Here's how to... detox while you're out having fun with friends

I feel like I've been banging on about detoxing for a while now. The thing is, food becomes something you have to think about when you're cutting out the badness. You can't exactly get a pie out of the freezer, whack it in the oven and whip up some deep fried chips now, can you? Meals take time, thought, and prior prep.

While I'm working from home - oh the joys of being a freelancer - healthy eating is a doddle. And if I run out of wheat-free pasta, I can nip to Sainsbury's and pick up a pack.

The challenge comes when friends say they want to go out for the night. What then? Cancel and sit at home with a pack of rice cakes and water while the cat judges you for encroaching on his peaceful Friday night?

I asked a few lovely followers on Twitter what they'd do if invited out by friends. And every singe one of them said they'd rather go out and have fun than worry about their diet. If they happened to give into temptation, well, that's just tough.

Actually, it's quite easy to have fun out and about without resorting to sitting on the sidelines or ditching the detox. And to prove it, we tried it out at Las Iguanas in Spitalfields, London, who pride themselves on a varied menu using fresh ingredients. Because chances are most of my mates wouldn't be too keen on a meat-free, dairy-free, bread-free, booze-free specialist restaurant. And neither would I.

Here are my handy tips for surviving the night.

Drink me
If you're on the wagon after a particularly heavy few weeks, rather than settle for tap water which will definitely only ever make you miserable and hate everyone who's ever lived, see if the bar can whip you up a non-alcoholic cocktail. At Las Iguanas, they have a selection of tee-total concoctions. I opted for an Apple Mojo-less and the boy went for a standard mojito. It's a steal at £3, and is basically a mojito without the booze. Honestly, I couldn't even tell the difference. If you fancy giving this one a go, here's the recipe:

10-12 mint leaves
4 lime wedges
35ml cloudy apple juice
5ml sugar syrup
Soda

Muddle the lime wedges with the sugar syrup to release the oils. Add in the mint leaves, apple juice and fold all the ingredients with cubed ice. Top with soda and serve. Simple! If you're on a sugar-free diet, see if the bar has any sugar-free syrups available, or ask them to leave it out all together.

Eat me
What you choose will depend on your detox. But there are a few great options if you're giving up wheat, dairy and meat. Salad can be the obvious choice, especially if it comes with a small portion of chicken or fish. Just watch out the dressing isn't packed full of blue cheese or cream, and there aren't any croutons. Fish and shellfish are a great source of vitamins, so try something like prawns with a smaller side salad if you're not a fan of the leafy stuff.

We had guacamole to start which being made with fresh ingredients, is packed full of flavour and isn't going to break any rules. For dinner, look out for veggie meals and ask for gluten free options - often it's just a case of removing the bread from that bowl of soup. I chose a rice dish, Galinhada, which hails from Brazil. The boy went for chicken and a salad. When it comes to dessert, ice cream is a no-no (you know this), so go for something like a sorbet. Very often it's just iced fruit, though do watch for added sugar!

Ok, so the meal wasn't as enjoyable as if I'd been able to stuff my face with lashings of cheese-laden fajitas washed down with a strawberry daquiri or three. But I felt so so much better for sticking to what I'd started. Plus, the inevitable bloated belly was nowhere in sight, which is always a bonus when you're wearing bodycon. And at least this way you don't have to miss out on that night of a lifetime. Although you may be relegated to designated driver...