Eat well on a budget

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We all know how important it is to eat well and have a highly nutritious diet, but doing that a budget doesn’t always seem possible.

We have had a look at how you can eat well and save pounds on your waistline and shopping bill.

Have a plan
Boring, maybe. Effective, definitely. Having a weekly meal plan means no last-minute microwave meals or takeaways because there is nothing in the cupboard. You can cover breakfast, lunch and dinner for each day of the week and will find that in no time at all you will no longer reach for the crisps when you come home from a hard day at work because you don’t know what to eat.

Buy what you need
Doing a ‘big shop’ might not be helping your quest to be healthy or to save money. Buy what you need for the next few days, then that is what you have to eat meaning you will have less waste. You might also find shopping online, using the cheaper and free delivery slots, helps you stop going buying the BOGOF offers you don ‘t need instead stock up on cans and other non perishable items that can be cheaper when bought in bulk.

Shop late in the day
You will be amazed at the fresh produce that is reduced at the end of the day to ensure it sells. Bananas, fish, meat, yogurt and bread are all up for grabs at a knock down price so be savvy and save money.

Freezer happy
Freeze any unused food, batch make curries and pasta sauces and if you aren’t going to eat something before (see above) the ‘best before’ – freeze it.

Buy frozen
Speaking of frozen food, you will find you waste less if you go for these options in the supermarket. Frozen fruit and vegetables are just as good for you than the fresh varieties as they are picked at the peak of freshness and frozen to seal in their nutrients. You will find many frozen fruit and vegetables come pre-chopped, ready to use and in handy portion sizes which not only help you eat sensibly but also save waste.

Don’t be a brand snob
Yes, the big brands have a good reputation but things like tinned tomatoes and sweetcorn, cereals and nuts will taste just as good whether they are the supermarket’s own option or the shiny famous choice. Go on, give it a go.

Be pulse happy
Beans, lentils and chickpeas are some super cheap but also packed with fibre, vitamins and are low-fat too. Using them to replace mince or chicken in meals like chilli con carne or chicken curry and you instantly have a cheaper, healthier and even tastier option.

Buy meat for less
If you spend longer cooking your meat, you can go for cheaper cuts like braising steak, shin or shoulder. Putting these in a slow cooker with hearty vegetables and stock is a great tasting meal at a good cost and if there are leftovers, have them for lunch the next day.

Cook from scratch
Forget creamy sauces and salt rich dressings and instead prepare your food from scratch. Social media has a wealth of great recipes that are easy to follow and as you tuck in you know exactly what you are eating.

Think about what you drink
With the new sugar tax now launched, there is one more reason to cut out the nutritious poor fizzy drinks from your diet. Water with lemon and cucumber is a great hydrator, smoothies offer a fruity punch and green tea is a sensible coffee swap.

Eating the healthy way doesn’t have to cost the earth but it certainly can help save some money.

Team Pure-Beauty

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Get on top of your finances in 2018

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Do you know how much you can afford to spend each month, or do you keep using you cards and then lie awake at night working out how you’ll pay for everything?

With Brexit just over a year away, businesses concerned about the future and the world in a volatile place, money worries are on the rise, as are prices, and debt seems to be a bigger issue for many people.

While rent and council tax take up a big chunk of incomes, those large costs often aren’t the problem, it’s the smaller bills that add up and the unexpected expenses that can cause stress.

We have had a look at how to keep on top of things so you don’t feel like you’re going under every time you look at your statement.

Have a budget
Yes, it sounds simple but sometimes going back to basics can be a good idea. Making a list of the money coming in and out each month lets you see exactly what is happening with your finances, rather than burying your head in the sand. Firstly look at income, then list all of your fixed costs and should including your housing, utility bills, standing orders, car payments, insurance and phone bills. Then look at your fluctuating costs such as food shopping, entertainment, holidays, pets and anything else you have to cover. With all of this in hand you can work out how much is left, or not, and where changes could potentially be made.

Shop for the bargains
We all like nice things, but there are many savings to be had out there, and deals can really help keep you buoyant. Buying presents in the sales, stocking up on school uniform when it’s half price and shopping around for cheaper car insurance might seem like an extra job to add to your list, but the pounds soon add up. It is also worth looking at the money off vouchers on leaflets, loyalty cards and incentives as these can make a real difference to your pocket.

