It can be tempting when the nights are dark and cold to grab convenience food on your way home from the office, but this isn’t the way to go.

Go for protein

“When winter comes, we often want to hibernate and reach for comfort food,” says Gold. “That’s why it’s important to eat enough protein at every meal. Protein helps us to feel fuller for longer and helps balance our blood sugar to reduce cravings. Remember it’s not just about meat: lentils, beans, nuts and seeds are all excellent sources of protein.”

Eat the season

There’s good reason we’re told to ’eat the season’, as it’s often the foods in season that provide what our bodies are craving. And it doesn’t have to be complicated to create some easy meals that will power up your winter – something as simple as adding a handful of seeds and berries to your morning porridge would work.

Batch cooking

Gold also recommends batch cooking. “Make up some soups, stews and chilli and freeze them for ease. You could even dust off your slow cooker, if you have one, and come home to a ready cooked meal.”

As with so many other things, preparation is key here. Gold advises: “Get your overnight oats prepared while you’re cooking dinner, so the next morning will be easier. Planning meals will keep you on track, make shopping easier while helping to reduce food waste.”

Think about the future

And if you’re still not convinced, think about your future self. “By taking control of your nutrition now you’ll be building a stronger and more resilient body for the future,” says Gold. “And let’s face it, you won’t get to January and need to start yet another resolution to eat better as you’ll already be in a great position health wise.”

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