Peter Ireton, chief executive of Bóthar
Do you think you have a healthy lifestyle?
I’m very careful about my diet and exercise. I’ve been food combining for about 20 years now – that means not having proteins or carbs at the same meal and only eating them about three or four hours apart.
For example, I wouldn’t have fish or cheese with potatoes, pasta or rice. It really, really works and it’s just natural to me now. I’d feel funny having meat and potatoes together.
How often do you exercise?
I walk 50km a week and I do about 15 minutes of push-ups and squats each morning. I live very near the University of Limerick and there are great walks along the riverbank, both on the Limerick and Clare sides. My house is about 15 minutes from the river and I go straight after work.
Do you get your five a day?
Without question. I always have done. I’d eat a minimum of an apple, a banana and an orange every day. For lunch, I’d have a vegetable salad with no carbs.
Do you worry?
Constantly, about everything. It’s principally work related: getting things done, trying to keep everybody happy, focused and working together.
We work in 35 countries and they all have their own idiosyncrasies I can tell you. Nothing ever runs smoothly.
I always keep a pen and pad beside the bed, in the car and beside the shower to write down thoughts, worries, ideas and reminders.
What do you do to relax?
I cook; I’ll have a go at anything. I don’t follow recipes, I just look at the ingredients I have and fire away.
Walking relaxes me too. I nearly always walk alone but some weekends I’ll organise a group walking trip of about 30km and we’ll take a picnic.
What’s your unhealthiest habit?
I drink between two and four glasses of wine every day.
Some might consider it a virtue, others a vice.
