About Pip Payne and The Slimming Foodie

About Me – The Slimming Foodie

Hi, I’m Pip Payne – a 3x Sunday Times bestselling cookbook author, creator of The Slimming Foodie, and a passionate home cook who believes healthy eating can be delicious, simple, and family-friendly. Welcome to my blog, where you’ll find hundreds of free recipes, fuss-free meal inspiration, and practical tips for cooking at home.

My Journey

I started The Slimming Foodie in 2015 after my two pregnancies, when I wanted to lose weight without losing my love of food. From a young age, I’ve been passionate about cooking – I even made my first recipe book at 9 years old with recipes cut out from my Nana’s magazines (the 1980s version of Pinterest!).

After studying English Literature at Cardiff University and spending 10 years working in London, I returned to Devon to raise my daughters. Balancing work, family, and dinner sparked the idea for The Slimming Foodie – a place to create healthy, easy-to-make recipes that the whole family can enjoy.

Why Choose The Slimming Foodie?

Over 600 tried-and-tested recipes, all personally cooked in my kitchen and enjoyed by my family.
Recipes are budget-friendly, fuss-free, and achievable for home cooks of all skill levels.
Many recipes are family-friendly, with tips for picky eaters and adaptable portion sizes.
My recipes are healthy, often low-calorie, and Slimming World friendly, with options for high-protein, fibre and GLP-1 friendly meals.

My Credentials and Media Work

I have written 7 cookbooks in 6 years, published by Octopus/Hachette, 3 of which were instant Sunday Times bestsellers. I’ve created content for brands including Ninja, Breville, Nando’s, Iceland, AO.com, Arla, and Tefal, and my recipes have featured in The Times, The Telegraph, Woman’s Own, Bella, and Closer.

This experience helps me combine practical, achievable cooking with delicious flavours that work for real-life families.

A Bit About Me

I live on the edge of Dartmoor, Devon, with my husband Darren (a filmmaker), my two daughters, and our dog Lupin. I love experimenting with new recipes and ingredients, long walks on Dartmoor, and enjoying beach days and picnics with my family.

Over the years, I’ve worked a wide range of jobs – from lifeguard, casino waitress and ice-cream van driver to HR professional – and all those experiences feed into my practical approach to cooking and recipe creation.

When I’m not in the kitchen, I love reading, recent novels I’ve loved are Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabriella Zevlin and By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult, as well as childhood favourites like Anne of Green Gables and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials. (These are affiliate links – I may earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.)

My Mission

At The Slimming Foodie, my goal is simple: to help you cook healthy, delicious meals for you and your family, without the faff. Whether you’re looking for quick weeknight dinners, low-calorie family meals, or high-protein, fibre packed recipes, you’ll find ideas here that make cooking enjoyable, easy, and stress-free.

Some of my favourite recipes on the blog:

Slow-cooker chicken tikka masala- I’ve always loved a chicken tikka masala and this one is a complete doddle to make, but tastes great.

Sweet potato onion bhajis– These are so flavoursome and make great snacks as well as a side.

Chicken and chorizo paella- This is just bursting with summery flavours and always makes me feel like I am on holiday!

Korean-style sticky chilli chicken- I just love the flavour of the gochujang in this, and the crispy texture of the chicken- this is my favourite fakeaway at the moment!

Thai carrot and red cabbage salad- this is probably the blog recipe that I make the most frequently, although I mix up the dressing ingredients to suit the occasion. I’ll often make a big dish of this to take along to friends’ barbecues or dinners.

Hummus- I’m also well known amongst my friends for ‘Pip’s dips’ as I always take hummus when I’m going to someone’s house for dinner!

Here are some of my children’s favourite recipes from the blog:

Chilli mac and cheese- This is a brilliant, easy, one-pot family favourite. Leave out the chilli powder if the kids don’t like spice.

Sausage and lentil casserole-wholesome and simple, I make this in big batches so I can freeze small portions for easy quick dinners for the kids.

Pizza sauce- Such a versatile thing to have in the fridge- yes, we use this for homemade pizzas, but we also use it as a pasta sauce and for meals such as pizza topped chicken. If I make a batch I keep a big jar in the fridge and it covers several meals.

One-pan lemony chicken rice- Simple but flavoursome- lemon adds a great zesty flavour to this easy one-pan meal. You can add in whichever green vegetables your kids prefer- mine usually go for green beans or broccoli.

Blueberry and lemon yoghurt loaf cake- This is a nice simple recipe to bake together with kids, and the moist cake with lovely, jammy blueberries is always a hit with my family.

My thoughts on slimming and losing weight- a positive approach

Weight loss is a very personal journey, and there’s no quick fix that is truly sustainable. If you’ve decided to make changes, that is a truly empowering decision. I get frustrated when negativity is directed at people living with obesity – genetics, mental health, stress, time, and budget all play a part, and losing weight is challenging, but absolutely achievable if you focus on what works for you.

