Soups

Soup is a great way to lose weight - it's low in calories, the water content gives you that full feeling, and it can be an easy and effective way of consuming more veg. Just make sure that soup is not all you eat. If weight loss is your goal, every good personal trainer will advise you to consume enough complex carbs to fuel the workouts you'll be doing as part of your fat loss regime, and enough protein to build the muscle that will raise your metabolism and burn fat even faster.

One of my personal training clients in London used to eat high fat sandwiches for lunch at the office, followed by a packed of crisps. Now she lunches on healthy low-fat soups (thanks to the office kitchen microwave), followed by a low fat yoghurt and a piece of fruit. If your office kitchen doesn't have a microwave, ask for one!

Chilled Gazpacho

Makes 4 servings. To be prepared cold and eaten cold. Keep remainder in fridge (well sealed with clingfilm) but eat within 48 hours.

1 cucumber, chopped into small cubes
1 celery stick, chopped into small cubes
1 red onion, finely chopped
1 red pepper, seeded and chopped into small cubes
1 fresh red chilli, seeded and chopped finely (take care to wash hands straight after chopping the chilli)
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tin chopped tomatoes
8 leaves of basil, torn into small pieces

You can puree half the mixture and mix with the other half, or puree the whole lot, depending on preferred consistency. Likewise, add cold water to the soup to thin it to preferred thickness.

Either chill overnight in fridge (covered in clingfilm) or to eat immediately, serve with less water but several icecubes to chill it rapidly. Makes a perfect soup on a hot summer's day.

Eat with wholemeal toast, rubbed on one side with half a tomato and half a clove of garlic.

Nutrition notes-

Garlic is classed as a superfood, for its antibiotic and antifungal effects. It's also good for the blood.

If you want a personal trainer in London to assess your eating habits and prescribe for you a healthy eating plan, look no further!

For weight loss tips, see my weight loss blog.