5:2 Diet Recipes, Meal Plans and Fast Day Meal Ideas

Discover how to do the 5 2 diet, what the Fast Diet and Fast 800 diet is all about, and everything from easy meal plans for 500-800 calorie fast days to deliciously healthy 5:2 recipes. Here you'll find healthy recipes under 800 calories for fast days, diet tips and 5:2 diet diaries to keep you on track all in one handy place. Read our latest advice, tips and recipes for the 2:5 diet, made famous by Dr Michael Mosley, before you start your intermittent fasting journey...

The 5:2 diet plan: week one

January 7th 2013 /

How do you do the 5:2 diet? In a six week series, nutritional therapist Vicki Edgson brings you the ultimate guide with her weekly 5 2 diet meal plans for both fasting and non-fasting days
Read more >>>

Nutrition

Dr Michael Mosley: "I lost 2.2kgs in 7 days on the Fast 800 Keto diet'

February 15th 2022 / Dr Michael Mosley

From reducing inflammation to improving brain health, The Fast 800 diet expert explains the benefits of a keto diet and 5 easy ways to 'flip the metabolic switch' >>>

Recipe

Recipe: Dr Michael Mosley's Fast 800 Low Carb Nachos

January 6th 2022

With parmesan and cheddar crisps replacing tortilla chips, this is a healthier, doctor-approved take on everyone's favourite Tex-Mex snack >>>

Recipe

Recipe: make Dr Michael Mosley's Fast 800 low carb salmon sushi

December 21st 2021

Based on the ketogenic and Mediterranean diets, this tasty take on sushi is high in protein, healthy fats and fibre >>>

Recipe

Recipe: make Dr Michael Mosley's Fast 800 keto diet pizza

December 16th 2021

With pumpkin and pesto, it's high in protein and fibre and super tasty >>>

Health

Dr Michael Mosley: why a low carb breakfast will help you lose weight - and the recipes you need

September 19th 2021 / Victoria Woodhall

Forget high-fat or low-fat breakfasts, it's low-carb that will stop the mid-morning snack attacks >>>

Health

Is your fasting diet making you stressed?

May 17th 2021

Charlotte Faure Green used the 5:2 diet to keep her weight down, but when her periods became irregular and her mood erratic, she took a serious look at her eating patterns. Now a nutritionist, this is what she wants you to know about when to fast and when to take the pressure off >>>

Health

Is it better to lose weight quickly or slowly? A diet doctor explains

March 14th 2021 / Dr Michael Mosley

As obesity is identified as one of the biggest contributors for Britain’s high Covid death toll, Dr Michael Mosley explains how pressing it is for the UK’s over-weight and obese to lose weight safely and quickly >>>

Health

What a diet doctor does to stay healthy over Christmas

December 11th 2020

Dr Michael Mosley explains why exercising sooner rather than later is key when it comes to Christmas and shares 4 healthy festive recipes >>>

Health

What we learned from Michael Mosley's Lose a Stone in 21 Days

August 19th 2020

The final episode of Michael Mosley's Channel 4 weight loss show airs tonight. From how to burn fat to making mushroom pizza, it's been quite the learning curve >>>

Wellbeing

These are habits of successful intermittent fasting and 5:2 dieters

July 10th 2020 / Victoria Woodhall

Dr Michael Mosley answers 11 key questions to help you succeed at the Fast 800 or 5:2 diet. Good news, it's surprisingly simple >>>

Recipe

5 chocolate desserts and snack recipes to make from the Fast 800 Diet

April 26th 2020

From brownies to chocolate mousse, satisfy your sweet tooth with these healthy treats >>>

Recipe

A healthy alternative to hot cross buns? Count us in

April 9th 2020

We're all over these hot cross bun protein balls by Michael Mosley (sorry Lindy bunny) >>>

The 800 calorie diet just got a whole lot easier

April 1st 2020

The 800 Calorie diet that's simple to follow - here's what you need to now about Exante >>>

Health

Dr Michael Mosley: why full-fat milk is better for weight loss

February 5th 2020

Meanwhile skimmed milk can make it harder to keep the pounds off, according to the doctor behind the Fast 800 Diet. He explains how your milk choice, whether it's plant-based or dairy, affects your weight and health >>>

Nutrition

From 5:2 to 16:8 - which fasting diet plans do what?

January 6th 2020 / Ayesha Muttucumaru

From intermittent fasting to time-restricted and periodic fasting, here’s your go-to cheat sheet for fasting diets >>>

Health

The new online platform that helps you stick to an 800 calorie a day diet

January 24th 2019 / Anna Hunter

Dr Michael Mosley’s Fast 800 Mediterranean-style diet programme has gone digital, with advice from doctors, exercise plans and even a mindfulness programme. Here’s what’s new and how to sign up >>>

Nutrition

Why Dr Michael Mosley is hailing the return of meal replacement shakes

January 9th 2019

He made the 5:2 diet popular and his new Fast 800 plan features meal replacement shakes for the first time. Here’s how Dr Michael Mosley went from a shake skeptic to advocating 200 calorie smoothies >>>

Nutrition

Time Restricted Eating: why when you eat matters

January 7th 2019 / Anna Hunter

TRE, or time restricted eating, is fast becoming a diet buzzword for 2019. Here’s why some experts reckon that eating within a specific window has benefits for everything from weight loss to dental health >>>

Health

The new health and nutrition books to have on your bookshelf

December 26th 2018 / Ayesha Muttucumaru / Victoria Woodhall

From The Fast 800 by Dr Michael Mosley to The Angry Chef’s latest launch and Joe Wicks’ new veggie book, here’s what you’ll be reading in 2019 >>>

Nutrition

10 simple rules to make the 5:2 diet easier

January 10th 2018 / Laura Herring

The Fast Days Cookbook author Laura Herring shares her top 10 guidelines for making the 5:2 diet work for you >>>

Nutrition

The 800 calorie diet plan that zaps belly fat and helps beat diabetes

December 7th 2017 / Anna Hunter

Clinical trials have shown that low calorie diet plans such as Dr Michael Mosley’s Blood Sugar Diet can reduce weight around the middle and even reverse type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. Here’s the skinny on how and why it works… >>>

Recipe