The key to a flat stomach is combining workouts with a healthy diet. Try this 5-day plan to kick start your journey to fab abs
How much attention do you pay to what you eat every day? A poor diet can sabotage your efforts in the gym - harness the following strategies and follow our eating plan for five days to fast-track to a flatter, healthier tummy.
- Eat three meals a day, evenly spaced. Be especially careful not to overeat at night, as the food can sit in your stomach and ferment, causing gas and bloating.
- Watch your portion size as large meals can also lead to fermentation, gas and bloating. Serve your meals on a side plate to regulate portions.
- Eat fruit for breakfast only, not as a dessert with meals later in the day to avoid fermentation.
- Sit down, eat slowly and really chew your food to improve digestion.
- Avoid fizzy drinks, including sparkling water. Drink still water with meals and avoid caffeine, which could interrupt digestion.
Go pro: You can get a dose of friendly flora from sauerkraut, yoghurt, tempeh and miso.
Get prepped: Eat wholegrains, berries, apples, broccoli, cauliflower and high-fibre beans such as lentils and chickpeas for a prebiotic boost
Your beat the bloat menu:
DAY 1
Breakfast
Fruity yoghurt crunch
In a tall glass, layer spoonfuls of probiotic yoghurt, sliced watermelon and blueberries and sunflower and flaked almonds. Drizzle with raw honey.
Fruity yoghurt crunch
In a tall glass, layer spoonfuls of probiotic yoghurt, sliced watermelon and blueberries and sunflower and flaked almonds. Drizzle with raw honey.
LunchSmoked salmon sandwich on rye
Spread 2 thin slices of rye bread with mustard, add 2 slices of smoked salmon, a handful of fresh rocket and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Spread 2 thin slices of rye bread with mustard, add 2 slices of smoked salmon, a handful of fresh rocket and a squeeze of lemon juice.
DinnerFig and feta tart
Make a ‘pastry’ by mixing together 25g grated carrot, ½ tablespoon of chickpea flour, 10g grated parmesan cheese, 1 egg and a pinch of paprika. Press into a baking tin and bake for 20 minutes until crisp. Top with 1 slice prosciutto, 1 fig, quartered, 10g crumbled feta cheese and a little salt and pepper. Bake again for 20 minutes and serve with steamed broccoli.
Make a ‘pastry’ by mixing together 25g grated carrot, ½ tablespoon of chickpea flour, 10g grated parmesan cheese, 1 egg and a pinch of paprika. Press into a baking tin and bake for 20 minutes until crisp. Top with 1 slice prosciutto, 1 fig, quartered, 10g crumbled feta cheese and a little salt and pepper. Bake again for 20 minutes and serve with steamed broccoli.
DAY 2
Breakfast
Shredded Wheat with banana
1 Shredded Wheat with 120ml skimmed milk, topped with 1 tablespoon of probiotic yoghurt, 1 sliced banana and a drizzle of raw honey.
Shredded Wheat with banana
1 Shredded Wheat with 120ml skimmed milk, topped with 1 tablespoon of probiotic yoghurt, 1 sliced banana and a drizzle of raw honey.
LunchBrown rice sushi
Mix together 75g cooked warm brown sushi rice with 20ml rice vinegar and ½ tablespoon of Xylitol sweetener. Place on a sheet of nori seaweed and top with slices of red pepper and avocado. Roll up and serve with soya sauce.
Mix together 75g cooked warm brown sushi rice with 20ml rice vinegar and ½ tablespoon of Xylitol sweetener. Place on a sheet of nori seaweed and top with slices of red pepper and avocado. Roll up and serve with soya sauce.
DinnerBaked sweet potato with baked beans
Top 1 medium baked sweet potato with 1 small pot or can of low-sugar baked beans and 1 tablespoon of probiotic yoghurt.
Top 1 medium baked sweet potato with 1 small pot or can of low-sugar baked beans and 1 tablespoon of probiotic yoghurt.
DAY 3
BreakfastQuinoa porridge
Simmer 50g quinoa and 150ml skimmed milk in a saucepan for 5-10 minutes until soft. Add ½ apple, peeled, cored and grated, 10g flame raisins, a pinch of cinnamon and a drizzle of raw honey.
Simmer 50g quinoa and 150ml skimmed milk in a saucepan for 5-10 minutes until soft. Add ½ apple, peeled, cored and grated, 10g flame raisins, a pinch of cinnamon and a drizzle of raw honey.
