Saturday, January 3, 2026 |
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January has a habit of exposing our contradictions. We want to reset, to feel clearer and calmer, yet we're also reluctant to give up the rituals that get us through winter evenings. That tension runs through Eleanor Mills' exploration of "California sober" culture, which feels less like a fringe import and more like a quietly spreading rethink of how we socialise. With 17.5 million people planning a Dry January this year, alcohol is no longer the unquestioned default, but nor is total abstinence the only alternative. Gummies, CBD and other legal "edge-takers" are slipping into British life, from Gen Z nights out to midlife dinner parties, offering a way to soften the sharp corners of sobriety without the hangover. Mills doesn't present this as a utopia – the legal and ethical lines in the UK remain firm – but as a signal of shifting priorities. When nearly a third of adults drink at hazardous levels, it's hardly surprising that people are experimenting with gentler ways to unwind, even if the language of "sober" itself remains contested.
That desire for moderation rather than punishment carries neatly into January eating. This trio of warming recipes designed to reset the month without sacrificing comfort land in a reassuring middle ground. This isn't a boot-camp approach to food, but the kind of cooking that acknowledges it's cold, dark and still very much winter. A lentil-rich aubergine curry builds depth through spices rather than excess oil, a vegetable soup is made satisfying with salty halloumi cubes, and smoky baked beans on toast lean into grown-up indulgence while staying grounded. The appeal is their realism: these are meals you'd genuinely want to cook on a Tuesday night, not dishes that make January feel longer than it already does.
Beans, meanwhile, continue their steady ascent from cupboard staple to cultural shorthand for sensible eating. As Veganuary rolls around again, the case for pulses feels less ideological and more practical. They're cheap, filling, good for gut health and versatile enough to avoid boredom – qualities that matter far more than novelty in the long run. The five bean-based recipes here make that point quietly but persuasively, from smoky barbecue beans to silky white-bean hummus and fennel-spiked cannellini dishes. There's comfort in their familiarity, but also a reminder that eating well doesn't have to mean eating less. Beans aren't about denial; they're about building meals that satisfy and sustain, long after January has lost its shine.
Finally, if January is about regaining control, Nathan Anthony's approach to meal planning offers a pragmatic route back – one that still leaves room for food you actually want to eat. His recipes reflect the same flexible, real-world mindset: creamy peanut lime chicken noodles that feel generous rather than "diet", quick beef taco-style quesadillas that turn a midweek dinner into something sociable, and a spicy tuna pitta inspired by the cult Tunacado that proves lunch doesn't need to be expensive or joyless to feel satisfying. It's food designed to slot into busy weeks and tight budgets, backed by a philosophy that values small wins – planning a few meals, freezing what you don't need, giving leftovers a second life – over rigid rules. In a month obsessed with self-denial, it's a reminder that getting back on track works best when it still tastes good.
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Giving up drinking, or going 'California sober'? |
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As more people commit to Dry January than ever before, Eleanor Mills looks at how gummies, CBD, and alternative highs are transforming social drinking habits and wellness culture in the UK today
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Whether it's a glass of wine after a long day, a night out at the pub, or the whole of twixmas itself, when drinking can start before lunch (with the cry of "Why not? 'Tis the season!") – British culture is steeped in alcohol.
But this year, I started to notice something a little different. It began with a friend who had been living in New York. When I offered her a drink at my birthday party in early December, she declined. "I'm California sober these days," she said.
I hadn't heard the phrase before. She explained that she'd given up the booze but took the edge off 100 per cent sober reality with gummies and the occasional microdosing of psychedelics (legal in some US states).
So, as we enter Dry January, could this trend be making its way over here, too?
New research from Alcohol Change UK finds that 17.5 million will be planning a month off alcohol in January 2026. This latest polling from the charity behind the renowned Dry January challenge, now in its 14th year, suggests that almost a third (32 per cent) of UK adults have planed to attempt a 31-day break from alcohol in the New Year.
Read the full article here
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This Christmas, we're asking for your help again as we launch our new campaign with the charity Missing People – the SafeCall appeal.
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| Bored of Lunch: Meal Planner |
Bored of Lunch: Meal Planner is a colourful 12-week meal planner that helps you organise meals, track calories and stick to a budget. Packed with space for weekly shopping lists, goals and 25 new recipes geared towards batch cooking and meal prep, it's designed to make eating well and saving money feel simple and enjoyable.
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