Forget mundane healthy cooking, what every girl looking to drop a dress size needs is food she can get her teeth into. So says Jennifer Joyce, author of new book Skinny Meals In Heels.

Don't deny yourself, she suggests: "Keep using bacon, nuts and cheese, but just use far less. Instead of eight slices of bacon in a stew, use two. You'll get all the taste but not so much fat. Healthy cooking without these can be a little too virtuous."

Considering more than a third of women on rapid weight loss diets gain back more than they lose, according to a recent report by Hovis, delicious meals such as Joyce's (none of which take longer than 30 minutes to prepare) may well be the answer for New Year slimmers.

"I truly love to eat lean, piquant food. Wondrous things can be made from Asian sauces, spice pastes and fresh aromatic herbs," she says.

True to her word, Joyce makes her sandwiches skinnier by taking out the mayonnaise and replacing it with grainy mustard or chutney.

"It tastes great and is practically zero fat."

She also makes sure her cupboards are packed with tasty, low-fat ingredients. "Stock up your fridge and cupboards with options like smoked fish, cooked chicken breasts, Ryvita crackers and Greek yoghurt."

Skinny tips from Jennifer Joyce. :: Don't snack. Snacking is one of the biggest reasons for weight gain. Eat three meals a day that include protein and you won't feel famished in between. It also gives your body a chance to burn off the calories you've eaten already.

:: Quit when you are full. Forget what your mother said. There isn't a law that says you have to finish what's on your plate. Overeating stretches your stomach and will end up increasing your appetite.

:: Wine and coffee are ok. Within reason, both of these can suppress your appetite. If you're making dinner and hanker for a piece of bread with butter, drink a glass of wine instead. Likewise, if you can't wait for lunch, drink a cup of coffee or tea to stave off hunger pains.

:: Less butter and more olive oil. Butter is saturated fat, which causes cholesterol and faster weight gain. Start replacing it with olive oil and use it for cooking onions, on steamed vegetables or drizzled on toast.

:: Vary what you eat. Avoid cooking the same things over and over, such as pasta or steak. Go vegetarian a few nights a week and incorporate grains and pulses whenever you can, to ensure healthy eating habits.

:: Use your freezer more. Next time you cook, make double the amount and freeze the excess in single portions. Your freezer will then be stocked with instant ready meals for when you're not in the mood to make something.