5 Questions | Melissa Hemsley
Melissa Hemsley is a beloved chef and Sunday Times bestselling author who happens to know the power of a beautiful dress. We went to chat with her about activism, motherhood and the inspiration behind her new book – Real Healthy.
How would you describe your everyday style?
Dresses! I wear a dress every day because I’m a bit lazy when it comes to thinking about what to wear – I prefer to think about what to eat. I’m also lazy when it comes to ironing and thinking about putting outfits together first thing in the morning, so I love dresses because you don’t have to do much of either – and when I’m feeling a bit glum, a beautiful dress always gives me a boost.
This season at Iris, I love the Tillie dress, the Kaia and the floral Yara. I adore the colours of the fabric, and I feel both lovely and comfy in them – which for me are the most important things.
How do you balance work, life and motherhood?
I don’t think there has been one moment where I have felt balanced, and when I get stressed or overwhelmed (which is multiple times a day) I try to remind myself that lots of mums feel this way and there isn’t a perfect formula for getting it right – in fact, there is no perfect and there is no getting it right.
I feel like I haven’t slept since my sweet baby girl, Summer Eliza, was born last summer, so I have never enjoyed my food more because I am depending on it so much to give me that extra energy. I don’t have as much time to cook either, so I really rely on my freezer and batch cooking. I will also do some weekly meal prepping – I might make a big batch of my Cherry Almond ‘Bakewell’ Granola; or roast, a huge tray of spiced, crunchy chickpeas to add to salads and soups.
I’ve always loved yoga and my non-negotiable is a daily walk. I’m an ambassador for Mental Health Mates – a network that connects you with a group of lovely people in your local area to meet up with each month and walk and talk without judgment
Who inspired you when you were growing up?
My mum. She’s originally from the Philippines so I grew up eating an amazing fusion of South-Asian and British foods. She inspires all my cooking and can turn just a few ingredients into the most flavourful, delicious, comforting meal. In many ways, she’s the inspiration for my career – even though she’s still sad I’m not a doctor!
She is also the Queen of leftovers and always taught me the mantra: ‘cook once, eat twice’. Because of her, I have learned how to be resourceful and make time in the kitchen count.
What do you eat when you are home alone?
Some of my favourite foods on rotation include my One-Pot Lazy Lasagna (recipe in the book) which is full of veg. It’s got traditional minced meat but also lots of lentils – which are a more affordable plant-based protein and great for gut health. For busy mornings I adore my Breakfast Bake which is a doddle to make – it reheats beautifully on cold mornings, but I also like it straight from the fridge with a big dollop of Greek yoghurt. I make a big batch of my Chocolate Peanut-Butter Bars once a month, and I’m not ashamed to say I hide them right at the back of the freezer or my partner will eat the entire lot.
White Chicken Chilli Recipe Peanut Butter Bars Recipe
What advice would you give to someone who wants to live a more sustainable life but doesn’t know where to begin?
Start small: small steps every day quickly amount to big changes and it’s important to build a sustainable habit that works for you. We can all be activists in our own way. Every time we spend our money we are voting with our spending power. For me and my family, we have a box delivered weekly that’s full of organic fruit and veg from the UK. The veg is seasonal which means it’s at its most delicious and keeps things interesting throughout the year.
I think the best thing that we can all do is not waste food. There’s a shocking statistic that a third of the food produced worldwide goes to waste. One thing I do every week is make a frittata using whatever veggies are left in the fridge – it always makes the most fantastic breakfast or snack with a glass of wine if friends come over on the weekend.
Real Healthy by Melissa Hemsley is out now available to buy at Waterstones via this link.
Set @queensparkkitchenandjoinery @zoeairddesign
Photography Elle Calvey.
Shop the look
