So what is all the hype about artificial sweeteners we hear you say? Are they ok for us to use as a healthier substitute for sugar…..or not? Sweeteners have been widely used in the food industry for some time now in an attempt to try and tackle the increasing global prevalence of obesity & type 2 diabetes. Their aim is reduce peoples sugar intake and are promoted as a ‘healthy’ alternative. Despite many governing bodies recognising sweeteners as safe for human consumption,

Eggs and spinach are real breakfast buddies and pack a powerful nutritional punch! This is a different but delicious take on a traditional Shakshuka that we think you'll love. Serves 2. Ingredients 1 tbsp coconut oil 1 large onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 4 cups (300g) mushrooms, sliced 2 cups (450g) leaf spinach 4 eggs A handful of flat-leaf parsley, chopped Method Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes unti

Easter is around the corner and just like love, chocolate is all around. Good intentions melt away as quickly as an Easter Egg on a radiator as every conceivable empty space in your house is filled with colourful cartons containing what feels like kilos of chocolate. Of course, chocolate is available all year round but what happens at Easter is that there is so much chocolate, everything seems to be covered in chocolate, chocolate gets bigger and is staring at you from ever

Hormones, we take them for granted, our amazing chemical messengers, they just do what they do, controlling all our bodily processes including growth, mood, metabolism, energy and appetite. So let’s take a closer look at just a few of our super-hero hormones with these "Did You Knows". Did you know that endocrinology can be traced back nearly 2,000 years? It is thought that Chinese healers extracted sex and pituitary hormones from human urine using minerals and plant compou

Add a little spice to your life this Valentine's day with this rich and fragrant dish that your heart will love! Ingredients 3 tbsp olive oil 300g carrots, scrubbed and chopped 200g cabbage, remove the core and roughly slice 200g kale or cavolo nero, remove the hard stalks and roughly chop 2 sticks of celery, sliced (reserve some of the leaves for garnish) 3 large onions, chopped 175g split red lentils 4 garlic cloves, crushed 1x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes 700ml low or no s

Beetroot is known for being heart-healthy so treat yourself and your Valentine to a delicious bowl of this beautifully vibrant, delicious roasted beetroot soup. There's also some optional nutty sprinkles to add a delicious crunch! Ingredients 500g beetroot (3 or 4 medium sized beetroots) 2 tbsp olive oil 1 red onion, finely chopped 3 garlic cloves, chopped 500ml vegetable stock, warmed 2 tsp of fresh rosemary leaves, chopped 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated 400ml coconut milk ¼

This is an amazingly simple, fast and extremely tasty stew which, at just £1.12 per serving is the last in our series of meals for four under a fiver. Que aproveche! Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 120g chorizo, sliced 2 x white onions, sliced 2 x 400g tin of chickpeas, drained 2 x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes 2 tsp paprika 240g bag of baby spinach Sea salt and ground black pepper Method Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat and fry the chorizo for a few minutes u

What is not to love about a warm and comforting chicken casserole? This version is one of our meals for four for under a fiver and another one-pot-wonder! Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 1kg pack of bone in, skin-on chicken legs and/or thighs 1 onion, sliced 4 rashes smoked back bacon, cut into roughly 2cm pieces 150g small mushrooms, halved 3 medium carrots, scrubbed and cut into 1.5cm slices 20g (approx. 2 tbsp) plain flour 1 tsp dried thyme or 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves 500ml

This recipe cooks the meat sauce and pasta in one pot - genius! You could eat it straight out of the pot but tipping it into an ovenproof dish, covering it with a little grated cheese and waiting until it's all bubbly and gorgeous takes it to another level. And at just over £1 per serving, it's another one of our meals for four for under a fiver! Ingredients 1 medium onion, finely chopped 250g beef mince 1x 400g tin of green lentils, drained 1x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes

Who doesn't love a curry and this fragrant recipe is a lot quicker (and cheaper) than ordering a take out. With a portion of wholemeal basmati rice or a chapati on the side, this curry is another tasty meal for four for under a fiver. Ingredients 1 tbsp coconut or olive oil 2 x large white onions, sliced 3 x garlic cloves, peeled & chopped 1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled & grated 1 tbsp of medium curry powder 1 x 400g tins of coconut milk 500ml water 1 x vegetable stock cube 2 x

