D is not for deprivation

One of the biggest downfalls to any diet is people thinking they've got to stay in and can't ever go out because they're not allowed to eat. It's not true. You could go and eat out every night of the week if you wanted just as long as you choose right.
Obviously, yes, you have to have the will power to say no to bread and oil, desserts and a bottle of wine but is that really such a hardship compared to thinking you've got to sit in front of the TV?
In Brighton & Hove there are so many options of where to eat but the same is true of anywhere. At The Chilli Pickle, an Indian restaurant in Meeting House Lane, choose Tandoori Fish with a pomegranate and onion salad for instance. And that's an Indian restaurant somewhere that most people think they can't possibly eat.
Let me know where else you think is good...my list includes
The Ginger Pig on Sackville road - just ask them to serve the fish with a salad and grilled with no sauce for instance.
The Giggling Squid, a new Thai on Church Road. Opt for the fresh chilli fish salads
Murasaki, sushi in Seven Dials (go for sashimi)
it's a life that you're living so forget the whole, 'I'm living on a leaf' mentality.

Gilthead Bream with leafy quinoa salad

Forget the supermarkets - and get down to your fishmongers for the best fish. I'm lucky as a live in Hove on the South Coast, home to a great fishmongers, Fish who supply a lot of the restaurant trade. I nip down there and buy a bunch and stuff and freeze it for the week. No more grey looking limp fish from the supermarkets for me.

Ingredients
Gilthead bream filet seasoned with salt and pepper and lemon juice
quinoa
celery
Watercress
1 tsp of sultanas
1 tsp of pumpkin seeds

Place a 5p piece of olive oil in the centre of the pan and heat - as it heats it up you'll notice that it begins to spread so you don't need lots of oil. Now turn the heat down and place the fish skin side down on the oily patch and squeeze liberally with the juice of one lemon. The fish will cook in this juice but make sure it's not on too hot or it will burn.
One the fish has become to turn creamy white, flip over on to the other side keeping heat low. The whole thing should only take around 10mins if that.
meanwhile, cover the quinoa in water and boil, turning down to simmer. cook for 15mins or until cooked. Wait until cool and then mix with the sultans, pumpkin seeds and chopped celery. add the watercress and dress with pink grapefruit juice or any other citrus fruit you have to hand (er, except lime - use your common sense!)
Delicious and only around 400 calories, with 26g protein, 24g of carbs and 12g of good essential fats.

Smoked haddock and lentils

I hate to say it, but as the rain starts to put in an appearance with ever more frequency there's no denying that the seasons are on the change. As we slip into autumn it's all too easy to let the diet slide as the nights get colder and you start thinking of comfort food. But wintry food doesn't have to mean a plateful of mashed potato and cheese.
Think meaty stews or light Thai style broths - or try fish with a warm salad like this smoked haddock on leek, chilli and lentil salad.
Ingredients
1/2 leek sliced
5 asparagus spears chopped
1/2 birds eye chilli thinly sliced
clove of garlic
Puy lentils
2 tbsp of low fat yoghurt
fillet of smoked haddock
Saute the chopped leeks, garlic and chilli in a little vegetable stock of a tiny amount of olive oil. Add the Puy lentils, cover with water and simmer until almost cooked. (if it needs more water top it up). Then add the yoghurt, a bit more water and the fish.
Cover the fish with the lentils and simmer gently until the fish poaches in the lentil juice. Add the asparagus with a few minutes to go. Then serve with chopped coriander, mint or any other herb of your choice.