Every year during Fairtrade Fortnight, shoppers are encouraged to remember exactly where their food comes from.

Unlike countries that adore Shrove Tuesday (or Mardi Gras) and break out the feathered bikinis, parades and fireworks without hesitation, Pancake Day in Britain is a more indoor, cosy, Jif Lemon-focused affair.

Ultimately, Australian personal trainer James Duigan tells his clients what they need (but might not want) to hear: "Cut out C.R.A.P."

His favourite childhood moment was receiving a box of Thorntons Continental. He's credited with inventing the first Marmite-flavoured chocolate. And he once spent a school trip to France, aged 14, nipping off to find patisseries.

If you haven't ordered your whole pig ready for roasting yet - to encourage good luck and family unity for the coming year, of course - you're clearly running a little behind.

Unless you're involved in planning the opening ceremony at the Olympics, it's likely you'll be thrifty in 2012.

As the average British family spends over £500 on Christmas, according to charity Family Action, it's no wonder we're all feeling the pinch this month. And when the finances are looking precarious, it can be hard to know where to make savings.

Forget mundane healthy cooking, what every girl looking to drop a dress size needs is food she can get her teeth into. So says Jennifer Joyce, author of new book Skinny Meals In Heels.

After clearing the floors of gift wrap and tinsel, and making it through the mountain of dirty dishes in the sink, it's time to tackle the leftovers in the fridge.

Misshapen tree decorations, glitter encrusted cookies and a kitchen that's had its very own white Christmas, flour-style. When children are involved, nothing ever looks quite like it does in the picture.

At the age of 70, Delia Smith continues to radiate careful, controlled perfectionism.

The combination of tight budgets and the festive season is bringing out the inner Kirstie Allsopp in all of us.