Dietitian Karen Inge explains the Great Australian Diet and gives a menu plan so you can try it at home.
How does it work?
Dr John Tickell used his Australian diet to transform the celebrities in Nine's hit series Celebrity Overhaul. Now he hopes to do the same on the Great Weight Debate. His 91-day program is anti-CSIRO and Atkins and emphasises instead the importance of food variety and plant foods, beginning with a strict cleansing period.
"Dr John has developed this diet looking at the eating styles of different cultures around the globe." says Karen. "Dr John claims that the best foods are low HI, which is that he thinks the best foods have low levels of human interference," says Karen. "He goes for foods that are as close to the natural source as possible. It's two-thirds basic plant foods and the rest are 'bonus foods'."
Pros
- The food Dr Tickell recommends is flavoursome and he uses tasty herbs and spices.
- It's a healthy menu and will suit the whole family.
- There's plenty of fish on the menu, which is important for omega-3 oils.
Cons
- It might not be easy for the majority of people to follow. "It's a fun read, but it's not as well set out as perhaps the CSRIO diet," says Karen.
- The recipes are beautiful, but they take time.
Karen's verdict
People who might find it difficult are emotional eaters, because Dr John doesn't include many comfort foods.
Menu plan
Week one, day one
Breakfast
Glass of water.
1 piece of fruit.
Grilled tomato.
Cup of green or jasmine tea.
Lunch
Glass of water.
Bowl of minestrone or vegetable soup.
Dinner
Glass of water.
Bowl of minestrone or vegetable soup.
Snacks
2 x spoonfuls of You'll Love Coles low-fat yoghurt.
Sip or two of smoothie.
Cup of minestrone.
Best for
"It could be a bit gung-ho for a woman, but it would certainly appeal to men," says Karen. Good for fish eaters and those who like vegetables and fruit.
The rules
The rule of 15. Aim to eat 15 different types of plant food every day, such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds or grains. A serve of nuts might be three or four nuts, not a whole handful.
Use the ACE principles: A — Activity, no excuse. C — Cope. Get out of the pressure cooker. E — Eat good food.
Aim to eat four evening meals of fish a week. If you can't stomach fish, replace with skinless chicken breast or very lean beef, lamb or pork.
Notes: if you just have to have some salt, buy the potassium salt called "No Salt" and use just a little of it.
To buy The Great Australian Diet, take a look at Doctor John's website, www.greataustraliandiet.com. 
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