We all know of the health benefits of losing weight and we all appreciate a few extra pennies in the piggy bank. Well why not kill two birds with one stone this January, just by making a few little changes. Here are our ten tips for a guilt free ending to Christmas:

 

No 1. Cut down on the portions, even if it is one less chocolate bar. You might have over indulged over the Christmas period, but now it’s time to cut back on second helpings and start the health kick. By simply doing this, it means you won’t need to buy as much food- it’s a great way to stretch the grocery budget.

No 2. Beans can be made brilliant. Beans might not always seem like the most exciting choice but they are a great, cheap source of protein. Swap beans for your usual meat options in curries and salads and you’ll save a bunch of pounds. You might just find your family a new favourite meal at the same time.

No 3. Have a go at online food shopping. If you haven’t already started doing your food shop online, it can be a useful way of preventing ‘impulse’, “I’m starving” buys. Having a set list of foods you buy every week means you’ll be keeping your ‘spends’ and weight on the straight and narrow.

No 4. Get friendly with the local farmers. Start making regular trips to the farmers markets, farmers often need to get rid of their produce before heading back home. If you want to cut a deal become a friendly face or head on over when it’s late or home time- you might be able to pick up a bargain.

No 5. Put a ban on pop! It doesn’t seem like much of save by cutting back spending on fizzy pop but you’ll be surprised- they aren’t cheap. Spend that money on something else. If you really want some flavour why not swap for something fresh instead of fizzy? Like a slice of orange instead of orangeade.

No 6. Start a veggie patch. Growing your own veggie patch is a fantastic hobby and it’s something the whole family can get involved with.  Not only will everyone get active but you will also have some fantastic food to share around the dinner table.

No 7. Cut back on the red meat. Try not to buy it too regularly, it’s more expensive and huge amounts of it aren’t good for us. Try replacing it with a white meat such as chicken, which is full of protein and generally cheaper than red meat. With the potential money you save, why not treat you and your family to an activity day.

No 8. Swap big brands for own brands. We are all creatures of habit and often don’t even look at the cheaper own branded versions of goods but more often or not, they all taste exactly the same – at a fraction of the price!

No 9. Use a weight-loss app instead of joining the gym. Millions of us Brits join the gym every January, to find that we spend hundreds of pounds on a membership that we end up using only for the Jacuzzi. Fitness Apps can be a free alternative dedicated to measuring your progress without the need of a personal trainer.

No 10. Go to the supermarket in the evening. 24 hour supermarkets have popped up all over the country and they often have perfectly good, fresh food reduced.  Instead of stocking up on frozen foods, going regularly to the supermarket means you’ll be eating fresh food daily. Make sure you’ve eaten before you go though to stop those impulse buys if you’re hungry!