GLAMOROUS chef Sophie Michell claims to know how we all feel when faced with plates of delicious food at summer parties.

"Tempted and unable to resist just about sums it up," the blonde chef says with a smile.

"All those resolutions to not have this that or the other seem to melt away, don't they?"

While 25-year-old Sophie appears enviably slim, she has previously battled with weight problems and ME (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). Her choice of career wasn't much help either.

"I've always loved food, I became a chef so that I could eat more but a few years ago I found myself gaining weight," she explains.

"As much as I told myself never to trust a skinny chef, I wasn't looking or feeling great and was spending too much time in doctors' surgeries.

"After getting lots of advice and ignoring diet and health books that seemed to be based on deprivation, I adapted my own balanced way of eating."

Sophie says that her health problems helped inspired her to create dishes that indulge the senses, but not the waistline, for her new book Fabulous Food: Sexy Recipes For Healthy Living.

"Diet is still a swear word to me but I now know how to create gorgeous food by eliminating certain ingredients that don't agree with me," she says.

And from looking at her, these recipes seem to have worked - Sophie is a great advertisement for her new book.

Sophie Michell, who is also a presenter on Channel 4's Cook Yourself Thin, started her professional career cooking at the age of 14. She's worked in top London restaurants and has also been a private chef and nutritionist to a top supermodel, but says she wants to "help everyone become a glamorous gourmet, whatever the occasion".

"Today's women try to do everything, from juggling a pressured job to running a home, not to mention being a doting girlfriend, mother, wife or feisty singleton.

Not only that, we're meant to squeeze into the latest fashion in size minus-one - well it doesn't exist yet - but give it time!"

So to help the modern woman, and offer some culinary tips to the modern man, Sophie has divided her book into sections catering for every occasion from Aphrodisiac Dinners and Sexy Breakfasts through to Comfort Food.

And to celebrate the launch of her book she has shared two delicious recipes with us, to give us a taste of what we can expect.