Fermented foods, we’ve got the skinny on tummy shrinking

No one likes the word diet. Whatever the promise, the subtext always involves the words remove, replace or reduce. We’re embracing the fermented foods movement and it’s all about inclusion. Pepper mealtimes with the good bacteria bites for immune and digestive benefits, clearer skin and increased energy. Belly bloat and fungal infections be gone. To get you started, we’ve listed the items to add to your shopping basket. Sauerkraut If you’ve got time to prepare your own, we say go for it. If you’re a little hesitant, we say buy a jar. You’ll find the preserved cabbage in the chilled section at your local health food shop - we’ve grown very fond of the red variety. Think of it as tangy coleslaw and garnish meals similarly. Look for a pot with a lid that locks or screws back in place. A foil top won’t keep the, ahem, fragrant juices intact. Tempeh Billed as a soy steak, the vegan patty with a complete amino acid profile, satisfies the meaty portion of your fermented feast. It’s chewy so you’ll still feel that little bit carnivorous, plus it tastes much better than it looks, we promise. Kombucha Health zealots might remember the fizzy cold tea revolution of the nineties. We knew they were on to something, we just weren’t quite sure what. Kombucha has retained a spot on the shelves, right there beside the Diet Coke. Reach for one on your next lunch break. Miso You might not give the innocent side of soup a second glance but the soybean paste used to make the salty broth contains an abundance of essential minerals, a palatable Dioralyte should you wish. Whip up a batch of your own by adding some onions, mushrooms or nori seaweed. Kefir If your palate isn’t one for sauerkraut and tempeh, try their milder flavoured cousin, Kefir. The probiotic powerhouse grains make a yogurt-like drink, packed with B vitamins and calcium, and are even recommended for those who are lactose intolerant. You'll find a selection of fermented foods in supermarkets and health food shops like Nourish, the health store and The Good Earth.