days when Maria Goretti isn’t baking gluten-free bread, she’s usually trekking her way to mountain peaks. The popular TV chef strikes a perfect balance between her love for food and fitness by whipping up healthier versions of fast foods that never compromise on taste. She knows the one ingredient you need for glowing skin, and how to make a healthy pizza. You’ll find her hitting the road running after devouring a bar of chocolate on a cheat day and performing a sequence of push-ups without breaking a sweat.
ELLE: The first thing you eat every morning…
Maria Goretti: I usually go for a run in the morning, so I don’t start my day without a banana for an energy boost. It’s my personal superfood because it keeps me full and helps with digestion.
ELLE: How do you balance your love for food with your fitness goals?
MG: I regularly indulge in cheat days, but then I go for a run just as regularly to burn off the extra calories. On days where I go overboard and eat a ginormous bar of chocolate, I just work out a little harder.
ELLE: What’s been your biggest fitness challenge?
MG: The last day of my climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro — I have never been so focused on anything. I was so tired by the end of it but I felt on top of the world.
ELLE: What’s your go-to snack after a workout?
MG: I always grab a citrus fruit after a strength training session because they help contract the muscles and you see more toning. After a run, I eat a wholesome breakfast of three eggs and a slice of toasted sourdough bread with honey.
ELLE: Your favourite workout move…
MG: Whipping fresh cream!
ELLE: What are your favourite recipes right now?
MG: Coffee-flavoured mille-feuille and sourdough bread that’s made with banana flour.
ELLE: A delicious, yet healthy salad is made up of…
MG: Rocket leaves, orange slices, strawberries and pomegranate, dressed with balsamic olive oil, creamy feta cheese and topped with pine nuts. It’s a favourite from my book (From My Kitchen to Yours, Om Books International).
ELLE: Your skin is so radiant, what’s the secret to your glow?
MG: I eat a tablespoon of ghee in the morning, that’s where it comes from. It acts like a natural moisturiser as well.
ELLE: How do you make fast food healthy?
MG: If you’re making pasta, switch up the refined flour pasta for a quinoa- or rice-based one. Don’t use béchamel sauce, instead opt for versions like aglio oglio that only have herbs, vegetables and olive oil. They’re tastier, I guarantee! For pizzas, use a ragi base instead of flour or wheat, layer it with the usual tomato sauce, cheese, and avoid topping it with meat.
