Five of the best diet tricks

© istockphotos.com/Sarah Louise Johnson

And by diet tricks, I'm talking how you can actually have something sweet without completely falling off the diet wagon and giving up on those hard won, slim-line curves.

First up, an well known but original one - the humble Jelly Baby. Don't you love 'em? Containing just 85 calories and 0.1 grammes of fat in five of these squidgy, delicious jelly bodies you can't fail. Er...except if you buy a whole packet and scoff the lot. My advice? Go to a Pick n'Mix and just buy five...or nick some from your friend's children!

It may sound mad but try freezing a handful of white grapes. When you get the urge for something sweet just suck them - they're like sweets. Alternatively, buy some frozen cherries, blackberries or blueberries from the supermarket and use them. Only 60 calories and 0.1 grammes of fat.


Yummmm, Fig Rolls are another of our favourites, crunchy on the outside and gooey in the middle. And at only 40 calories and 1.4grammes of fat. You can only go wrong if you eat the lot. If you have no self control, steer clear.



Chocolate...mmmm, how could we survive without it? But Fitbitch is fed up of those diet features saying 'Have a few squares of 70% dark chocolate as a treat.' Are you kidding?! What, so you're just going to have two and put the rest in the fridge and forget about it. I don't think so.
But there is away around it...if you melt the chocolate first and then eat with a spoon ...dare I say it, you feel a bit sick by the end. OK, so not strictly speaking a treat but it cures you of that overwhelming 'Homer, must eat doughnuts' kind of moment. 55 calories and 4.1g of fat for 1/3 of a small bar of Green and Blacks 70% dark chocolate.

And lastly, it's going to sound weird but it's lovely. I came across this when I found my Iranian flatmate dipping a Finn's Rye Crisp in a pot of natural yoghurt. I thought it was disgusting until I tried it...and it's really, really nice. 50 calories and 1.4grammes of fat.