There’s still time to go on a healthy diet before all the overindulgence of the Festive Period.
It’s going to get tough out there! Belts will need to be loosened !
I’m not one for dieting before the summer holidays. I reckon once you’re on the beach there’s always someone who looks worse then you in a bikini. Semi nudity is a great leveller.
No, it’s the slick, coiffed party goers that are the real threat. Those friends and colleagues who scrub up well and miraculously transform from the office mouse into the drop dead gorgeous show stopper are the ones who dent my confidence.
So let do it. A five day healthy diet which will generally make us feel good, trim and ready for the off.
BEST START BREAKFAST
Serves 2
4 slices sour dough bread
2 ripe avocadoes, at room temperature
50g unsalted butter, room temperature
3-4 large tomatoes
Grated zest and a squeeze of lime
Good handful finely chopped coriander
Sea salt and black pepper
4 poached eggs
First prepare the eggs:
It takes a bit of practice to learn to poach a perfect egg. The good thing is you can poach them ahead of time and, when ready to eat simply re-heat them for 30 seconds in simmering water. That way, you can get up bleary eyed in the morning and enjoy your favourite breakfast with no hassle.
4 large free- range eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
Choose a wide, shallow, pan.
Fill it with water. Add the salt and vinegar.
Bring to a barely bubbling simmer
Break each egg into a cup and gently slip into the water.
Cook for 3 to 5 minutes until the white is set and the yolk has filmed over, spooning the water over the yolk to help the process.
Remove the eggs with a slotted spoon.
If you want to keep them for later, you can dry them on kitchen paper and store in a sealed box in the fridge for up to a day. if you want to pretend you are in MasterChef us scissors to cut away and strands of egg white leaving the perfect poached egg to re-heat when you want.
TO MAKE THE TOASTS:
Scoop out the avocado and pop the flesh into a blender.
Add the butter, a pinch of salt and a good squeeze of lime juice.
Add the chopped coriander and blizz until combined, leaving the mix quite chunky.
Check seasoning .
Toast the bread.
Pile the avocado onto the toast .
Slice the tomatoes, season well and arrange on the avocado.
Finally, add the warmed poached eggs on top.
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