Thomasina Miers has been criticized for her 'out of touch' and 'middle-class' advice on making porridge on a budget.
The Wahaca co-founder appeared on BBC Radio 4's Today show with broadcasters Emma Barnett and Amol Rajan. During the interview, she was asked about making oats 'cheaper' and 'more efficient'.
"The one I made this morning has a large pinch of sea salt, a large teaspoon of tahini, gives a bit of added calcium, lovely nutty flavour, I put a banana in it for the girls, a lovely bit of sweetness, delicious," Thomasina replied.
She listed ingredients like 'sea salt', 'date molasses', 'toasted sesame seeds', and 'tahini'. The clip gained attention after people criticized her comments as out of touch.
"Poor people should just have more money and imagination, like me," commented one person.
"But doesn't everyone shop at Waitrose for those essentials like molasses and tahini?" another added sarcastically.
Thomasina has become a successful celebrity chef over the years. She writes a recipe column for the Guardian and hosts TV shows such as Mexican Food Made Simple. In 2019, she received an OBE for her contribution to the food industry.
Writing in the Guardian last year, Thomasina called on people to eat less meat to help the environment. She supports small-scale farming practices due to their potential benefits for human and environmental health.
Cows contribute significantly to climate change by producing around 14% of carbon emissions from human activity worldwide. Ministers are considering requiring farmers to use additives that reduce gas emissions in efforts aligned with Britain's commitment to reducing methane emissions by 2030.
Wahaca aims to be environmentally conscious by removing red meat items from its menu. It found dishes like chargrilled steak burritos had high carbon footprints. Despite this shift towards vegetarian options, two beef dishes will remain available at Wahaca locations.