By day five, however, I’d hit a bit of a wall: I found myself increasingly sluggish in the mornings, with horrible breath, and I was craving salad and lean protein. “My main criticism of the diet is the lack of fresh fruit and vegetables, which are so important for good nutrition and gut health,” says The Telegraph’s expert nutritionist Sam Rice, who cast an eye over my menu for the week.
“There is very little variety in terms of plant foods and nowhere near the modern recommendation to eat 30 different plant foods a week. There is also little in the way of complex carbohydrates, again from fruit and veg, as well as whole grains, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds.” Rice also points to a lack of omega-3 from oily fish, and that most of the fat I’m eating is saturated animal fat rather than the healthier monosaturated fats found in olive oil, avocado and nuts.
By the end of the week I would certainly be happy never to see another slice of bread and dripping again, and I’m sick of the sight of jam. The weight I thought I’d lost also turned out to have reappeared, minus a tiny bit.
But there are some things I’ll take away. Smaller portion sizes for a start – I’ll be sticking with my Sixties-sized dinner plate. Nescafé with milk from a carton is a perfectly respectable (and much cheaper) alternative to a calorie-heavy latte for everyday drinking, and a glass of wine is better as an occasional treat (I won’t be switching to sherry). My children would also be delighted to continue with the daily pudding ritual.
But I’m very glad that I have a fridge, and access to a wide range of fresh fruit and veg. And Spam will never have a place in my kitchen cupboard.