I'm a food editor - 10 things I always buy at Sainsbury's

When I was in my twenties, a friend of mine moved to the suburbs and told me she was thrilled to now live near a giant Sainsbury’s. I was equally thrilled to have not yet died inside, and left her happy in the knowledge that I would never, ever list “living near one of Britain’s biggest retailers” among my principle life achievements.

And yet, here we are, with me a five-minute drive from a mega Saino’s that has a huge clothing department, as well as selling everything from Habitat homeware to all of Argos’ essential wares – from electric fans to Lego. I can pick up my holiday money there, too.

I do try to stick to food when I visit, however, and go about once a month, mostly to stock up on the brands that I can’t buy elsewhere and some of my favourite Taste the Difference products.

But staff say many people treat their shops like a tip.

Here they share the most useful donations they get, and the
ones that drive them mad.

The quality of donations over the last year has diminished.

Claire Stockman, head of retail for St
Luke’s Hospice [pictured], says many donations include used items from fast fashion like Boohoo and Primark, which they cannot sell for more than £2, if at all.

of what comes into St Luke’s Hospice is unsellable, Stockman says.

She adds its soiled, damaged beyond
repair or smelly.

Harriet, a volunteer at Crisis in Dalston,
says people bring in clothes that are dirty and stained – things that they cannot sell
on Vinted.

She also sees dirty kitchenware and technology that no longer works.

There was a box donated after someone’s family had passed and in it were all these medals. I researched them and the whole collection ended up going for £2,340…

A good donation is anything new with tags on, anything that hasn’t been opened, or higher quality items.

Items that have been well looked after are more likely to sell and generate a better price for charity too.

Harriet adds that knick-knacks and wine glasses are surprise hits in her branch.

Here, psychologists, career consultants and sleep experts give their best advice on how
to beat the gloom that the
work week is looming…

Pave the way on Friday

Psychologist Maria-Teresa Daher-Cusack says to wrap up tasks and not to leave big or difficult things for Monday. And write a to-do list for the next week so you know what to expect when you return after the weekend.

Get outside early

Doctor Naheed Ali says getting out on a Sunday morning – not sleeping late – helps regulate the circadian rhythm that can become skewed over the weekend.

On Sunday spend time away from technology to allow yourself a personal reset away from doom scrolling.

Put yourself in the best position to rest by avoiding large meals, screens and caffeine.

If possible don’t stack your Mondays with high-pressure tasks.

Don’t just save joyful things for the weekend. On lunch breaks, try to do something you enjoy.

If the Sunday scaries are constant, listen to them. If every Sunday fills you with dread and nothing seems to quell it it’s worth asking if it’s the job, the culture or the career itself. No one should spend half their weekend bracing for impact… ” says Victoria McLean

But no country’s energy system is 100 per cent secure and large-scale blackouts, although rare, are possible.

Here’s how to prepare, and what could happen, if we do have a blackout.

If the UK’s power went down tomorrow, these are the ways it is likely to impact you first.

For EV owners that are already on the road, Professor Keith Bell, who works in electricity planning, recommends that those with an EV with reasonable charge use it as a generator, like your own store of electricity.

In the case of the power system going down, petrol isn’t a totally safe option as queues at petrol stations could be huge and places are likely to run out of fuel.

The longer the power takes to return the worse things are likely to get. In 2021 Storm Arwen physically damaged power lines across the UK.

During the 1977 New York blackout, which lasted 25 hours, there was civil unrest, resulting in widespread looting and arson, although intense heatwaves are thought to have exacerbated the situation.

To get updates during a power cut – a car radio can be used, but in severe weather it might be safer to stay inside.

A minimum of 2.5-3 litres of drinking water per person per day is recommended.

The Government recommends opting for torches over candles, for safety reasons.

Using screens in a way that benefits your child’s development is key and balancing educational content and entertainment with offline activities ensures a well-rounded routine.

For younger children, try scavenger hunts, garden games and nature walks. For older ones, hikes
and biking trips.

Designated screen-free times helps children develop a routine that balances screen use with other activities.

It’s an excellent way
to bond and develop critical thinking skills.

Getting creative, through drawing, painting or model construction, enhances cognitive skills and offers an alternative to screens.

Arrange playdates or group activities with friends, or for older kids try an overnight camping trip in the garden.

