We talk to the Loose Woman about her fave foods...

<p>TV presenter Andrea McLean, 46, lives in Surrey with her children Finlay, 14, and Amy, nine. A journalist by day, when she's not discussing topical issues on the award-winning ITV lunchtime talk show '<a href="http://www.itv.com/loosewomen" target="_blank">Loose Women</a>', she's writing about everything from interior design to family issues.</p><p>Having penned a bestselling biography, 'Confessions Of A Good Girl' in 2012, she's not afraid to be frank about her life, likes and dislikes. We caught up with the presenter and mother of two for a chat about food, family and travelling, in order to find out what foodie experiences have shaped her life.</p><h2>What was your favourite childhood meal?</h2><p>I grew up in Trinidad where I loved roti &ndash; curried meat, normally goat &ndash; and potatoes wrapped in a chapati. It&rsquo;s a distinctive taste and utterly delicious.</p><h2>When did you first start cooking?</h2><p>From 11, I cooked my parents fried eggs, bacon, toast, beans and tomatoes on a Sunday. Mum admitted later they would secretly scrape it into the bin because it was always cold!</p><h2>Your cooking inspiration?</h2><p>My granny Jean was a canteen cook in a shipyard on the Clyde. Her table always groaned with cakes. She cooked right up until the day she died 15 years ago.</p><h2>Do you diet? </h2><p>Back in 2012 I got a recurring shingles-like virus, so now I boost my immune system with food.</p><h2>In what way? </h2><p>I always have a good nutritious breakfast of brown toast topped with crunchy peanut butter, banana and honey. For lunch, it&rsquo;s a two-egg omelette with mushrooms, asparagus and cherry tomatoes and, usually, baked salmon for dinner. I snack on dates or figs.</p><h2>Do you cook food from scratch? </h2><p>I&rsquo;ve been allergic to lactose since 1992 so, yes, because I like to know there&rsquo;s no dairy in what I&rsquo;m eating.</p><h2>What do you cook for your kids?</h2><p>Both of them are meat-and-two-veg kids, so I cook a lot of chicken, vegetables and rice.</p><p><img alt="andrea-mclean-pr-shot" class="ci-image ci-original" src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/andrea-mclean_GL?scl=1"></p><h2>Most annoying kitchen habit?</h2><p>Picking. I have to chop twice as many vegetables because I eat them before I&rsquo;ve cooked them.</p><h2>Your ideal dinner party guests? </h2><p>Bryan Adams with his guitar, Janet Street-Porter, who is a good laugh, and The Queen &ndash; it&rsquo;s one of my life&rsquo;s ambitions to meet her.</p><h2>Restaurant of choice?</h2><p>J Sheekey, a fish restaurant, in London. One of my favourite things is sitting at the bar and snacking on seafood.</p><h2>Favourite roast?</h2><p>Chicken. I use a foolproof Nigel Slater recipe that I ripped out of a magazine years ago. The key is rubbing butter under the skin. It comes out perfect every time.</p><h2>Quick weekday supper? </h2><p>I heat up a packet of chickpeas, black peas and quinoa, stir in a tin of chilli- flavoured tuna and serve with spinach.</p><h2>Biggest weakness?</h2><p>I&rsquo;m a biscuit monster and deeply unfaithful because I&rsquo;m not loyal to a particular one &ndash; there are always biscuits in the Loose Women studio.</p><h2>Top food treat?</h2><p>Coco Pops. I just love them!</p><h2>Best food experience abroad?</h2><p>Eating from street vendors in Thailand when I was backpacking in my twenties. They&rsquo;d create a plate of food to die for and charge about 10p.</p><h2>What would your last supper be?</h2><p>A lovely clean Japanese meal. I love the big lumps of marinated fish, which dissolve in my mouth. I tried Japanese food about 20 years ago &ndash; I thought it would be disgusting but it was a revelation! </p><p> </p><p><em>Loose Women is on weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV. Head to Asda.com to stock up on snacks for watching the show, including <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/aisle/chocolate-sweets-biscuits/biscuits/1215337554818?utm_source=asdagoodliving&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=food-features-LooseWomenAndreaMcLean" target="_blank">biscuits</a> and <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/dept/drinks/tea/1215656936101?utm_source=asdagoodliving&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=food-features-LooseWomenAndreaMcLean" target="_blank">tea</a>. </em></p>

Loose Women's Andrea McLean on biscuits, omelette and curried goat

By Asda Good Living,8th July 2016

TAGS

RELATED ARTICLES