There’s plenty to love in Waitrose, food and drink heaven for those with deep pockets. But one of my favourite things about this middle class favourite is what it leaves out. As supermarkets have grown in size, especially when sited in out of town retail parks, they have evolved into the French hypermarché model: selling everything from games and toys to books and fashion.
There’s a time and a place for all this, but I appreciate the stripped back focus of Waitrose, even if its bigger stores do now carry more non-food lines from John Lewis.
Overall, this judicious edit produces a supermarket experience of mostly killer and very little filler, even if I can’t afford to go every week. Better still, according to my 10-year-old, this makes it the most boring supermarket to visit, leaving her with nothing to do but help with the actual shop.
If you haven’t been in for a while because of cost, you’re not alone. As fanciness goes, this is a supermarket with its own farm! But Waitrose has done some careful work in extending its Essentials lines, showing customers what they’re paying for and running frequent 20 per cent off discounts.
I enjoy going there knowing it’s rarely for a big shop – it’s too expensive to get everything. This means I can focus on buying my fun and delicious favourites rather than boring everyday must-haves, which I tend to leave behind. This is what I’d always add to my basket.
Ukraine launches ‘massive’ drone attack more than 600 miles inside Russia
Ukraine has launched a deadly drone attack on a major Russian oil refinery, the regional authorities have said.
What happened?
Ukraine launched a drone attack on a major Russian oil refinery in the Tatarstan region, more than 600 miles into the country.
The mayor of Nizhnekamsk, Radmir Belyayev, now says at least 12 people have been killed and a further 39 injured in the attack on the city.
Watch the fallout from the attack on the Russian oil refinery
Recent attacks on Russian oil
The TANECO refinery, owned by Russian oil company Tatneft, is located in Nizhnekamsk and was also hit by Ukraine in early June.
On 6 July, Kyiv struck Russia’s biggest oil refinery in Omsk – more than 1,500 miles from the Ukrainian border – and forced it to halt operations.
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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announces decision to freeze eggs
New York Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has revealed that she has decided to freeze her eggs.
What happened?
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), 36, has announced she is going to freeze her eggs and will be sharing the process online.
The congresswoman revealed her decision to undergo fertility treatment in a series of Instagram stories this weekend. “This is a choice that I am making to feel more in control of my life,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
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Why is AOC sharing her journey publicly?
I think it’s important for us as leaders to have these conversations and share these processes.
In an interview on , Ocasio-Cortez also said she wanted to “normalise” conversations about the process, adding that it was important “especially in this political environment”.
How cutting exercise drives up likelihood of cancer
According to new research, dropping even just a few minutes of vigorous exercise every day can push up the risk of cancer.
Here is everything you need to know.
What are the risks?
Experts have found that swapping exercise for more sedentary behaviour – such as watching an episode of a TV soap opera or sitting at a desk – drives up the cancer risk by up to 15 per cent.
They also warned that people who have been active during their lives should do all they can to maintain exercise, as even small drops in activity can affect health.
What does the research show?
What was studied?
The research, published in , looked at people’s lifestyles to find the link between exercise cancer risk.
Who was studied?
The analysis included 59,218 people (55 per cent female) with an average age of 61.7 from the UK.
The outcome
The research found that the more people moved, the lower their risk of cancer.
What can you do to reduce the risk?
- 1Replacing 15 minutes of sedentary behaviour with 15 minutes of movement were each linked to a 2 per cent reduced risk of cancer.
- 2Swapping 30 minutes of movement for 30 minutes of sedentary behaviour increased the risk by 8 per cent.
- 3While swapping it for sleep increased the risk by 7 per cent.
The expert view
The take-home message is that for people already leading physically active lives, it’s really important to maintain that level of activity as you get older.
Dr John Mitchell, lead author from University College London
Are you having as much sex as everyone else?
It’s natural for libido to wax and wane due to life events, dating status or hormonal changes.
And it can be hard to say what a “normal” sexual frequency is. But research and case studies give us a rough idea.
The statistics
When it happens
61%
A 2023 survey concluded that almost two thirds (61 per cent) of us wait until night-time to have sex.
Only 14 per cent opt to get busy in the early evening, and 10 per cent in the morning.
Research from 2019 suggests that the average number of times British live-in or married couples have sex per month is three.