Showing that you value offline time encourages your children to do the same.

Implement a reward system where screen time is earned through positive behaviour. 

Discuss the importance of balancing screen time with your children so they understand the reasons behind the rules.

Some studies suggest so.

These are the eight brain-boosting foods registered dietitian Fareeha Jay
recommends people consume as part of a weekly diet…

They contain several nutrients thought to support brain health, including choline, vitamin B12 and iodine.

Caffeine can reduce inflammation and
slow the degeneration
of brain cells.

It’s packed with antioxidants and high in vitamin K, which is essentially for healthy brain cells.

Your brain uses Omega-3s to build brain and nerve cells – so a diet rich in them may slow age-related mental decline.

These improve heart health markers, which is linked to a lower risk of neurological disorders.

They contain compounds which have been shown to improve blood flow to the brain, cognitive function, and memory.

There’s this assumption about being put out to pasture… but now that we’re living and working longer, we have to challenge myths around ageing and remember that over-50s are a crucial part of the workforce…

Yet more than a third of those between 50 and 69 believe that their age puts them at a disadvantage when they apply for jobs. 

The Age Without Limits study from 2024 shows that 37 per cent of workers between 51 to 70 felt badly treated in work because of their age.

We need the same level of career planning in
our fifties as our twenties. It’s possible to reinvent yourself again.

It’s nonsense that older people can’t pick up how to use new tech.

Do you need a pay rise? Could you trade some of that money you earn, to work a bit less, and do more things you enjoy?

Become full-time childcare

Grandparenting on the horizon? If you don’t want to do childcare, have the conversation early – even before a child becomes pregnant – that you plan to continue working and love your job.

Accept redundancy too quickly

It’s going to be so much harder to get back into work if you don’t have a plan before you take that leap.

Everybody thinks early retirement is the dream but the reality can be different. There can be loneliness, lack of purpose and a sense of invisibility. 

Boneless chicken thighs are all meat and a much tastier product.

If you plan every meal all week, there’s no leeway for necessary last-minute changes of plan (or leftovers).

There are so many products that children want to fill the trolley with – all kinds of exciting eye candy. It’s cheaper to go alone.

Consider a vegetable box delivery

Having a Riverford box delivery helps Morris avoid impulse buys and go to the shops
less – even though the box is pricey. “It is expensive, but of great quality and organic”.

Track your spending

It doesn’t need to be an elaborate spreadsheet but without some kind of metric, it’s impossible to spot where you
can or must make cutbacks.

You can save plenty
over a year by never buying branded products at full price.

Do a quick cupboard stocktake. You might find you already have three jars of one thing.

Packing fruit, biscuits, and nuts etc into a Tupperware to take out is more cost effective than buying tiny packaged portions.

“Faking” a takeaway at home can sound like a cheaper option, but if it’s something you don’t usually cook – that needs new ingredients – it could work out pricier.

Returning a few things to the shelves that you won’t need in the near future can save you a healthy amount.

Every time you make do with what’s at home,
you save big.

Try a week or a month of shopping local,
and you might be surprised at the results,
in terms of cost and other benefits like supporting local businesses, and
avoiding car journeys and traffic.

Rebecca Jones has tried most cleaning products in her
decades-long career.

She shares the ones she can’t
live without.

Henry is a classic.
It has fantastic filters, sucks up pet hair quickly, and is great at cleaning up fine dust. 

The Vileda H2PrO set is light, manoeuvrable and keeps clean and dirty water separate.

The HG Glass and
Mirror cleaner removes stains without leaving smudges or streaks.

Best multipurpose cleaner

Method’s multi-surface cleaner is plant-based, cruelty-free, and works great on grease, sinks, sealed wood surfaces, hobs, bins and sealed laminated floors.

Best toilet brush

Unlike a regular toilet brush, nothing gets stuck in the bristles of Ibergrif M34152 Silicone brush. It also dries quickly, so
there’s less odour.

Jones uses the HG Mould Spray on walls, tiles, grout, windows and outdoor furniture.

The Seep Eco Bamboo clothes have a streak-free finish and last.

Every home should have a bottle of Dr Beckmann’s stain remover, says Jones.

Best stain remover

The Mr Siga Multi-Functional Eraser Sponge acts like fine sandpaper to lift
dirt, stains, and scuffs using only water.

