TASTE OFTHE MED

Here are Dr Simon Poole’s top tips for giving your diet a Mediterranean makeover:

Prepare plenty of beans by soaking and then freezing them. Then they’ll be ready to cook, whenever you need them.

Give your breakfast a boost by sprinkling nuts and seeds on to your oats or cereal, along with fruit and low-fat yogurt.

Roast root vegetables in olive oil and halfway through cooking, add red onions, chilli or fennel.

Replace salt with herbs and spices. As well as enhancing flavour, they’ve been shown to possess potentially powerful health benefits.

Include fish in your diet. It’s a good source of protein and brain-boosting omega 3 fats.