'Breakfast is the most important meal of the day', or so they say.

This does ring true at the moment as we try to bring some semblance of order to our diets after the excesses of the festive season. Elite strength and physique coaches Charles Poliquin, who has worked with some of the world's top Olympians and fitness models, swears by meat and nuts for breakfast. It's a non-negotiable and essential part of every one of his athlete plans and he says it's his single best dietary tip for "optimal leanness, energy and sustained mental focus." Yes, it sounds weird eating meat for breakfast, but if you want to look better and feel better, there is no better way to start the day. Why? First of all eating protein-packed meat gives you a gradual blood sugar release throughout the day. Whereas eating a croissant will give you a brief blood sugar spike and then you will get the crash and feel tired and hungry again pretty quickly. Protein from meat will keep you fuller for longer, control your appetite and curb your cravings and give you more energy and mental focus throughout the day - and it's great for athletes looking to build muscle and shed body fat. Adding nuts to your meaty breakfast also has some incredible benefits. They're full of healthy fats which will keep your blood sugar stable for a long time - which is crucial if you want consistent energy and alertness rather than the spikes and crashes you have eating sugary treats. Poliquin says this breakfast combo sets your neurotransmitters for the day, raising both dopamine and acetyl-choline the neurotransmitters for focus and drive. So what do you eat? Poliquin suggests rotating different meats and different nuts on your breakfast plate throughout the week. Meats include steak, salmon, turkey bacon, chicken, beef mince, lamb and fish. For the nuts it's best to stick to whole food varieties including cashews, almonds, macadamia, hazelnuts and brazils, rather than any nuts that are salted or roasted in oils. Just a handful will do as they're very calorie dense. If you're allergic to nuts you can always eat things like salmon, eggs and avocados, which are full of healthy fats, as well as low-glycemic (so won't spike your blood sugar) items including blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and plums.