M Is All About: People and things on our New Year hot list

Healthy eateries, crafty clutch bags and comfy footwear.

A classic Louis Vuitton diary. Delores Johnson / The National

With so many tempting restaurants and cafes in the UAE, starting a healthy eating plan for the new year can be tough. Thankfully, some canny eateries have noted that we still want to be social in January but need healthy food options. We've picked some of our favourites, so all you have to do is pick the healthy option - and try to resist the chocolate cake.

Sophie's From the founders of the luxury Japanese brand Okku comes a new eatery on the block, Sophie's. Located on the shoreline of the Palm Jumeirah, this new gastro-cafe has a menu boasting more than 120 dishes, promising an array of healthy meals, salads, home-made cakes and pastries all sourced from local produce. Delicious comfort food full of goodness and flavour looms.

Sophie's, RIVA Complex, Building 8 of The Shoreline Palm Jumeirah, 04 451 5982

Nolu's This delightful cafe has become a favourite at M magazine. We love their healthy menu that combines Californian and Afghan specialities. When it comes to lunch, we often can't decide between their gourmet signature sandwiches or build-your-own salads that are made to order. With health and well-being as their focus, we know that our waistlines can cope with both.

Nolu's Cafe, Al Bandar, Al Raha Beach beside Spinneys supermarket, 02 557 9500, www.noluscafe.com

Camacho This newly opened restaurant offers a menu that mixes the best of East meets West with its Japanese and Italian fare. Their sushi masters have created many guilt-free options such as steamed edamame, sashimi salads, tuna sashimi and beef teppanyaki.

Camacho, behind Corniche Towers hotel apartments, Khalidiya, 02 650 5600, www.camachorestaurant.com

Solis Now you can dine like a Hollywood celeb as the chefs at Solis have created a menu based on popular diets. Options include Oregano Chicken Avocado for those following the Zone Diet; Steamed Asparagus Salad for the macrobiotics; and Shrimp and Palmito Salad, at a saintly five Weight Watchers points.

Solis, Tiara Residence, Palm Jumeirah, 04 432 9848, www.tiararesidences.com

Birds of a feather

This time of year is great in the UAE: the weather, the events and the holidays all make for a lot of time lounging in our backyards and on our balconies. If you want to bring the forest to your garden and enjoy the chirping of birds, look no further than this sleek Eva Solo bird feeder. The simple glass shape won't look too bulky in the garden, and it's easy to hang from a tree or a bush.

Approximately Dh230, check www.dotmaison.com for availability

Neat bindings

Louis Vuitton's classic Damier is revamped this season with hand-painted illustrations inspired by their advertising campaigns from the 1910s and 1920s. This diary comes with two sheets of stickers, a cardboard suitcase bookmark and slots for your cards and papers. You can keep it for as long as you want since refills are available to swap out every year.

Dh1,380, Louis Vuitton, Marina Mall, 02 681 2166; Dubai Mall, 04 330 8060; and elsewhere

Teeter in Tod's

Comfy footwear doesn't have to mean frumpy. These Tod's Ago sandals have a solid rubber sole, so you can strut into the new year in style. Based on a design pioneered by Tod's in 2001, this new S/S 2012 shoe has been re-worked by the designer Derek Lam. We love the soft leather in pastel hues on these sandals, which are super sexy on the foot and elongate the leg, too.

Tod's Ago sandals, Dh2,190, available from Tod's Marina Mall, 02 681 6562; Mall of Emirates 04 341 3033; BurJuman Center, 04 355 4417; and elsewhere

Paper clutch

This stylish newspaper clutch bag by the designer Zoe Halfon was inspired by a vintage Italian clutch Halfon's mother gave her. Italian legend has it that newspaper-styled clutches were fantastic decoys against pickpockets because thieves would never guess that your valuables were wrapped up in what looks like the morning paper. With various funky designs as part of the collection, including comic books and magazines, many Papa Razzi clutches can be seen under the arm of Hollywood's glitterazzi.

Papa Razzi Nadine Newspaper Clutch, Dh260, available online from www.stylechapel.com

Hear me roar

We're used to spotting Shourouk accessories wherever we go, so when we saw this tiger necklace we were surprised to see that it was from the French brand. They stuck to our favoured structured crystals, but instead of the usual studs and flowers we get a bold animal worthy of a strong fashion statement. Pair with a jewel-tone dress for tonight's party, and be sure to wear your hair up to showcase this piece.

Dh3,195, S*uce, Marina Mall, 02 681 8650; Village Mall, 04 344 7270; Dubai Mall, 04 339 9696