Davina McCall's Cod & Pesto Parcels

Davina McCall has always been associated with healthy living, as the author of several healthy cookbooks, fitness dvd's and as presenter of The Jump, Davina is always championing the ability of the average-joe to transform their lives with small changes. And we love her for it!

So as its National Wellbeing at Work Day on Friday Mar 31st, i've managed to get my hands on some exclusive recipes from her latest cookbook, 'Sugar-Free in a Hurry'. All of these recipes are easy to make at home and are designed to help you eat healthier on-the-go. There are lots of lunchtime recipes that you can pack into a lunchbox for work too, so no more excuses for an unhealthy snack at work. Nutrition is vitally important to brain-function, cognitive skills and overall wellbeing so its just as important as going to the gym.

Davina has shared her delicious recipe for Cod and pesto parcels below. I made it last night and it was absolutely yum!

Cod and pesto parcels

From Davina herself 'My perfect food when I’m in a hurry. These are so quick to make and everyone loves them – it’s a really easy way of cooking and serving fish. Fresh pesto from the deli counter is fine or you can make your own; it’s easy – have a look at my recipe below. You can use a mixture of the green veg I’ve suggested or just a couple of kinds, but I do find I have to cook the green beans briefly first to make sure they are tender enough. The others all cook beautifully in the parcels'.

Serves 4

265 calories per serving

2 tbsp olive oil

400g mix of green beans, mangetout, tenderstem broccoli or sugar snap peas

4 x 150–175g cod fillets, skinned

4 tbsp fresh pesto

250g cherry tomatoes, halved

1 lemon, cut into wedges

salt and black pepper

Time check

Prep: 10 minutes

Cooking: 20 minutes

1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6. Cut out 4 x 40cm squares of baking paper and the same of foil. Lay the paper squares

on top of the foil squares and brush them lightly with a little olive oil.

2 Blanch the green beans in a saucepan of boiling, salted water for 2 minutes. Drain them and rinse in cold water to stop them cooking, then mix them with the other vegetables.

3 Divide the vegetables between the 4 squares, add a cod fillet to each and season well. Add a tablespoon of pesto on top of each fillet, then drizzle with a little olive oil. Scatter the cherry tomatoes around the vegetables and add 2 wedges of lemon to each parcel. Scrunch up the paper and foil, making sure you leave a little space around the fish.

4 Place the parcels on a baking tray and bake them for 15–20 minutes or until the fish is just cooked through and the vegetables are tender. Serve the parcels at the table so everyone can enjoy opening their own. Good with some steamed brown rice.

Davina’s tip

I always used to buy pesto but I’ve discovered how easy it is to make. Just put a small clove of garlic, 2 tablespoons of toasted pine nuts and a large handful of fresh basil leaves in a blender with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a tablespoon of grated Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper and blend until smooth. Wow!

More about her new book Davina McCall's 'Sugar-Free In a Hurry'

Davina McCall's delicious and healthy family recipes that help you balance blood sugar, lose weight and feel fantastic. Following on from the huge success of Davina's 5 Weeks to Sugar-Free and Davina's Smart Carbs, Davina McCall is back with a brand new cookbook to help you kick the sugar habit and cut out junk food for good, even if you're short on time.

Davina's Sugar-Free in a Hurry is full of healthy, delicious and - best of all - quick recipes for everything from lunch on the go and quick suppers to guilt-free snacks. Easy dishes include Mexican Tomato and Black Bean Soup, Healthy Chicken Caesar Salad and Banana, Oat and Sultana Muffins. With Davina's trademark warmth and wit, these recipes are for busy people who want to keep their blood sugar in check while eating delicious food.

Davina McCall is a TV presenter who has been on our screens since 1992. She is best known for her work on BIG BROTHER and LONG LOST FAMILY. She has also recently presented LIFE AT THE EXTREME, THE JUMP and THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.

A strong advocate for a healthy lifestyle she has a successful range of fitness DVDs and raised millions through her Sport Relief challenge in 2013. She is the author of DAVINA'S FIVE WEEKS TO SUGAR-FREE and DAVINA'S SMART CARBS.

#Lifestyle