Meal planning
Another way of saving money is by actually only buying the food you need and not letting fresh items go to waste. Before you go shopping, work out what you are going to eat in the week, include packed lunches and snacks, and only buy those items. Yes, BOGOF might seem like a deal you can’t miss out on, but when that extra cake or loaf of bread goes mouldy, you haven’t saved anything at all.If there are items deals going cheap at the end of the day, buy them but only if you are going to eat or freeze them straight away.

Turn off your lights
It is amazing how many people leave lights on, have the heating burning at full blast when they are out and let the water run as they brush their teeth. All of these things cost money, so turn things down and switch them off if you want to save money, and the environment.

Second hand options
Vintage, retro, upcycle are all on trend and for a good reason, they offer value. You don’t have to buy everything new and if you go to charity shops, car boot sales and auctions, you will amazed at the bargains there are to be had.

Rainy day fund
We all like to think the unexpected won’t happy to us, but it does. If you can, try to save a little money each month so that if the car does break down or the boiler goes wrong, you have a buffer and don’t hit the red.

Keep on track
Once you have your finances in place, don’t them slip. Making lists, having a database and checking your online banking on a weekly basis can help you keep on track. If you do feel things are spiralling out of control, talk things over with a trusted friend or speak to Citizens Advice Bureau but don’t let the bills pile up and the stress get on top of you.

What to do with the leftovers

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With a tummy full of food and drink, you might be tempted to just chuck away the leftovers from the festivities, but don’t. It’s a massive bin and there is no reason to throw it in the bin.

We have had a look at how to get the most out of your festive feasts and hard-earned cash.

Spicy Noodles
Whether you have a plate of leftover chicken, beef, turkey or tofu, noodles are the perfect way to use them up.

For a fast and easy lunch or supper, you will need:

250g medium egg noodles
500g cooked meat or other protein
2 spring onions, peeled chopped
1 red pepper, chopped and seeded
One bag of prepared bean sprouts, washed and drained
The juice of two fresh limes
1 tablespoon of soy sauce
2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 teaspoons of dark brown sugar
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 red chilli, thinly sliced

First things first, cook the noodles, then drain and rinse with boiling water and leave to cool. Mix the soy sauce, lime juice and sugar into a thin paste.

Next heat the oil in a wok and when hot add the garlic, chilli, meat and spring onions, gently fry for a couple of minute then add the noodles and the bean sprouts into the pan and cook for another minute or two.

Next add your sauce to the mix, toss everything together well and once all ingredients are piping hot, serve and add extra soy sauce if needed.

Festive Bubble and Squeak
This is the ultimate in post-Christmas comfort food and is great eaten in bowls watching your favourite movie.

To make four servings you will need:

1 medium parsnip
1 potato
Leftover Brussel sprouts and/or cabbage
1 garlic clove, crushed
Leftover turkey or chicken
A little gravy – around 2 tablespoons
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 large egg (free range)
Leftover cranberry sauce or mayonnaise

Peel the potato and parsnip, and then grate both into a bowl and spread the cabbage and sprouts.

Put the veg in a sieve and squeeze out as much liquid as you can, then put back into the bowl and beat in the egg as well as seasoning with the garlic, plus salt and pepper.

Once you have a sticky mess, shape into four small balls. Put the leftover meat into a pan and cook with the gravy over a low heat and gently cook until the turkey is warm. Next cook the balls for 3 minutes on each side until they are golden brown then add the cranberry or mayo and enjoy.

Festive Smoothie

As well as being left with plates of meat and veg, you will probably also find your fruit bowl is still full as people tend to opt for the chocolates over the apples and pears.

Don’t throw any of it away, instead use it to make a vitamin packed festive smoothie. For two delicious smoothies you will need:

2 apples, cored but with the peel left on
1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
1 clementine
Small handful of cashew nuts
2 cups of spinach (fresh or frozen)
1 cup of almond milk
Ice cubes

Start by adding the liquid to your blender, followed by the soft fruit. Blend on high for 30 seconds or until the smoothie is creamy, then add the remaining ingredients and ice. Blast until smooth and drink.

Team Pure-Beauty

How to shop in the sales

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Before we have even put our Christmas presents away, the shops have got their sale signs up and once again our credit cards come out and take a battering.

Yes, 40% off might seem like a bargain but it is a good idea to stop and think about what you are going to buy otherwise it could just be a huge waste of time and money.

If you approach sale shopping the smart way, you’ll get the most out of your cash, walk away with great purchases and avoid feelings of regret and shame.

Preparation
Sale shopping starts with preparation so look at what you already have so don’t simply buy another version of it. If you have five black dresses, will a sixth really change your life and while those boots might be 80% off, if you have two pairs the same already you aren’t making a saving at all.