Are Gen Z having less sex than older people?
I see my partner on the weekends and have sex with others in the week.
Leanne, a 27-year-old influencer from Bristol has sex three or four times a week, but only sees her long-distance partner on the weekends. They have agreed they can both sleep with other people during the week.
35-year-old Rebecca usually sleeps with her partner once or twice per week due to not having much child-free time.
Clare, 32, says her job is busy and she has to schedule sex with her partner on weekends, or some afternoons twice a month. “Occasionally this slips and I do worry that it makes us not as connected,” she says.
I haven’t had the issue of my sex life drying up with menopause. I’m more aroused now.
I’ve been married for 15 years. I love my husband, but our sex life is non-existent, and has been for about five years.
I’m not really motivated to seek out partners; I vaguely like the idea of it but not enough to take any action.
I’ve been married for 20 years and sex has become something of a rarity. We maybe have sex once a week on a Sunday morning as we’re both relaxed and I can take Viagra late on Saturday night – without it, I can’t perform.
JACK, 63, OFFICE WORKER, KENT
The seven rules that could save your marriage
Keep your sense of self
I did what I thought I was supposed to do and forgot my needs and wants. I think it’s really important that you’re an individual and not just a person who is married.
KATIE STRATFORD*, A 55-YEAR-OLD MUM OF TWO, WHO DIVORCED ATER 19 YEARS
Seven rules to save your marriage
The small things
Small things, like being brought a cup of tea or saying thank you, make a big difference.
Karen Deulofeu, who ended her six-year marriage, believes all couples should seek support, even before they think they need it.
Listen properly by repeating what you have heard and ask if you’ve got that right.
Don’t lose communication
People don’t talk about the deep issues; nobody else is going to do it for you. You don’t want to ask questions because it might rock the boat…you have to keep talking, and talk about what it is that you want within the relationship to keep going forward.
KATIE STRATFORD
Seven rules to save your marriage
Remember that things change
“What you see on social media and what friends say is quite often the nice version. Everything is a phase,” says Deulofeu.
Look at yourself first
“Focus on what’s in your control and what you can do differently, rather than the other person or a situation that you can’t control. Invest in understanding yourself,” she adds.
There are things that all mid-life men should know about keeping their hearts healthy.
From eating more purple fruit to avoiding large bowls of pasta, consultant cardiologist Dr Zoe Astroulakis [below] shares her simple lifestyle habits she wishes her patients would take on board.
Positive changes to make
Swap ‘bad’ fats for healthy ones
You don’t need to eat a fat-free diet; the key is to reduce your saturated fat. Reduce your dairy and swap your red meat for lean meat such as chicken and oily fish.
Control your portions
You don’t need more carbohydrates in a meal than you can fit in your hand. Enormous plates of pasta can cause blood sugar spikes, which can lead to health problems.
Positive changes to make
Look for purple
Blueberries, black grapes and aubergines are great for boosting “good” cholesterol.
Have oats
Porridge is one of the healthiest breakfast options because it’s full of soluble fibre.
Stop taking cocaine
It can provoke a massive heart attack, even in younger people who don’t have existing artery problems.
Stay below the alcohol limit
- The NHS guidelines of 14 units per week is still more than 1,000 additional calories.
- The safest level to aim for is zero.
- If you’re drinking, make sure you have some alcohol-free days each week and space it out.
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Positive changes to make
Do cardio too
Don’t only focus on lifting weights. It might make you look toned, but it says nothing about the health of your heart.
Check your levels
You can get free blood pressure checks in many pharmacies or you can buy a monitor for around £30 to use at home.
Avoid night shifts
It disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm and can lead to increased cholesterol.
A sign to look out for
A beer belly is a sign you need to make urgent changes
It’s usually a sign you’re drinking too much. By the time your belly starts to bulge, it’s a sign that you’re consuming excess calories and storing too much fat internally.
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Want a new career but worried it’s too late?
Mid-life is not too late to start again, says experienced recruiter Elizabeth Willetts [below].
Here, Willetts shares the best jobs to switch to during midlife if you want a change – without sacrificing pay.
Changing careers in your fifties
Mid-life career pivots can lead to higher earnings.
