Slimming life in the freezer - by David Attenborough

Dieting is never easy. There is always food to tempt you and the same few dishes get very boring, or perhaps you can't be bothered to create special dishes, or perhaps you hate cooking.

Frozen meals specially made for dieters can be a real help. They have been developed over the last ten years and today the range and quality of the foods take some beating. They are reasonably priced - most around the £2 mark, some can be micro-waved, but most are ready to eat using conventional ovens in approximately 30 - 40 minutes. But a word of warning - read the labels - some, although low in calories - aren't necessarily low in fat, they sometimes contain full fat milk and cheese. But are they good for you? The simple answer is yes. Lean cuts of meat, poultry and fish are used, and although the vegetarian dishes tend to have lower protein levels than their meat and fish counterparts, if you include more pulses and eggs in your diet, you can make up the difference.

One major criticism of these meals is that the portions are too small. If this is the case, try the following few tips to round out your meal or trick yourself. Use a smaller plate, it makes the portions look larger. Eat a salad with low-calorie dressing or low-calorie vegetable sticks before the main course. It will help cut down your appetite, so you're not as hungry. Add a portion of plainly cooked vegetables. They'll boost the bulk, increase your fibre and vitamin intake and help you feel more satisfied. Try having fruit for pudding, this will help fill you up and add fibre to your diet. While we're talking about freezers - remember to freeze any Christmas leftovers that may still be edible - but not all the gooey gateaux or cakes. They have to go out when the New Year Resolutions come in!!