1. Read the small print on food packaging .

Nutrition labelling information has to be factual and accurate. Look for the ‘kcal’ sign under energy to get an accurate calorie reading per pack.

2. Learn the jargon, so you can spot the many guises of sugar and fat.

Names such as sucrose, glucose, fructose and maltose all mean the same as sugar! Vegetable oil is a fat!

3. Resist ‘feel-good' words or pictures on packaging.

For instance the lose weight campaign associated with Kelloges cereal. They suggest if you eat cereal you will automatically lose weight! If only!

4 . Beware: 'low-fat' and 'low-sugar' may not be all they seem.

Compare a low-fat ready meal with the full-fat equivalent; they may be very similar, except for the price. For example Ross frozen Riccota Cannelloni and Cauliflower Cheese at 99p per pack are not advertised as low calorie but are still within the 300 calorie limit Super Slim apply to convenience meals.

6. Once you've found brands you're happy with, make a note of them for your next shopping list.

7. Buy locally produced food in season if you can, for maximum freshness with minimum cost.

8. Choose fresh foods that are naturally high in vitamins and minerals, rather than processed, ready made foods with ‘added extras'.

9 . Ingredients.

Be aware that all ingredients are listed in the order of highest to lowest. So, if you see oil or sugar at the top of the ingredient list, you will know it’s something you should avoid.