Make a List
Just as you do for your weekly groceries, make a list before you head to the mall and this will help keep you focused. Sales are a great time to replace staples as well as finding classic items in excellent fabrics that won’t date. Dresses, trousers and jackets can be layered to take you from winter to spring and you can never go wrong with a smart wool coat if you want to make a fashion forward statement.

The Right Size
If you are a size 14 in jeans, buy a 14 and not a 12 hoping you will slim into them in the summer. Bargains are only bargains if you can wear them, so go for the right size and colour and prevent a trip to the charity shop in March.

Make Life Easy
Let’s be realistic, the shops will be busy, it will be warm and stuffy and by the time you get to the changing rooms you might be flustered. Go to the sales in easy to take off layers, use a rucksack to keep your hands free and if you can, shop alone.

Fuel Up
If you are out for several hours, take a break. Regular breaks to eat and drink will keep your energy levels up and stop you from getting distracted and impulse buying those bright pink hot pants you will end up having to take back the next day.

Set a Limit
When big discounts are on offer, it is easy to get carried away. Set yourself a spending limit and once you have reached it, call it a day and head home. There is no point cramming the car with shiny bags if it means ending up in debt and having to eat beans on toast until the summer.

Exchange and Refund Policies
Last of all, before you buy, just check the returns policy so you know that if that leather skirt isn’t quite right when you get home, you can take it back. Oh, and always keep your receipts safe.

Happy shopping.

Team Pure Beauty

The Mighty Mango

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almonds, avocados, balanced diet, beta-carotene, big, blemishes, blend, blueberries, breast, carotenoids, central, chopping board, colon, complexion, copper, cream, cubes, cup, cut, digestion, dry eyes, easy to manage, elimination, enzymes, exposed flesh, face mask, fibre, glow, halves, healthy and strong, heath promoting qualities, horizontal, hormone production, ice, Immune System Booster, leukaemia, lower cholesterol levels, natural beauties, night blindness, pattern, pectin, potassium, production, prostate cancer, protein, RDA, recharge, recipe, red blood cells, salsa, salt intake, seed, skin loving Vitamin E, sliced mango, spinach, spots, vertical, vitamin A, Vitamin B6, waste

The term ‘super-food’ is banded around the place like no one’s business at the moment. From avocados and spinach to almonds and blueberries, these natural beauties are all over the place, but no one ever really seems to put the mighty mango in this group?

Well, we think they should be and are here to put them on the healthy map.

Mangos grow in tropical climates and are a nutritionally rich fruit with a unique flavor, fragrance, taste, and it has so many heath promoting qualities we don’t know where to start.

Cancer Prevention
Some research has shown that the antioxidant properties in mango fruit can help protect against breast, colon and prostate cancers as well as leukaemia.

Eye Sight
A cup of sliced mango contains around 25% of the RDA of Vitamin A which is key to good eyesight and can prevent night blindness and dry eyes.

Cholesterol Count
Due to the high levels of fibre, pectin and Vitamin C in mangos they can help lower cholesterol levels.

Glowing Skin
Mangos help clear clogged pores and eliminate acne, and because they are rich in skin loving Vitamin E, your complexion will glow if you eat them as part of a balanced diet.

Digestion
Mangos are packed with clever enzymes that break down protein and come with fibre both of which help with digestion and elimination.

Immune System Booster
Due to the generous amounts of Vitamin A and Vitamin C, plus 25 different carotenoids, fresh mango is the perfect way to keep your immune system healthy and strong.

The Other Bits
Mangos also come with Vitamin B6 and other B vitamins that help with hormone production and prevent heart disease. They have plenty of potassium that balances out salt intake as well as copper that helps with the production of red blood cells.

So you have got your mango, but how do you prepare it so none goes to waste?

Hold the mango on its side and cut down either side of the large, central seed so you have two big halves.

Place each half on a chopping board, peel face down, and cut the exposed flesh in a horizontal and vertical pattern, taking care not to cut too deep through the skin or into your fingers. Then invert the whole half and push out easy to manage cubes.

You can use this cubes to make a super effective face mask. Simply blend the mango and apply to the face and let your skin soak up the beta-carotene and Vitamin C help which will repair spots and blemishes and recharge your complexion.

Otherwise eat the mango solo, on cereal, in smoothies, add it to salads, pop on the top of ice cream, mix into a salsa, blend into yogurt, make a pie. The ideas are endless, the taste is incredible.

Got a mango recipe you like, send it over, we would love to give it a try.

Team Pure Beauty