Orchard Training Cookery Club (part 3 of) "Nobody is eating the salad!"

We issued a challenge, and this is how Anna and the team at the gym responded and delivered.:

Response from the Gym Team at Eclipse Leisure Centre (Staines)

We’ve loved reading both parts of the “Nobody is Choosing the Salad” blog series, it sparked a real buzz in the gym! A huge shout-out to the students in the Orchard Training Cookery Club for leading the way and showing just how exciting and satisfying a salad can be. We were impressed by the creativity and the shared sense of discovery.

But we also heard the not-so-subtle challenge in Part 2… and we took it personally (in the best way)!

After reading the blogs, we decided it was time to not just talk about healthy eating with our members but lead by example. Inspired by the colourful combinations and honest reflections in the original posts, we rolled up our sleeves and started creating some power-packed salads of our own.

We experimented with:

• Protein-packed bowls featuring grilled chicken, tuna, chickpeas, lentils, and tofu.

• Complex carbs like sweet potato, quinoa and wild rice to keep us going through long shifts and training sessions.

• Healthy fats from avocado, nuts, seeds, and homemade dressings.

• Fresh, bold flavours with herbs, spices, citrus, and plenty of crunch.

  
  

What started as a bit of friendly food banter turned into something more meaningful. We’ve genuinely found ourselves rethinking our eating habits, not just for appearance or performance, but for how good it feels to fuel our bodies properly. The original blog made us realise that we can sometimes fall into the trap of routine and convenience, even in the fitness industry.

By stepping up to the challenge, we’ve sparked new conversations among ourselves and with our members. It’s made nutrition more approachable, more fun, and more personal.

So thank you, to the members of the Cookery Club and to Orchard Training, for nudging us (okay, calling us out!) and reminding us that salads aren’t boring, they’re a blank canvas.

This challenge has brought a fresh energy into our team, and we’re here for it.

I was truly impressed to discover that I wasn't the only one "eating the salad." I am extremely proud of all of you for making such a fantastic effort to eat healthily. Anna and the team at the gym are right; sometimes we fall into routines and choose convenience over healthy meals. Next time, we'll focus on burgers: as mentioned in part 1 of "Nobody is eating the salads", it was suggested that people weren't eating salad because burgers were more affordable. While they may be cheap, they aren't necessarily healthy. In September, we'll explore how to make homemade burgers that are both more affordable, healthier and more convenient than those from our favourite burger joints.