What is a healthy diet? Is it following a Banting, paleo, vegetarian or low-fat lifestyle? Or is it one that avoids meat, wheat, sugar or alcohol? With so many conflicting messages in the media, confusion reigns. So the recently opened HealthyFood Studio in Sandton in partnership with Woolworths and the Prue Leith Chefs Academy is hoping to help people find the path of moderation through hands-on cooking classes.story_article_left1The studio is the brainchild of Candice Smith and Katherine Farrell, who respectively head up Discovery Vitality's nutrition strategy and design departments. "The concept is about reigniting people's love of food by getting back in touch with food," said Smith. "If you love something enough you will feel passionate about changing your behaviour." Smith believes this can only happen through teaching practical skills.The classes promote the use of wholegrains, plenty of vegetables in a variety of colours, and lots of pulses. Proteins come in the form of fish and other seafood, chicken, lean meat or eggs. The philosophy is about controlling portion sizes, using salt and salty foods sparingly, and restricting sugar.It was with a little trepidation I attended a "Food for Friends" course, envisaging a diet heavy on wholesomeness but light on taste - maybe too many greens and loads of gaseous Banting-friendly cabbage without any delicious sauces, dressings or drizzles.So it was an eye-opener for me when it turned out to be a refreshing couple of hours of deliciousness. Dishes like grilled calamari with spicy tomato and coriander sambal work excellently with just a tablespoon of oil. story_article_right2A herb-roast beef fillet with a salsa verde was the epitome of yumminess, ticking all the boxes for course attendee Karin Mitchelmore. "I've never cooked a fillet before and expected it to be so difficult. I'm definitely cooking this for my next dinner party," she said.For Charmaine Ndwandwe, the oven-roasted seasonal vegetables were a flavour revelation. "I didn't know what to expect today and thought this course would be boring because it's healthy. But actually it has been very nice."My sentiments too. The aromas filling the state-of-the art kitchen with shiny new KitchenAid mixers and top-of-the-range Whirlpool stoves were enticingly mouthwatering.Chefs from Prue Leith Chef's Academy guide the class and stave off any disasters. "I was freaked out as I haven't cooked this kind of food before," said one attendee, Thuli Mphuthi. "Now I'm dying to try the recipes out at home."..