Best kept secret

Jones uses Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser to polish stainless-steel, scour sinks and clean her fridge and cookware.

You might think you can buy milk anywhere, and you might be right, but for me, Sainsbury’s has the biggest and best selection of every kind of milk. I buy organic full fat dairy milk, which I can’t get at discount supermarkets for some reason. The BBC recently reported that full fat milk sales are increasing, due to a backlash against the ultra-processed ingredients in some non-dairy milk. Guernsey Dairy has seen full fat milk sales increase by 30 per cent since 2019, while low fat sales have dropped by 23 per cent. I buy Yeo Valley or splash out on Taste the Difference full cream Jersey milk.

There’s also a great selection of non-dairy milk and I get Plenish or Rude Health coconut milk, which is delicious.

More dairy, but Sainsbury’s does have a really great selection of good value cheese. I buy Chaource, an incredibly creamy French cheese and a centrepiece addition to any cheeseboard for just £3.75. Add a Comte (£2.95) or a Gruyere (£4.75) and the £3 Roquefort and you have a brilliant selection for under £12. Sainsbury’s also sells the sheep’s milk mountain cheese Ossau-Iraty for £4.50, which is smooth and sweet and nutty and one of my all-time favourites. We get through a fair amount of Camembert, too, and I’ll buy Président of Le Rustique, depending on the price.

When I do taste tests, I look at price in terms of value, rather than how cheap something is, and am often surprised when I find that I want to spend more on a product than I typically would. Before testing feta cheese, I had always erred towards the cheaper lines costing under £3, especially as I often bake it, but Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference barrel-aged Greek feta, £3.50/200g has a really interesting rounded flavour with notes of fruit, herbs and citrus, without being overwhelmingly strong.

I was really impressed with Sainsbury’s albacore tuna when I tried it for a previous tuna taste test, giving it four out of five, and I now buy it regularly. It’s £2.50/160g or £15.94/kg, which is incredibly reasonable for MSC-certified albacore.

The jars at £4/220g are also great value as the fish comes in extra virgin olive oil. You can also buy the superior Ortiz brand in Sainsbury’s, which is called “bonito del norte”, but costs considerably more at £51.34/kg, or £5.75 for a 112g can.

I love all kinds of rice cakes and Kallo is my go-to brand for the lightly-salted (plain) variety as well as the dark-chocolate coated rice cakes, which also come in dinky snackpacks. A friend recently introduced me to the beetroot and balsamic flavour, which makes for a dream mid-afternoon bite situation laden with cream cheese. In my experience, Sainsbury’s has the best range of Kallo products and is always competitive on price.

There are often great offers on whisky and I’ll stock up when the price is right. Last month, for example, I bagged a bottle of Laphroaig for my husband, when the 10-year-old single malt was reduced to just £29 and before Christmas, bought a bottle of Bowmore for a similar price.

These are a favourite in our house and I was honoured to be named the top buyer in our local store a few years ago. When they’re on offer as they are now, down from £2.70 to £2.30, I stock up. Even full price, they’re cheaper than Tesco and Waitrose.

This is one of my all-time favourite chocolate ice creams. It has a wonderfully intense chocolate flavour, but don’t be put off if you prefer milk to dark, as the generous amount of West Country double cream gives a rich mouthfeel with none of the bitterness some people say puts them off dark chocolate. A steal at £3.50 per tub.

I stock up on Itsu gyoza whenever I’m in Sainsbury’s. If you have a bag of these in the freezer and some rice or noodles and broccoli, you have a meal. If you don’t need a full meal, they will keep children happy in the interim. Of course, I can buy Itsu at the other supermarkets, but Sainsbury’s – especially my beloved huge local store – has not only a wide range but also ongoing offers. At the time of writing, for example, 12 chicken gyoza are £3 at Sainsbury’s (Nectar price), £4.25 at Tesco, £4.24 at Asda and £4.50 at Waitrose.

Another branded item that I can’t get in cheaper retailers. There are lots of dupes about, but Crodino, a bright yellow and bitter cordial in iconic packaging, never fails me when I want a complex and grown up drink without the alcohol.

If people ask where my shirt is from, I might respond with the words, “Just a little French boutique called TU”. If you know, you know.