Eating cleaner to get leaner

You may have heard the saying, "great abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym". While exercise will certainly keep your metabolism ticking over, if you want to make real changes to your womanly physique, it all comes down to what you eat. In fact, much research suggests that least 80% of fat loss comes from nutritional change!

In winter of course, the last thing we all feel like doing is tucking into a cold salad. We just love those winter comfort foods that leave us with a bit of fire in our bellies. The good news is that eating for fat loss or good health doesn't have to be all about salads. You can incorporate lean cuts of meat with seasonal vegetables to make really yummy casseroles, curries, soups and stews.

Still need more help? Here's my top five tips for hearty winter cooking while cutting the fat:

1. Cut the fat. Most basic casserole and soup recipes start with 1-2 tablespoons of oil. Just use a non-stick pan and reduce the fat to just a teaspoon or less!
2. Sweat it. While softening onions and other vegies, cook them on a low heat, covered with a tight-fitting lid. This is called 'sweating' and allows the moisture in the vegies to create steam, which helps soften them without the fat. If the pan dries out, just add water instead of oil.
3. Add more vegies to the mix. Extra vegies add volume to a meal which will not only make your plate look fuller, but also fill your stomach with slow-digesting fibre.
4. Go for tomato-based sauces. When choosing curries and casseroles, use recipes which use a base of either stock or tomato, rather than cream or coconut.
5. Add beans to soups and casseroles. Beans are a great source of slow-burning energy, plus they're so cheap. They're also fantastic for thickening soups and casseroles. Add them early in the cooking process to break down and thicken the sauce.

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