LunchMoroccan chickpea balls with beetroot dip
Soften ¼ chopped onion and ½ garlic clove in a saucepan. Put in a food processor with 100g tinned, drained chickpeas, 20g wholemeal breadcrumbs, 1 beaten egg, salt and pepper. Process to form a dough. Roll into balls and fry in a non-stick saucepan for 8-10 minutes. Serve with 100g probiotic yoghurt mixed with 100g cooked, chopped beetroot.
Soften ¼ chopped onion and ½ garlic clove in a saucepan. Put in a food processor with 100g tinned, drained chickpeas, 20g wholemeal breadcrumbs, 1 beaten egg, salt and pepper. Process to form a dough. Roll into balls and fry in a non-stick saucepan for 8-10 minutes. Serve with 100g probiotic yoghurt mixed with 100g cooked, chopped beetroot.
DinnerGlazed vegetables with feta cheese
On a baking sheet, arrange a selection of sliced carrots, courgettes, vine tomatoes and red onion. Season, drizzle with 2 tablespoons of raw honey and add 50g crumbled feta. Bake for 30-50 minutes until veggies are soft.
On a baking sheet, arrange a selection of sliced carrots, courgettes, vine tomatoes and red onion. Season, drizzle with 2 tablespoons of raw honey and add 50g crumbled feta. Bake for 30-50 minutes until veggies are soft.
DAY 4
BreakfastYoghurt with kiwi and berries
Top 1 small tub of probiotic yoghurt with ½ sliced kiwi fruit and a handful of mixed berries. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of raw honey.
Top 1 small tub of probiotic yoghurt with ½ sliced kiwi fruit and a handful of mixed berries. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of raw honey.
LunchBroad bean soup
Soften ½ chopped onion and ½ chopped celery stick in a little extra virgin olive oil in a saucepan. Add 250ml veggie stock, 25g brown rice, 100g frozen broad beans, a sprig of thyme, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes until the rice is cooked. Top with chopped mint.
Soften ½ chopped onion and ½ chopped celery stick in a little extra virgin olive oil in a saucepan. Add 250ml veggie stock, 25g brown rice, 100g frozen broad beans, a sprig of thyme, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes until the rice is cooked. Top with chopped mint.
DinnerJapanese tuna parcels with wilted greens
Place a 150g tuna fillet in the centre of a piece of baking paper. Top with 1 teaspoon of grated, chopped spring onion and ½ chopped celery stick. Make a dressing with soya sauce and a dash of dry sherry. Drizzle over the fish, top with sesame seeds and fold the baking paper into a parcel. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Serve with brown rice or quinoa.
Place a 150g tuna fillet in the centre of a piece of baking paper. Top with 1 teaspoon of grated, chopped spring onion and ½ chopped celery stick. Make a dressing with soya sauce and a dash of dry sherry. Drizzle over the fish, top with sesame seeds and fold the baking paper into a parcel. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Serve with brown rice or quinoa.
DAY 5
BreakfastCoconut French toast with warm berry compote
Mix together 1 egg and 15ml skimmed milk. Dip 1 slice of wholemeal bread into the mix and sprinkle with shredded coconut. Fry until golden in a pan spritzed with olive oil cooking spray. Warm 50g mixed berries in a saucepan and serve with the toast.
Mix together 1 egg and 15ml skimmed milk. Dip 1 slice of wholemeal bread into the mix and sprinkle with shredded coconut. Fry until golden in a pan spritzed with olive oil cooking spray. Warm 50g mixed berries in a saucepan and serve with the toast.
LunchLentil soup with wholemeal roll
Heat ½ carton of store-bought lentil soup and serve with 1 small wholemeal roll.
Heat ½ carton of store-bought lentil soup and serve with 1 small wholemeal roll.
DinnerCourgette tagliatelle
Soften ¼ sliced red pepper, 40g frozen peas and ¼ sliced fennel bulb in a saucepan. Add 40ml white wine and simmer for 5 minutes. Using a vegetable peeler, slice 1 courgette into ribbons. Boil in salted water for 2 minutes, drain and add to the veggies. Top with chopped parsley and pine nuts.
Soften ¼ sliced red pepper, 40g frozen peas and ¼ sliced fennel bulb in a saucepan. Add 40ml white wine and simmer for 5 minutes. Using a vegetable peeler, slice 1 courgette into ribbons. Boil in salted water for 2 minutes, drain and add to the veggies. Top with chopped parsley and pine nuts.
These recipes are from Lowri Turner’s book The S Factor Diet: The Happiest Way To Lose Weight. To order your copy, go to thesfactordiet.com.
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