THE Lean In 15 legend tells Ella Walker there's no way you'll get him eating tinned tuna.

It's the New Year, so no doubt you'll be thinking about getting in shape. And if there's one man you can rely for help on that front, it's The Body Coach, aka Joe Wicks.

The cheeky chappie doesn't scrimp and suffer on dull diets though, he's all about flavour, protein and fuelling his body.

We caught up with the cookbook and Instagram sensation to grill him on the truly important stuff.

Your ultimate death-row, last-night-on-earth meal, would be?

"Mushroom arancini balls, a massive burger and chips with mac and cheese, and my dessert would be a chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream."

The thing you still can't cook is? 

"I struggle with poached eggs. I really wanna have them proper - like the ones in my book that the food stylist's done. I can't make them stick together, I just want them to sit like that, like when you go into a really nice cafe and they get them perfect."

Your favourite store cupboard essential has to be?

"Coconut milk, because it's so good for making curries, and adding to oats and smoothies."

Echo:

Who doesn't love a man whose muscles show through his shirt?

The kitchen utensil you can't live without is?

"A wok! Definitely a wok, because I do all my curries and stir fries in them - I do everything in a wok. I just throw a bit of coconut oil in there and that's it."

If you get hungry late at night, the first snack you'll reach for is?

"I love chocolate chip rice cakes, they're so good, but once you crack 'em open, you want to eat five or six."

Preferably, your eggs would be?

"I like 'em in an omelette - omeletted!"

Your favourite childhood dinner was always?

"Toad-in-the hole, my nan used to make it."

For dinner last night you ate?

"Chicken thighs with some grilled halloumi cheese, and a big salad with avocado. It was lovely."

Your takeaway of choice is?

"I don't get takeout, I'd probably go for a Gourmet Burger Kitchen or a Nando's."

Your ultimate hangover cure has to be?

"You'll laugh, but it's just a bottle of water and a workout. I always feel better afterwards."

And you really can't stomach?

"Tinned tuna - it stinks. I can eat tuna steak all day, but tinned mackerel and tuna?! It's cat food."

Cooking For Family And Friends by Joe Wicks is published in hardback by Bluebird, priced £20. Available now.

Joe's red pepper prawns with basmati rice

Echo: This red pepper and prawn rice bowl from Joe Wicks is a carbohydrate-refuel meal, perfect after an intensive workout. Serve with seasonal greens

Ingredients:

2tbsp of coconut milk
55g Thai green curry paste
155g raw peeled king prawns
4 spring onions, sliced
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 medium pak choi, quartered
1 small red pepper, chopped

To serve
200g microwave basmati rice, warmed
150g boiled or steamed greens (choose from spinach, kale, runner beans, asparagus or broccoli

Method 

1. In a medium bowl, mix the coconut milk and curry paste together, then stir in the prawns, spring onions and pepper. Leave to marinate for 10 mins.
2. Heat a saucepan, add the coconut oil, then add the prawns and vegetables. Once the prawns start to turn pink, add the pak choi and cover with a lid for a few mins.
3. When the prawns are cooked through and the pak choi is wilted, serve with rice and greens.