Out with the old, in with the new

So, here's what Jo ate before deciding to sort her eating out once and for all!

Breakfast - a starbucks cappucino, a couple of pieces of fruit
Mid morning - an apple and an orange
Lunch - nothing
Afternoon - 2 coffees and a tea, another piece of fruit
Dinner - If out, couple of glasses of wine, crisps and some sweets when get home (as starving!)

Ruth says 'Jo's diet was very high in fruit (as she is trying to lose weight and thinks this is a healthy option). Fruit is healthy, but it's also high in sugar, and as she's eating a lot of it, it's making her blood sugar levels soar and then fall quickly. Jo often skipped lunch as she was too busy, or because there were no healthy meals available at work. In the evenings, if Jo went out, she would probably not have dinner and then be starving by the time she got in so would eat crisps and sweets.

Jo was gaining weight, bloated and lacking energy despite working out almost every day. Her digestion was sluggish and her skin was suffering. She was also constantly hungry and missing out on the enjoyment of eating out.'

The new no-sugar plan!


Breakfast - porridge with skimmed or soya milk, 1 tbsp linseed and a small handful of almonds, OR 1 poached/boiled egg with wholegrain or rye toast and mushrooms, OR 4 tbsp natural yogurt with berries and 1 tbsp linseed.


Mid-morning snack - 2 oatcakes and 2 babybel light, OR 1 green apple and 6 almonds, or veggie crudites with low-fat hummus


Lunch - any salad with protein (fish, chicken, mackerel, egg, feta/goats cheese) + skinny popcorn, OR bean/lentil based soup with 2 oatcakes or ryvita, OR small sweet potato with fish/chicken and salad OR Innocent Veg pot


Dinner - Homemade veggie curry or chilli with 1-2 tbsp brown rice OR halloumi and veg kebabs with salad OR roast chicken and roast veggies, OR pesto salmon with brown rice or wholemeal pasta, OR prawn/chicken stir-fry with 1-2 tbsp egg or buckwheat noodles.


Desserts - If Jo fancies something sweet, she can have natural yogurt with agave syrup (a low GI syrup, much better than honey or golden syrup!), a couple of squares of dark choc (but have a couple of almonds or brazil nuts with it to counterbalance the sugar).


Caffeine is limited to 2 max per day and diet coke is a no-no.


Within 2 weeks, I guarantee, the sugar cravings will disappear, she'll feel less bloated and her appetite will be regulated. Let's see how she gets on...

This is Jo

Jo has decided enough is enough and wants to quit her sugar habit for good. Follow her ups, downs and see if she can kick the habit for life here.

Sugar diaries

Find out how self-confessed sugar addict Jo gets on when put on a no-sugar food plan. Follow her progress here and see whether she'll manage to change her eating habits for life. Keep tuned in...