As such, the January slope is the name given to the generalized increase and adjustment of prices, rates and fees that occur at the beginning of each year. In Spain, for example, the price of public transport, tolls, electricity, water, gas, fuels… are raised.
As such, the cost of January is the name given to the generalized increase and adjustment of prices, tariffs and fees that occur at the beginning of each year. In Spain, for example, the price of public transport, tolls, electricity, water, gas, fuels… is increased.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) does not stop increasing, standing last November with a year-on-year rate of 5.6%, which is the highest figure since September 1992, especially motivated by the increase in the price of electricity and fuel, although they have not been the only things that rose in price throughout this 2021.
Thus, with a significant inflation and after the excesses caused by the Christmas holidays, as every year we have to face the dreaded January cost. However, from Top Doctors we leave you below a series of tips so that you can save a few euros in the shopping cart and also eat healthy.
What are the fruits and vegetables typical of January?
Seasonal fruits and vegetables, simply because they do not come from greenhouses, make their cost -both production and retail- more economical for our pockets. “Seasonal fruits and vegetables offer us the nutrients, whether vitamins, minerals, fiber or antioxidants, among others, that we need to cope with the season we are in,” says Dr. Elisa de Rojas, nutritionist in Malaga and member of Top Doctors.
The main fruits and vegetables typical of the months of December and January are the following:
- Vegetables: oak leaf lettuce, spinach, cannellini, chicory, turnips, cauliflower, leeks, tomato raf, cardoons, turnip greens, garlic, Brussels sprouts, broad beans, parsnips or onions.
- Fruits: persimmon, clementines, oranges, pineapples, bananas, Granny Smith apples.
How to consume these seasonal fruits and vegetables?
The easiest and cheapest way to consume these products would be raw. Moreover, this is the healthiest way to consume them, as they provide less calories. In raw form, they can be used in salads, or even grilled as a complement or starter before the main course, since their high fiber content makes them very satiating. “As a starter, tomato raf or endive with white cheese or hummus is also a great option,” says Dr. de Rojas.
However, in most of our country, January is a month with low temperatures, snow, ice, fog or rain. Thus, it is more appetizing to eat warm than at room temperature or cold. “Thus, we can use some of the vegetables mentioned above as a first course in the form of creams or purees, such as leeks, cauliflower, carrots…”, says Dr. Elisa de Rojas.
“As a main dish, there is the option of combining these seasonal fruits with legumes, for example, a chickpea stew with chard, spinach, cabbage… Legumes have the advantage of providing carbohydrates, vegetable proteins, iron, fiber, vitamins and little fat, in addition to being low-cost products. However, as they are usually lacking in an essential amino acid such as methionine, it is advisable to combine them with rice or nuts, such as lentils with rice,” says Dr. de Rojas.
“Fruits such as oranges, clementines, pineapple or oranges can be eaten as a dessert or between meals, that is, mid-morning or mid-afternoon, to maintain blood glucose levels without causing sudden changes that later lead to the typical binge,” concludes Dr. de Rojas.