Paralympic gold medallist swimmer Ellie Simmonds tells us what’s in her fridge

Paralympic gold medallist swimmer Ellie Simmonds, 19, tells us about her daily diet

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by Closer staff |
Published on

Where do you shop for food?

Sainsbury’s because they're nearby and they have lots of good deals plus great value food and good quality.

What is in your typical daily diet?

I am very conscious of having a healthy and balanced diet. It's one of the reasons I wanted to support the Active Kids campaign with Sainsbury’s, which helps kids understand the importance of balancing healthy eating with an active lifestyle. Breakfast is normally a bowl of porridge with a cup of tea and an Actimel, lunch is often two eggs on brown toast or tuna mayonnaise sandwich. For dinner I like to have fish or chicken with pasta.

Is there anything you refuse to eat?

I’m not a fan of raisins but I love granola, so I always have to pick them out.

Which three foods would you take to a desert island**?**

Pasta, as it would be easy to cook out there with it being on an island. You could heat it up in the water and it’s high in energy. You can also eat it with most things. Some sort of meat like chicken as again it’s easy to cook and very nice to eat. Finally, a cake for something sweet!

What would you cook to impress someone?

Probably a steak with some homemade wedges and vegetables, as it’s simple and everyone loves a good steak! But I would probably make a good dessert like a chocolate cake or something, as I definitely have a sweet tooth.

Guiltiest food pleasure?

It would have to be chocolate, cakes and ice cream. I have a very sweet tooth but it’s hard when you’re an athlete, as you have to watch what you eat. Though I should add, these things are ok for you in moderation, but I try to keep them to a minimum and have them on treat days.

My takeaway order is**…**

Sweet and Sour Chicken with egg fried rice, prawn crackers and duck pancakes with hoisin sauce.

What is your signature dish?

I don’t really have a dish that I cook all the time and that I am personally impressed with, but I think I make great homemade potato wedges! I really enjoy them, but to be honest, they’re pretty simple to make. Being a student living away for the first time, I’m still experimenting…

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Closer’s nutritionist Catherine Matthews says

It’s important that Ellie knows that fruit juice contains a lot of sugar and no matter how much she drinks it will only ever count towards one portion of her five per day. This is mainly because juice contains less fibre than whole fruits and vegetables. Eggs are a source of good quality protein with a wide range of vitamins and minerals, which help keep her feeling fuller for longer and maintain muscular tone. Her breakfast is a great choice for someone who is very active as it’s packed with slow-releasing energy carbohydrates. Ellie can afford to include honey and toffee yoghurts into her daily diet because she is burning off the sugar through exercise.

Rating: 9/10

Sainsbury’s Active Kids helps kids understand the importance of balancing healthy eating with an active lifestyle. Collect vouchers in Sainsbury’s stores until May 20. For more information visit https://activekids.sainsburys-live-well-for-less.co.uk.

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