Five foods to kick-start your Monday diet RIGHT NOW
So once again it’s Monday – the ultimate day of good intentions and solid aspirations to change for the better.
But it you feel like you need a serious kick up the bum when it comes to your diet (especially if your weekend meals consisted of chipper, Eddies, pizza and noodles), there are a few simple steps that can make a real difference.
For one, it’s time to stock up on the following:
Fillet steak: Good quality beef – of which this country is awash – is great for giving you a dose of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a compound that studies have shown help to whittle your core. (PS for the more adventurous, kangaroo meat is also high in CLA).
Coconut flakes: So long as they’re unsweetened (check the label) they're loaded with medium-chain triglycerides that are burned as energy rather than stored like other fats. Hurrah!
Spinach: Studies have shown that a spinach-packed juice every morning can really help you shed weight. The reason? Thylakoids – which are found in abundance in leafy greens such as spinach. They help you to keep you full AND burn fat. Double-win.
Barley: Great for when you need a carb-hit but want to stay away from an entire loaf of Brennan’s batch bread. Barley just doesn’t get the praise it deserves, in fact. Stick it in a soup or casserole, or cook it on its own as an alternative to rice.
Cherries: We all know that staying up late is bad news for your waist-line – so get a really good night’s sleep by snacking on cherries. They’re a natural source of the sleep hormone melatonin – something which helps to regulate your hunger.
And if you're looking to lose weight fast, don’t forget about these gems either:
- Yogurt
- Tomato
- Balsamic vinegar
- Honey
- Almond butter
- Cinnamon
- Garlic
- Lime
- Coriander
- Dark chocolate
PLUS! Two easy-peasy sweet treats to try…
Crunchy energy bites
Mix together 3 tbsp honey, 175g uncooked barley, 50g chopped cherries, 4 tbsp almond butter, and 1/2 tsp of cinnamon.
Roll into eight circles (like a biscuit), and place on parchment paper.
Then refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, before serving.
Keep in a lunch box until you want more.
Chocolate-covered cherries
Break 30g of good-quality dark chocolate into a heatproof bowl.
Microwave for 15seconds before removing and stirring. Pop back in for ten seconds if required, and repeat until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
Then dip four/six whole cherries in the chocolate to coat.
Place on a plate and sprinkle with one generous tsp of coconut flakes.
Eat immediately!