“What’s for dinner?”, the weeknight battle cry! On the one hand you’d love to dish up something delicious and nutritious but all too often the reply, either to yourself or to the family is “no idea, but I think there’s a pizza in the freezer, or pasta or how about ordering a take-out……” while also thinking “no time for this…..whatever’s easiest, I’ve got to (fill in the blank) and (fill in the blank) before bed and I really don’t have time…….?” Now ask yourself the following

This is a lovely veggie alternative to a Shepherds or Cottage Pie and is another cracking recipe coming in at £1.20 per portion. Serving with some peas or broccoli means that this is another great idea for a meal for four for under a fiver. Ingredients 600g sweet potatoes, peeled & cut into 2cm chunks 1 tbsp olive oil 1x small red onion, sliced 250g mushrooms, sliced 1 tsp smoked sweet paprika powder 200g of tinned black beans, drained and rinsed 400g tin of lentils, drained

Another tasty meal for four for under a fiver. Hot and bubbly, this bake is take on a traditional moussaka. It's a great recipe to prep in advance and have ready for the oven. Ingredients 3 tbsp olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 3 garlic cloves, crushed 2x 400g tins chopped tomatoes 1x 400g mixed beans, drained 2x medium to large aubergines 1x 200g packet of mozzarella, drained and torn into pieces ½ tsp of salt (sea salt if possible) and ¼ tsp ground black pepper 300g whol

Not only is this a tasty meat-free Monday dinner, but you can serve this up for 4 people for under a fiver! The secret to a good stir fry is to make sure that all the vegetables are cut into equal sized pieces so that everything cooks together. This recipe uses tempeh, a soy product with a lovely nutty taste and texture. You can substitute with chicken or prawns but bear in mind that this will make the dish a little more expensive. Ingredients 200g tempeh 3 tbsp light soy

It’s the same every year. Come January we are all schlepping back to the gym, dusting off our running shoes or trying out the newest, most Insta-fabulous ways to lose the pounds that we gained during the holidays! And every year, we hear the same cry “it’s not fair, I’m the one on the diet and he’s the one that loses weight……” You may have observed this phenomenon for yourself and you are not imagining it! Studies have shown that men are consistently “better” at losing weig

This is very easy, economical and makes excellent use of your leftover turkey carcass that would usually end up in the bin! Broths are easily digested and nutritious, freeze well and can be used as a base for gravy, soups and stews as well as making a warming drink. Broths are traditionally made with beef bones on the stove top by bringing the ingredients to the boil and simmering for 3-4 hours but if you own a slow cooker, this is the perfect way to make a home-made broth.

Not a turkey curry but warm, comforting bowls of nourishing soup to ease you into January. Use the Boxing Day Broth to give this soup a real turkey flavour. Serves 6 Ingredients 900g assorted vegetables - carrots, leeks, potatoes, are ideal, all peeled or scrubbed and cut into equal sized chunks 1 heaped tablespoon of coconut oil or butter 1 litre of vegetab

Yes, it's Brussels sprouts but not as you know them! Use up any that you didn't cook on Christmas Day and team with a couple of those Clementines or Satsumas that you have lurking at the bottom of the fruit bowl! This is a lovely, colourful, zingy, crunchy salad that you can enjoy with a couple of slices of left over turkey. Ingredients 250g Brussels sprouts 1 red onion, finely sliced and soaked in a bowl of bowl of cold water for a few minutes 12 cooked chestnuts and rough

Ingredients: 1 large onion 2 peppers 1 carrot 3 garlic cloves 200g dry red lentils 1 tbsp chilli powder 1 tsp cumin 2 tsp smoked paprika 2 tins chopped tomatoes 2 tbsp tomato puree 2 vegetable stock cubes 450ml water black pepper to taste 2 tins kidney beans 1 avocado, sliced (optional) coriander to garnish cauliflower rice (optional) 1. Dice the onion, roughly chop the peppers and carrot and finely chop the garlic. 2. Rinse the lentils well and add them to the slow cooker po

1. SPINACH AND FETA 2 large eggs, 1 tsp coconut oil, pinch of salt, twist of black pepper. Wilt a generous handful of spinach in another teaspoon of coconut oil and a splash of water. Crumble a tablespoon of feta. 2. FRESH HERBS 2 large eggs, smidge of cold water, 1 tsp coconut oil, pinch of salt, twist of black pepper. Chop up a mix of fresh herbs. Chives and parsley are a great combo. 3.PARMESAN AND PESTO 2 large eggs, smidge of cold water, 1 tsp coconut oil, pinch of salt,