Not eating meat is the choicest cut of all

It's easy for meat lovers to trim costs without compromising on flavour (Money hacks, 19 May). Just stop buying it. You will be wealthier and healthier, and so will the environment. Your food will also taste better knowing that no animal has suffered. Time for the Guardian to stop supporting the most greedy industry on the planet.Barbara Stewart-KnoxProfessor of food psychology, University of Bradford
Tim Dowling's column was very disturbing as I was expecting the delivery of my granddaughter's tortoise for its holiday (The tortoise has been plotting his escape for more than half a century, 17 May). She has had it since she was about six years old. I am 76 years old and now have a heavy responsibility to keep it enclosed and to provide shelter from the rain expected later in the week.Stephanie HarrisonBedford
A white stripe on the back of an errant tortoise will certainly make it easier to spot. Better still is to paint its home postcode and house number, for easier return. Postage stamp optional.Tim GosslingCambridge
'I fought off a polar bear with a saucepan,' says the headline on Pen Hadow's article (Experience, 16 May). But what was the polar bear doing with the saucepan in the first place?Melanie van NiekerkAlva, Clackmannanshire
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28 minutes ago

• The Sun

I tested Fab lolly dupes from Aldi, Asda and Iceland – the winner is cheapest and tastes identical to the big brand

PARENTS up and down the country will be stocking up their freezers with treats guaranteed to keep their kids happy on a hot summers' day. The Fab's a winner in many households but as the cost of living rises, a box of six will now set you back around £2.50. 5 Their popularity has prompted a few supermarkets to create their own dupes. But do they taste as good as the childhood favourite? Lynsey Hope finds out. Nestle Fab Strawberry Ice Lollies £2.50 for 6 41.6p each Per lolly: 75 calories, 2.5g fat, 10g sugar A real bit of nostalgia here - these lollies were just as good as I remember from childhood. I did wonder if the chocolate coating had been reduced - I certainly remember them having more chocolate and sprinkles. But the pink and white sections tasted fresher and fruitier than some of the dupes. I particularly liked the strawberry flavour and at just 75 calories per lolly, they're not too indulgent to give the kids as a treat. Taste: 5/5 Value: 3/5 Total score: 8/10 Iceland Sprinkle Lollies £1.45 for 6 24.1p each Per lolly: 51 calories, 1g fat, 9.4g sugar 5 Smaller than the real deal, but taste wise the Iceland ones were a pretty good copy of the original Fab. The strawberry and vanilla flavoured parts tasted almost identical. There was a decent amount of chocolate and sprinkles on top. The kids loved them. They are also lower in calories, fat and sugar than the branded Fabs so a healthier option for children too. You'd be mad not to buy these instead. Taste: 5/5 Value: 5/5 Total score: 10/10 Aldi Gianna's Ice Blitz £1.45 for 6 24.1p each Per lolly: 51 calories, 1g fat, 9.4g sugar 5 Identical in size and price to Iceland's lollies, you'd have a hard job telling them apart. But taste wise they were a little less fruity than both the Fab and the other dupes, especially the strawberry part of the lolly. They are shorter, but thicker than the branded lolly. However, Aldi's lollies were lower in calories, fat and sugar and the best bit - they are 17.5p cheaper per lolly than the Fabs. Taste: 3/5 Value: 4/5 Total score: 7/10 Asda Strawberry Sprinkle Lollies £1.90 for 6 31.6p each Per lolly: 65 calories, less than 0.5g fat, 14g sugar Asda's budget-friendly lollies had a fresh strawberry taste and lashings of chocolate and sprinkles on top. They are still a little smaller than the Fab with a sweeter taste, but they went down a treat with my children. Whilst they are not as cheap as Iceland and Aldi's lollies, at 31.6p a lolly, they still offer a good saving on the branded options. In fact, they are 10p cheaper per lolly and 60p cheaper per box. I'd buy these again. Taste: 4/5 Value: 5/5 Total score: 9/10 How to save money on your supermarket shop THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop. You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they've been reduced. If the food is fresh, you'll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time. Making a list should also save you money, as you'll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket. Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too. This means ditching "finest" or "luxury" products and instead going for "own" or value" type of lines. Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they're misshapen or imperfect. For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50. If you're on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too. Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.

Times

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Times

5 hours ago

• Times

2 ways to look smart in the summer heat

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