FESTIVE SHOPPING - RAISING AWARENESS

When it comes to festive shopping why not make it a little less stressful. After hours on your feet wouldn't it be nice to come home to something you've prepared earlier? 
Being prepared is one thing, being aware is another.
While you are out shopping, look out for these eye catching Christmas tree decorations!
The UK male cancer charity ORCHID has launched a campaign to raise money for life saving research. The campaign has been endorsed by a number of celebrities too.
'Check your bauballs' - is designed to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer.
Why not grab a 'bauball' at just £5 each for this worthy cause.
They are available from House of Fraser stores now and from the end of November you can by them online at http://www.checkyourbauballs.com.
Why not raise a smile along with raising awareness and decorate your tree with bravado!

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Now for being prepared - this is something we like to do and it has helped us to keep the weight off. Festive shopping can be quite demanding and you probably won't want to be standing around in the kitchen rustling up a meal from scratch. So having a meal half prepared is better than arriving home with only enough energy to pick up the phone and dial a takeaway.
This PASTA AND MEATBALLS recipe will serve you well. I've no idea why I thought of this particular recipe…  but it will certainly hit the spot after a long day.
You may be surprised to find just how much you've 'worked out' while shopping. But what does all this mean for you?
During my last shopping spree I clocked up over three whole miles! Walking each mile (relative to my height and weight) was equal to working out at around 80 calories per mile - or 240 calories in total to be precise. Take in a few stairs and shun the escalator and you can add a few more calories to that total.
If you would like to know more about calories and just what it can do for you and your weight, then why not take a look at our calories page for more details. 
Now what better way to spend your calories! You can prepare most of this beforehand - here's just how easy it is to make:

MEATBALLS & PASTA

Ingredients

Dried pasta 

Two good quality sausages per person - there are some interesting flavours around.

Simply remove skins from sausages and roll into little balls - do this ahead of all that festive shopping.

When ready to eat, fry gently until cooked.

Meanwhile cook the pasta according to the instructions. 

Look out for DRIED BRONZE PASTA in your supermarket - it does make a difference in our opinion. The sauce sticks well and doesn't end up on the plate or down your shirt and, generally, the pasta is less slippery.

FOR THE EASY TOMATO SAUCE

Ingredients

one large onion

one clove garlic 

large tin of chopped tomatoes

your chosen herbs and spices (we added basil, thyme & rosemary)

tablespoon tomato puree

salt & pepper

a little sugar or honey

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This can be prepared beforehand and heated up when you get home.

Sauté a large onion, add garlic and cook for a minute. 

Add a large tin of chopped tomatoes, your chosen herbs and spices and tomato puree. Stir and add salt and pepper to taste. 

Simmer the mixture until the water evaporates and you have a thick, rich and tasty sauce - without fat. 

Depending on the tinned tomatoes you use you may find you need to add a very small amount of honey or sugar. Add this sparingly and keep tasting.

Combine the ingredients and enjoy!

I sprinkled mine with lots of parmesan. 

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EAT the food you love - like we do. It may just stop you snacking and craving!
REMEMBER: We all have a calorie allowance - why not find out what yours is? We like to post our main meals to show you what CAN be eaten.

You won’t find us posting every last morsel though – but we hope this gives you an idea of how far calories can go!

Read about our UNIQUE METHOD of weight loss and find out how we have lost weight eating the food we love.

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