Thank You from Beder

AROUND THE TABLE – WITH –STEVEN BARTLETT

REACHING BREAKING POINT

I’ve seen first-hand the impact that stress, burn-out and anxiety can have on friends and colleagues. When I started Social Chain with one of my best friends, the cost of making millions was excruciatingly severe. We were just two young university dropouts in our early twenties, working every single day, every weekend, glued to our phones 24/7. Facing high pressure decisions that would ultimately make or break the business will always take a toll on your headspace and mindset. But amongst all of this, we didn’t actually speak to each other about how we were feeling. It was only after my business partner Dom reached breaking point and some pretty extreme actions were taken that we were forced into a conversation about how we were really feeling.

LOOKING AFTER OTHERS

Since then, I have been so determined to make day-to-day chats about our mental health normal. We introduced free therapy at Social Chain to ensure everyone always had someone to speak to. I now make a point of asking my friends how they’re feeling on a regular basis and asking twice to get the real answer. You never know how much impact a simple check-in text might have on someone’s day.

LOOKING AFTER MYSELF

Working out regularly definitely helps my mental health, so I try to do something physical every day. I write a lot down in my diary, as writing helps relieve my mind after a long day. I also talk now, with my girlfriend, my friends and my colleagues. Our thoughts can be so overwhelmingly loud sometimes and the less we keep bottled up, the better in my opinion.

MY ADVICE TO YOU

Based on personal experience, I would advise anyone to stop avoiding conversations with best friends about how we are all feeling. It’s so important and I avoided the subject completely when I was younger. Looking after your mental health has a positive effect on everything else you do. Your health in all forms must be your priority.

BOMBAY MASALA OMELETTE

PREPARATION TIME: 10-25 MINUTES | COOKING TIME: 5 MINUTES | SERVES 1

INGREDIENTS

2 large eggs 2 spring onions, thinly sliced 1 medium vine tomato, diced ½ red chilli, finely chopped Handful of fresh coriander, roughly chopped (plus extra to serve) ¼ tsp garam masala ¼ tsp cumin Salt and pepper Knob of butter Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk. Add the spring onions, tomato, chilli, coriander and spices. Mix again to make sure everything is well combined and distributed, then season to taste. Heat the butter in a frying pan over a medium heat and pour in the egg mixture. Swirl the pan to cover the base with the mixture and leave to cook for a few minutes. Once the mixture is just set, fold the omelette in half and transfer to a plate. Serve with fresh coriander and sliced red chilli on top, if you like.

METHOD

“It’s not so much the practice of cooking itself that helps my mental health; sitting down and enjoying food with friends and family is what I really love. Getting friends and family together and eating around the table is always where great discussions happen, and you can truly connect with people.

STEVEN BARTLETT (@STEVEN)

CHOCOLATE CHUNK BANANA PANCAKES

PREPARATION TIME: 10-25 MINUTES | COOKING TIME: 10 MINUTES | SERVES 2-3

INGREDIENTS

180g self-raising flour ½ tsp baking powder Pinch of sea salt 1 very ripe banana, mashed 1 large egg 120ml whole milk 50g dark chocolate, roughly chopped Knob of butter

TO SERVE 1 ripe banana, sliced 50g hazelnuts, toasted and chopped Maple syrup, to taste Dark chocolate, roughly chopped Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl. In a jug, whisk the mashed banana, egg and milk together. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the liquid, gently whisking together to create a smooth batter. Add the roughly chopped chocolate and mix again until evenly combined. Melt the knob of butter in a frying pan over a gentle heat. Add a few tablespoons of batter per pancake and cook for about 1 minute 30 seconds or until golden brown, before flipping onto the other side and cooking for the same amount of time. Repeat with the remaining batter while keeping the cooked pancakes warm.

METHOD

TO SERVE Plate up a stack of 3-4 pancakes per person and top with slices of fresh banana, a scattering of chopped toasted hazelnuts, a drizzle of maple syrup and some extra chopped chocolate, if you like.

“Your mental health isn’t something to feel embarrassed about. It isn’t a weakness. It’s learning about who you are and what makes you work. My struggles have taught me more about myself than I could ever imagine. My only regret is not being able to talk about it earlier. I take time for myself now, even if it’s just an hour – it’s amazing what a walk alone with some music can do. Realising how important food is to your health has been vital as well, and I don’t just mean eating vegetables… the naughty food can be just as useful!