Spring into spring with these fitness food hacks

Sponsored by Cully and Sully

The spring is a crucial time for making progress on your fitness goals

Many people embark on a weight loss drive around summer time, but if you start a little earlier you'll be one step ahead. With these spring season fitness food hacks, you have the fuel for powering those gruelling training sessions.

Jon Denoris, personal trainer and founder of Club 51 says certain plant foods can stave off the threat of colds and illness.

1. Helped out by herbs

"Echinacea gets the most attention regarding 'herbals' which help to reduce the symptoms of a cold.

"However, try Kaloba as an alternative - it's an extract of the Pelargonium plant and stimulates neutrophil and macrophage anti microbial properties. Use for acute bronchitis, rhinosinusitis and a common cold."

2. Spice it up 

"Add in garlic, onions, ginger and spices such as oregano extract and turmeric to your meals.  These can easily be added into soups and veggie dishes - garlic and onions provide wide spectrum antimicrobial properties."

Spices make a fine addition to the following Cully and Sully tomato soup recipe: Ingredients:

• 10 grams of butter
• 2 chopped onions
• 2 tins of chopped tomatoes
• 500-750ml of tasty stock
• A generous glug of cream
• A few sprigs of fresh basil, chopped
• Pinch of salt, pepper and sugar

Cooking:

3. Don't be scared of the dark

No, we aren't talking about turning the lights off when you're home alone. Dark meat has long been viewed as a less healthier alternative to white cuts, but that's not strictly true. For example, chicken thighs or chicken with the skin on are often cast aside due to the higher fat content, but this doesn't correspond to a poorer food choice. Dark meat only has on average 10 more calories than whiter cuts. Plus, it tastes better.

4. Poach your eggs properly

Poached eggs are possibly the healthiest kind. As great as they are, with fewer calories and fat than scrambled, poached eggs can be quite tricky to get right. The age-old technique of swirling the water around the saucepan can lead to no shortage of botched eggs. In truth, all you need is a small bowl and a bit of cling film. Line the bowl with the film, throw in a small bit of oil and salt, then pop in the egg. You'll get perfectly round poached eggs every time.

5. Steam your veggies

Greens are absolutely essential. Your mother was right in forcing you to wolf them down as a child. But how you cook and prepare them matters, too. It may be your impulse to boil or microwave your vegetables, but steaming is even better. This method of cooking protects the micronutrient content - the vitamins, minerals and nutrients which make veg such a worthy inclusion in your diet. To be in with a chance of winning a Smeg fridge and weekly Smeg prizes, share your favourite food hacks with Cully & Sully on their social media. Follow Cully & Sully on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more