Drop a dress size eating chips

20th December 2007

Yes you are reading this right! Make healthy eating your new year's resolution, but still eat chips. Jo Drake is proof that it works, she dropped an incredible 11lbs in six weeks on the 'chip lovers diet' and still enjoyed chips three to four times a week. Not only is Jo now delighted with her sleeker figure, just in time for the Christmas party season, but she feels fitter than ever thanks to six weeks of healthy eating, following the 'chip lover's diet'.

“I got married earlier this year a slim size 12”, said Jo. “Shifting the weight had been a nightmare but it felt so good standing at the bottom of the aisle looking gorgeous. My problem with diets is that they are so restrictive and I just love my carbs, especially chips! The wedding was the incentive I needed though and having got from a size 18 to a size 12, I vowed to try and keep my weight in check, but it didn't last long. I slowly started sliding towards a size 16 and the real wake up call was stepping on the scales at 85 kilos.”

What Jo really needed was a more realistic approach to weight loss. Something that would fit in with her hectic lifestyle and didn't involve sacrificing her favourite foods, especially chips. The 'chip lover's diet' offered the perfect solution and when nutritionist, Juliette Kellow, put together the plan for Jo, she was delighted.

“The basic principle is to follow a healthy balanced diet”, said Jo. “Chips still feature in a number of the evening meal options and can be enjoyed three to four times each week. I just had to swap my usual choice of fried chip shop chips for low fat oven chips. McCain Rustic Oven Chips were my substitute and unlike other 'diet' products, which taste nothing like their full fat alternatives, McCain Rustic Oven Chips taste like the real thing. Oven chips are quick and easy to prepare so suit my hectic lifestyle and the overall diet plan was easy to follow, varied and not restrictive. Losing my 11lbs in six weeks really didn't feel that hard and I am now a full convert to low fat oven chips.”

Nutritionist Juliette Kellow is responsible for developing the 'chip lover's diet'. Commenting, Juliette said, “Why not start 2008 the way you mean to continue, feeling healthy, slim and fabulous? The key is to establish a healthy balanced diet that includes a wide variety of food. And, you don't need to deprive yourself of the treats you enjoy either. Just choose healthier options where they are available, make sure you include them as part of an overall balanced diet and follow some basic principles.The key word is 'balance' and this healthy eating plan is easy to follow and well balanced.”

The basic principles are to follow a balanced diet that is:

  • rich in starchy carbohydrates, such as oven chips, potatoes, wholegrain bread, high-fibre breakfast cereals, oats and wholewheat pasta in every meal. Opting for higher-fibre carbohydrates will help to keep you fuller for longer so you don't have the constant munchies.
  • high in protein-rich foods like lean red meat, skinless chicken, fish, eggs and low-fat dairy products. There's good evidence that protein-rich foods can help to keep you fuller for longer so it's important to eat these foods regularly
  • low in fats, especially saturates (animal fats that are linked with heart disease). But it still includes heart-healthy monounsaturates, like olive oil
  • packed with fruit and vegetables which are low in fat and calories but high in fibre, vitamins and minerals. Health experts recommend eating 5 servings of different fruit and veg each day
  • packed with calcium-rich foods like low-fat dairy products, oily fish and pulses  to help keep bones strong
  • packed with iron-rich foods like lean red meat, oily fish, eggs, pulses, green leafy veg and fortified breakfast cereals for healthy blood
  • varied and full of quick, easy meals ready in less than 30 minutes
  • also, regular exercise is recommended to compliment a healthy balanced diet

The 'chip lover's diet' allows you to happily enjoy chips three to four times a week; the only catch being you must swap fried chip shop chips (which can be up to 12% fat or 16.7g fat per 135g portion and contain around 320 kcal), for low fat oven chips, such as McCain Rustic Oven Chips, which are only 3% fat or 3.1g fat per 135g portion and contain only 184 kcal.  McCain Rustic Oven Chips are made with sunflower oil and contain less than 1% saturated fat, so switching to low fat oven chips is a good move all round.

For more information and to download the 'chip lover's diet' plan visit: www.mccain.co.uk/healthychips
Finally, you can have your chips and eat them. Enjoy McCain Rustic Oven Chips as part of a healthy balanced diet, guilt free!

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