7.4%
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, workers aged 45 to 54 who voluntarily pivot jobs see an average wage growth of 7.4 per cent.
3.5%
And those aged 55 to 64 still see a 3.5 per
cent increase.
The AARP Global Employee Survey also found that over half of workers who changed jobs voluntarily experienced improvements in work flexibility and mental health.
So what job options are there?
Virtual assistant
As a virtual assistant your workload will be very varied and it could be anything from tidying inboxes, booking travel, sending invoices or updating spreadsheets.
You can start out earning around £20 to £35 an hour, but it can scale into agency work, launch support or even project management. Some earn very well.
What it involves
You will source, screen and interview candidates to match them with the right job roles.
Who it’s for
You don’t need any qualifications but it’s suited to communicators and commercially-minded people.
The pay
The salary van vary from £25 to £50k, but you can earn around £100k depending on commission.
Jobs to switch to in your fifties
Estate agent
It offers flexible hours and weekend staff can earn £15 per hour.
This form of coaching for businesses could earn around £250 to £1,000 per day.
In the lower end, a sales rep can make £30k and on the higher end £50-60k, plus commission.
Why coaching is a good option
Coaching is incredibly varied and can be anything from career coaching, to confidence and leadership coaching.
- As it is an unregulated industry, you don’t need qualifications but the more reputable option is the International Coaching Federation.
- It’s a great career option for older people because clients genuinely value your wealth of life experience.
- It’s flexible, scalable, and you can start doing it part-time alongside another role.
- It could make you anything from £200 an hour, all the way up to £500 p/h+.
This can be across HR, operations, marketing, finance, people strategy or project management, as it’s varied.
Price on value, not hours – if your advice saves a client £200k, charging £150 an hour undersells what you’re worth.
Do some foods leave
you feeling hungry rather than satiated? Experts say there are…
Foods that leave you hungrier
A bowl of cereal and glass of orange juice
More refined cereals are digested quickly, and fruit juice, whilst one of your five-a-day, contains less fibre than whole fruit. This might mean you find yourself hungry again within 1-2 hours of eating this breakfast.
Swap the orange juice for a whole orange, the cereal for oats and milk or serve it with Greek yoghurt or a boiled egg. This would increase the fibre and protein content; two nutrients strongly linked with fullness.
Foods that leave you hungrier
These pastries are made primarily from refined flour and butter, and are relatively low in protein and fibre.
Toast and jam
Shop-bought packs can contain a lot of white rice, which is digested quickly, and the protein content is often modest.
Foods that leave you hungrier
Vegetable soup
On its own, it is often very low in protein and calories, so hunger can return quickly.
Unless it’s loaded with veggies, it’s probably pretty low in fibre.
Liquids are generally less filling as they require little chewing which may not trigger satiety signals.
Foods that leave you hungrier
Snack bars
They are ideal for a quick pick-me-up, but if reducing hunger is what you’re after, it’d be better to swap it out.
Low-fat yoghurt
A full-fat plain Greek yoghurt with berries and seeds tends to be much more filling due to the protein, fat and fibre.
On an empty stomach, it can actually increase your appetite.
What to eat instead
Instead of thinking about avoiding foods, think about what you can add to them.
- Add beans, lentils or shredded chicken to your vegetable soup and pasta.
- Thicken your smoothies with Greek yoghurt, chia seeds and oats.
- Apple slices with peanut butter, yogurt with berries and hummus with oat biscuits are better snack options than a pre-made snack bar.
- Have alcohol alongside a balanced meal containing protein and fibre.
Local products
There’s always a stand of local products near the front of my nearest store, encouraging customers to explore their home turf. For me, living in Kent, this week that means bottles of Dogbolter Dark Porter from Ramsgate brewery Gadds’, wine from Chapel Down, a great value English producer, and Kentish Oils cold-pressed rapeseed oil, a tasty and reasonably priced (£9 per litre) alternative to olive oil that works on salads and in cooking.
Fresh herbs
I’ve written before about the low price of fresh herbs in some of the discount supermarkets, but they never have much variety. We miss out on the wonderful and distinctive taste of many herbs when we don’t grow them and they’re tricky to find in shops. If I want dill, chives, sage, dill or tarragon, I’ll head straight to Waitrose and it’s unlikely I’ll be let down.
