‘While training for Wolverine we were on six meals a day, minimum – sometimes seven,’ says Mike Ryan the personal trainer responsible for getting Aussie actor Hugh Jackman into shape for the new X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie.

Here you’ll find an example of a typical day’s food for the hard-training action-movie star, but Ryan is keen to stress that it is only a template that can be adapted to any tastes. ‘There’s no point in me saying, “You must eat this, or that.” Everyone has their own likes and dislikes, and as long as you stick to the basic rules you can customise this plan to suit your own needs.’

So what are those rules? ‘Always get your protein from natural, unprocessed sources where possible. Eat six small meals a day rather than three large ones. Drink mainly water. Avoid all processed foods, and that includes anything that says “99 per cent fat-free” or similar.’

The need for good-quality protein either side of a hard workout is also a priority. ‘If you can’t get it from natural sources,’ Ryan says, ‘use a supplement. We were using protein powder regularly. I made sure Hugh got plenty of amino acids before training and immediately after, and then he would have a slow-acting protein at night-time, such as cottage cheese.’

So whether you train in the afternoon or evening, adapt the following meal plan to suit your training times. Now check out our exclusive Hugh Jackman Wolverine Workout.