Has the diet died?

Fuelled by social media, the recent mega-trend for eating healthily and mindfully begs the question, has the diet the died? Finally?

Fad diets are full of empty promises. Sure you’ll probably shed a few pounds but weeks later you’ll have piled the weight back on again, along with a few extra wobbles. Faddy eating regimes will only sabotage weight-loss in the long run, so if you want to fit into your favourite pair of jeans or hone a bikini body in time for summer, a long-haul healthy meal plan is the best way to achieve results. ‘Diets don’t offer a sustainable solution,’ says nutritionist Laura Bond (laura-bond.com). ‘The average person gains 11 pounds for every diet they try. The reason the weight creeps back on is usually a combination of behavioural and biological factors: dieting can lead to binge eating (fuelled by an all-consuming focus on those ‘forbidden’ foods), and can also mess with the hormones that regulate hunger and metabolism.’

Junk food has had its day
The good news is that healthy eating seems to be catching on, with more of us filling our shopping trolleys with nutritious fare over trans-fat-packed junk food. ‘The wellness industry has exploded in the UK and this has been partly fuelled by social media,’ says Laura. ‘Instagram and Pinterest both launched in 2010, helping to increase our appetite for healthy food. We’ve also witnessed the ubiquity of juice bars in the capital, the availability of non-dairy milks at high-street cafes and coconut oil and quinoa becoming storecupboard staples.’

Following a healthy diet doesn’t have to break the bank either. There are plenty of ways to save money on your grocery bill, from shopping at local markets and eating in-season produce to buying nutritious ingredients in bulk. Cooking at home is better for your waistline so it’s definitely worth the effort. ‘I believe the energetics of food – whether it’s wild and organic or made by a machine – shape the way we think and feel,’ says Laura. ‘So I recommend eating nourishing, organic foods free from pesticides and hormones, such as grass-fed beef, wild and sustainable fish, raw nuts and seeds, and organic fruits and vegetables.’ Here are our top five stay-slim tricks.

Laura’s no-diet slimming tips

1 Beat sugar cravings 
Try a tablespoon of coconut oil when cravings hit, as it helps to take the edge off a sweet tooth.

2 Make extra portions at dinner
This way you have homemade healthy lunches the next day at work, and you’ll save money in the long run, too.

3 Eat mindfully 
Think: are you really hungry or are you angry? Would a walk outside, or venting on the phone to your sister, serve you better than a blueberry muffin?

4 Cut down on dairy
This is one of the most effective ways to lose weight around the middle – and keep it off. Swap cow’s milk for almond or oat milk in your morning cereal and make your own cream by whipping coconut milk until it’s thick and fluffy.

5 Overcome hunger
Make sure you fuel your body with quality proteins and healthy fats at meal times to avoid snacking in between – two boiled eggs are hard to beat for this.