-Fruit and Vegetables. Alternate between raw and cooked, to stock yourself back up with a variety of vitamins and minerals to help it to recover. Low in calories, they will kickstart your system, aid digestion and fill you up. At the start of the year more than ever, eat five to 10 portions (100g) of fruit and veg a day. Think of different ways in which you can sneak them into your day, like making soup, fresh juice, salads and exotic fruit to get away from the usual apples and oranges. There aer so many ways to eat fruit and vegetables without even realising!
-Slow-Release Sugars. Complex carbohydrates release energy into the blood slowly throughout the day, so choose wholemeal bread and pasta, brown rice, potatoes, pulses and beans to keep your energy level up. To stop the need for snacking and fight winter cold and tiredness, eat hearty meals. Wholemeal toast, porridge or sugar-free cereal in the mornings, lean meat in your sandwiches at lunchtime and steamed potatos with your dinner. Keep an eye on quantities though, no more than 100-200g at a time, otherwise you'll undo all the good you've done with your detox.
-Lean Protein. Not only is lean protein a geat weight-loss choice, it also nourishes your muscles and keeps you feeling full. Lean poultry, most fish, skimmed dairy products and eggs all count. Work them into your daily diet, in porttions of around 150-200g, or two eggs. Grill, steam, or bake in foil to seal in nutrients and lower fat intake.
-Essential Fatty Acids. Especially at this time of year, your body needs certain 'good' fats to fight the cold and keep your spirits up. Just don't get carried away, as 1g of fat contains 9 calories. Choose olive and nuts oils, and oily fish like mckerel over red meat for fat.