When I was a child, if I was good on a Saturday, I was allowed sweets. If we were staying with my nan over the school holidays, if we were good we were guaranteed what she used to call ‘a goodie’. I get the feeling my grandmother enjoyed having grandchildren because she could send us back to mum just before the sugar crash…

Unsurprisingly, my grandmother whom I adored unconditionally independent of her indiscriminate administering of sugary treats, developed type 2 diabetes in her 70′s. Naturally, we suspected this having something to do with her junk food intake. You see, my nan, bless her, preferred a packet of crisps and two chocolate bars to a proper meal. Whilst she was in hospital for the last three months of her life, you were  greeted with a big smile if you had a multi-pack of McCoy’s steak and onion crisps in your hand!

This scenario is pretty typical except some grandparents and parents take it to the extreme. They reward a child’s good behaviour with food and sweets. Did well in your exam? We’ll take you out for a slap up meal! Did you home work? Have a chocolate bar! Hungry before dinner? Have a biscuit and get out from under my feet!

It is people who were brought up to believe food is a reward for achievement who suffer the worst food-related problems. As an adult the thought process goes: bad day at work? Have a take away, a bottle of wine too? Why not!

It is fine to treat yourself. I am the first person to say that it is important to reward yourself… just not with food! Instead of eating a giant slice of coffee cake to congratulate yourself for something, why don’t you find something else to make yourself feel special? Here is a short list of cheap things to treat yourself with using the fiver you would have spent on the cake and latte:

1. Trashy magazines. I love it that the puzzles in them are really easy so I feel really smart
2. Bubble baths – Imperial Leather have got some fantastic smells out in the shops. I like ‘snug as a bug’ because it’s really luxurious.
3. Brightly coloured make up. Barry M dazzle dust is £4.50 a pot and it lasts ages. I own an obscene amount of Barry M stuff. Rimmel also have some great coloured nail varnishes.
4. Buy a pretty notebook. I am a sucker for gorgeous note books and love writing in them for the first time. It’s like I’m Cecily writing in her diary in the Importance of being Ernest!
5. Amazon have certain tracks in their MP3 store for 29p. Play your cards right and you can burn a whole CD of music for the car for a couple of quid.

Tip: Food is not a reward. Treat yourself with other goodies if you have had a bad day at work or if you have won a small battle in your life. There is nothing wrong with congratulating yourself and treating yourself!