THE CALORIE CUT

Pad thai is def on the menu, thanks to a few canny tweaks

THE SALTY TRUTH

Pad thai is usually packed with salt from the soy sauce and salted peanuts, which isn’t exactly amazing for a healthy bod. A new study* examined salt’s role in hunger and thirst and found that it encouraged participants to eat more and drink less.

USE YOUR NOODLE

Rice noodles aren’t bad for you, but they only have 3g protein per 100g – while soba strands contain 14g. Plus, the buckwheat they’re made from is rich in manganese, which helps your body make collagen and convert food into fuel. No contest.

ORANGE THEORY

Packing this dish with bright veggies doesn’t just make it more appetising. Studies have found eating green or orange veg reduced the body’s visceral fat stores. This invisible fat nestles around your organs and clogs up in the liver. Crunch time.

COUR BLIMEY

Courgette skin is high in soluble fibre, which slows down digestion to help stabilise blood sugar levels. The benefits? Well, according to a 2016 study in Nutrition Journal, it’s your secret weapon in the fight against unwanted weight gain.

PALMED OFF

Coconut palm sugar has the same amount of calories as the regular stuff – and almost the same amount of fructose, which breaks down easily, causing blood sugar surges linked to weight gain. Use honey for sweetness with a lower fructose load.