I have recently stopped eating meat for health reasons. As a result, I eat many more carbs - pasta, bread, rice, potatoes - which leave me feeling bloated. But if I eat just vegetables, I'm still hungry. Any suggestions?

The first thing is, you may not be getting enough nutrients. Dairy products such as milk and yogurt strengthen bones; fruit and vegetables provide important vitamins and antioxidants; fish is important for healing, building and maintaining muscle mass; and starchy carbs help fuel muscles. It is this important fuel role that may be making you feel bloated - when carbohydrate is digested to glucose, it is stored in the muscles in the form of glycogen. Every unit of this has to be stored with three units of water (one reason why those on a high-protein, low-carb diet lose weight and feel less bloated). I suggest you try my Carb Curfew: no bread, pasta, rice, potatoes or cereal after 5pm. Instead, base your evening meal on protein, fruit, vegetables and essential fats. Fish and nuts must take on a central role in your diet. Protein not only helps with satiation but will make you feel more alert, triggering a brain transmitter called dopamine.

To help with hunger, one of the best tricks is to front-load your day, so you get more of your calories early on. Go for slow-releasing low glycaemic index carbs: a favourite breakfast of mine is porridge oats made with skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, chopped apple, a tablespoon of natural bio low-fat yogurt and fresh grated nutmeg and cinnamon. If you are a white toast lover (a classic fast-releasing high GI carb), combining protein with a little essential fat on your toast (almond butter on wholegrain toast) will help give a similar effect.

Splitting your lunch and eating it in two hits can be another practical solution. And don't forget that milk is a great source of protein.

· Joanna Hall is a fitness and exercise expert (joannahall.com). Send queries to: Weekend, 119 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3ER (weekend@theguardian.com).