The wet fish counter
I’m lucky enough to live closer to a fishmonger than a supermarket but it closes at lunchtime and Waitrose is the next best thing. There’s 20 per cent off some products on Fridays for my Waitrose card holders.
Wildfarmed bread
Mass-produced bread has been at the centre of fears over ultra-processed foods (UPFs), owing to the large number of additives it often contains. Wildfarmed is one of very few widely available bakers to offer UPF-free products, including sourdough, sliced bread, rolls, crumpets and baguettes, using regenerative farming methods that protect and enrich the land. This will cost you. The sliced seeded loaf is £4.09/kg compared with £2.06/kg for a Hovis sliced seeded loaf.
I recently chose the Waitrose No. 1 wood-fired smoky five cheese pizza as my favourite supermarket pizza to pick up for a World cup TV dinner. I couldn’t look at another pizza for weeks after eating around 20 for that piece, but when I spotted this cheesy beast in Waitrose last weekend I was very nearly tempted – especially given the current offer of two pizzas, usually £6.75 each, plus a bottle of Prosecco for £16.
This inspiring range encompasses everything the home cook might need from many kinds of fresh chillies to vanilla pods. I can find most of these at other supermarkets but when I need more obscure items such as panko breadcrumbs and tempura batter, I try Waitrose first.
Olive oil
I spend half my shopping time searching out the cheapest extra virgin olive oil and the rest looking for interesting new bottles, which can be expensive. Waitrose has an outstanding range at both ends of the spectrum, with its own brand EVOO from £8/l and some of my favourites such as Belazu, Odysea and Karyatis, right up to Alziari at a whopping £45/l (not today, thanks).
My current squeeze is all-purpose Good Phats, simply because it comes in one of the restaurant-style plastic condiment bottles popularised by chefs on social media. I’m that basic. But it’s so easy to use and you use less as it doesn’t slosh everywhere. The Good Phats Spanish oil is £16/l, but Waitrose also has a much cheaper option, La Espanola, which isn’t extra virgin but is £8.60/l and ideal for cooking and dressings.
Michelin-starred ready meals
Kind of. Chef Angela Hartnett, who has a Michelin star for her Mayfair restaurant Murano, has developed a new Italian line for Waitrose which launched in June. These fresh pastas and sauces and an outstanding lasagne are the dishes you should treat yourself to when you don’t want to cook but accept that popping out for dinner or ordering in has become wildly expensive. Most of the pastas are £6 and the sauces £4. I loved the meaty choices, slow-braised beef & veal quadratini and slow-braised pork & beef girasoli, for their depth of flavour, while the focaccia is salty, springy and exceptional.
Protest the tariffs: buy Canadian. Waitrose is one of few shops that sell different kinds of maple syrup. If you’re a fan of cooking with it as well as using it on pancakes and in dressings, this matters. The darker syrup comes from the same trees as the amber syrup, but is tapped later in the season, which gives it a deeper, more treacly flavour, while the lighter syrup is more like caramel.
You can buy these lollies online but I haven’t seen them in any bricks and mortar store apart from Waitrose. Blackcurrant has a brilliant flavour and is a woefully underused ingredient. These are mouthpuckeringly good.
Frozen raspberries & cherries
You can make almost instant frozen desserts with frozen fruit and Waitrose has a really good range. This summer I am going for cherries, which I blitz in the food processor with a little maple or agave syrup and lime juice. I usually add a bit of whatever dairy I have available for texture, such as Greek yoghurt or coconut milk. You could slurp this right up as a frozen smoothie, or hang on for half a day while it firms up in the freezer. If you’d like a recipe, search for Ixta Belfrage’s cherry and coconut sorbet on Instagram. Cheaper than splurging on the Ninja Creami gadget I lust after.
English wine
Waitrose has a wide selection of homegrown wine, and even more online at Waitrose Cellar, from its own Leckford Estate English Sparkling to Ridgeview and Nyetimber, along with still wines I love from Simpsons, a pink Pinot Noir and a Chardonnay.
All of the cheese
Waitrose carries an extraordinarily strong range of cheese, from fridge staples like Cheddar and Parmesan to award-winning farmhouse products like Cropwell Bishop Stilton, Appleby’s Cheshire and Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire, the holy trinity of brilliant British cheese.