This blog started with Slimming World-inspired recipes, and I know many of my readers follow Slimming World to help manage their weight. I firmly believe that long-term success comes from lifestyle changes you can maintain for life, not crash diets. Restrictive diets that leave you constantly hungry set you up to fail. Instead, making small, sustainable adjustments to the way you shop, cook, and eat – whether that’s following Slimming World, using calorie-conscious strategies, or incorporating GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro or Wegovy – can help you reach your goals while still enjoying food. Always follow the guidance of your prescribing doctor or dietitian when using medication or making changes to your diet.

When it comes to eating, I focus on fibre-rich, balanced meals to support digestion, satiety, and overall health, alongside protein to protect muscle mass. By choosing recipes that are high in fibre and nutrients, you can feel fuller for longer and make sustainable changes without feeling deprived.

The key is finding what works for you, your lifestyle, and your health goals, and approaching weight management in a positive, realistic, and sustainable way.

My top tips for successful, long-term weight loss

These are the approaches that have worked for me over the years, both through my own weight-loss journey and through my experience creating recipes inspired by healthier eating plans such as Slimming World. They’re general lifestyle tips rather than medical advice, so if you’re following a specific plan or using weight-loss medication, always follow the guidance of your healthcare professional.

1. Cook from scratch whenever you can

Cooking at home means you’re in control of the ingredients, portion sizes, and cooking methods. If you’re not confident in the kitchen yet, start simple – slow cookers and one-pot meals are a great place to begin. Recipes like my Mexican casserole are designed to be easy starting points.

2. Focus on gradual, realistic changes

Rather than completely overhauling your diet overnight, think about the foods you already enjoy and look for ways to make them lighter or more balanced. For example, if you love pizza, you could try making your own pizza sauce and stirring it through pasta with a little melted cheese on top – it gives you the same flavours in a lighter, more everyday-friendly meal.

3. Find a supportive community

Support can make a huge difference when you’re trying to lose weight and build new habits. Structured programmes and groups such as Slimming World can provide accountability, guidance, and a sense of community, which many people find incredibly helpful. If a formal group isn’t right for you, there are also plenty of supportive spaces online – including The Slimming Foodie Facebook group – where you can share progress, ask questions, and connect with others on a similar journey.

4. Stay active in a way that suits your lifestyle

You don’t need to jump straight into intense workouts. Start with small changes, such as walking when you might normally drive or making sure you build some movement into every day. While diet often has the biggest impact on weight loss, regular activity is important for physical health, mental wellbeing, and maintaining results.

5. Plan ahead and keep helpful foods on hand

Preparation is key to staying on track. I try to keep things like quiche, cold meats, or easy snacks such as grapes in the fridge so that when I’m hungry, I have something ready and I’m less tempted to reach for less satisfying options.

6. Allow room for treats

In my experience, completely cutting out all the foods you love isn’t realistic long-term. I eat out quite rarely, so when I do, I choose what I really want rather than always picking the lowest-calorie option. Occasional treats can be part of a balanced approach and help prevent feelings of restriction.

7. Stay well hydrated

It’s easy to mistake thirst for hunger. Drinking enough water throughout the day can help you better recognise when you’re truly hungry and support your overall health.

8. Reduce temptation where possible

If you know certain foods are hard for you to resist, it can help to limit how often they’re around at home. I love baking with my children, but I’ll often choose recipes like banana bread – which I don’t particularly like – so I can enjoy the baking without being constantly tempted to eat it.

9. Eat more vegetables and fibre-rich foods

Vegetables are naturally low in calories but high in fibre, which helps you feel fuller for longer and supports healthy digestion. I often mix courgetti in with spaghetti or add extra vegetables into sauces so we’re getting more fibre without feeling like we’re eating a completely different meal.

It’s also worth including more beans, lentils and other pulses in your meals. These are not only affordable and versatile, but they’re packed with fibre and can help make dishes more filling and satisfying. You’ll find I use them in lots of my recipes, from chilli and curries to soups and casseroles, as an easy way to boost both nutrition and satiety.

10. Be cautious with ‘low-fat’ labels

Some low-fat products contain added sugar or extra ingredients to improve flavour. I’ve learned over time that it’s always worth checking the label rather than assuming something is the healthier choice just because of a claim on the front of the packaging.

11. Be kind to yourself

Progress isn’t always linear, and everyone’s body responds differently. Just making small, positive changes is something to be proud of, and being patient with yourself makes long-term success much more achievable.

Please note that theslimmingfoodie.com is a personal website and I am not a nutritionist, dietician or health professional of any kind.