It is all too common for home cooks to go on autopilot while they are in the kitchen, meaning they create more food than they meant to.

As a result, food is either thrown away or people eat far much more than they should have done to use it up.

"Becoming conscious of what you're cooking is a foolproof way to kick the habit. Switching off your food preparation autopilot has instant results.

People also need to learn to eat slowly, as this will give the body plenty of time to enjoy the meal, rather than working overly hard to digest it.

This will help ensure individuals eat less, which in turn will lower their weekly grocery bills, the expert added.

Earlier this week, Mintel reported that many New Year dieters are left eating more than they would do normally because they find low-calorie foods unfulfilling.