Easy food hacks for 2025

In a bid to start 2025 on the right foot, we’ve uncovered a few no-brainer food hacks that could aid your sleep, make your skin look brighter and help to reduce your cholesterol levels and blood pressure at the same time.

The trick is to make simple swaps that work with your lifestyle so they become effortless daily habits you can stick with. Here's what one week of nurtitional tips could look like.

Even the simplest of changes to your day can have a big impact, like starting every morning with a small glass of lemon water before your usual coffee.

This really couldn’t be easier: squeeze half a lemon into a small tumbler, fill it with hot water and, well, drink.  

Just one lemon contains almost half of your daily recommended vitamin C, it helps you maintain healthy skin and bones, and the acid works to break down food and aid digestion.

Whether its low blood sugar, boredom or plain old emotional eating, arming yourself with healthier snacks can keep you on track. Fill your handbag, pockets and gym bag with small bags of nuts and dried fruit, flapjacks or a Bounce Ball to break out in case of emergency, so you’ll at least be loading up on healthy fats, vits and minerals when the munchies strike.

We all know you ideally need five fruit and veg a day but it's easier said than done. Having at least one with every meal and making snacks fruit or veg based makes things easier.

Start your day with a handful of berries on your cereal or topping your peanut butter on toast with a chopped banana. Or opt for a homemade smoothie – try this Winter Green Juice. 

Opt for soup or a huge salad for your lunch and have a handful of blueberries as an afternoon snack. You're already on four of your five-a-day and it’s only mid-afternoon.

According to the NHS you ideally need six to eight glasses of H2O every day. Low-fat milk, sugar-free drinks, including tea and coffee, all count, but you can’t beat good ole tap water for hydration.

Studies also show that drinking water before a meal can reduce the amount of calories you consume. So invest in a water bottle you love, top it up in the morning and set yourself the goal of drinking the whole thing before you press send on the last email of the day. 

A super easy small win is swapping butter or ghee with vegetable, coconut or olive oil, or reduced-fat spread when you’re cooking. You won't notice a change in flavour but you will cut your intake of saturated fats. 

Stock up on healthy staples like brown rice, lentils, wholemeal pasta, canned fish and frozen vegetables too, so you can always rustle up something wholesome. See Waitrose tried and trusted healthy recipes for inspo. They're so tasty you won't be so tempted by a Friday night takeout.

While you're at it, clear your cupboards of unhealthy treats and elegantly stash the good stuff using these practical storage options.

Hurrah, it’s the weekend and your nutrition levels are looking up after five days of new routines. Another good habit is to add ‘good’ fats like nuts and seeds to your breakfast or lunch.

Cashews, almonds, pistachios, walnuts, peanuts and hazelnuts are all packed with protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Seeds are also nutrition heroes – look for flaxseed, hemp, sesame and pumpkin plus all-star chia seeds which contain omega-3 fats, which can help to prevent heart disease.

If you chop up or crush garlic 15 minutes before you need to cook with it, an enzyme called alliinase is released that can help calm inflammation in your body’s cells and tissues.

Throw some in with your potatoes or joint and reap the delicious and health-giving rewards.

And just like that… seven tweaks you can make and stick to for improved nutrition all year.