Fitting In? Fries & How to Keep Your Holiday High 

This week, we’re unpacking the big stories shaping food, health and how we live.

We start with a major BMJ study showing that eating chips three times a week raises type 2 diabetes risk by 20% but baked or boiled potatoes don’t carry the same danger. We’ll share why the way you cook them matters, plus the genuine health benefits of potatoes when they’re not fried.

Next, a Guardian feature on “otroverts” — people who don’t feel at home in groups but aren’t introverts either. Psychiatrist Dr Rami Kaminski explains why this isn’t a deficit, how it can be a strength, and what it tells us about solitude, loneliness and connection.

And from the Times, the science of the “holiday brain-boost.” We explore how holidays can slow cognitive ageing, why even short breaks matter, and the habits from naps to mindfulness and movement that help the benefits last for weeks after you’re home.

Plus, the trends: Australia’s world-first ban on social media for under 16s, and the UK government’s plan to restrict energy drink sales to teenagers.

Alongside all that, Ella shares her first weekend in the new house, picking homegrown fruit and veg and welcoming two new puppies, plus a listener story that reveals just how many ultra processed additives can be hiding in a single mini cupcake.

Catch Rhi discussing UPFs and The Unprocessed Plate at Waterstones - London Gower Street and Chroleywood Library

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