Budget foods save us money. But, other than cost, what are the differences between budget and luxury  Christmas foods, besides fancy packaging? Are budget lines ever as good - or even better? Yahoo!  Lifestyle investigates...

Bacon-wrapped sausages

A traditional Christmas dinner isn't complete without some of these nestling up against slices of turkey and a few Brussels sprouts. But is it worth paying extra for a premium product?Pigs in blankets - no Christmas meal should be without them ©Rex

We found that although the luxury sausages (£3.25 for 10) tasted more peppery, the biggest difference between them was the texture. The more expensive sausages contained 86 per cent pork, and were chunkier and firmer than the cheaper, 59 per cent pork sausages (£3 for 12).

But although the luxury versions were wrapped in bacon made from higher-welfare 'outdoor-reared' pork, the thinner, fattier (and cheaper) bacon that was used for the cheaper sausage gave a more satisfyingly crisp result.

The labels also revealed that the luxury sausages contained more

Soup makes a cheap, filling and healthy meal, but it can be easy to rely on the same old favourites. We've put together 10 soup recipes to help see you through the winter. All serve 2.

Spicy Sweet Potato and Chipotle Chilli Soup
Spicy Sweet Potato and Chipotle Chilli Soup © Jo RomeroSweet potatoes are a great source of vitamin C - vital for keeping our immune systems in top condition, as well as vitamin A, which is good for our skin. This soup is spiced up with chipotle chilli paste for extra warmth.

Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil
quarter tsp of chipotle chilli paste
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
400g sweet potatoes, peeled and roughly diced
400ml chicken stock
salt and pepper
single cream and chopped parsley, to serve

Method
Heat the olive oil in a medium-sized saucepan and gently fry the onion and garlic with a pinch of sea salt, until softened. Stir in the chipotle chilli paste and the diced sweet potato. Fry gently for two more minutes. Next, pour in the stock and leave to bubble for about 10-15 minutes or

As the evenings get darker (and colder) it's tempting to crave calorific comfort food. But you can still enjoy satisfying winter foods if you're watching your waistline. Check these out...

Sardine puttanesca
Sardine puttanesca © Jo RomeroThe pasta's not to blame for all the calories in lasagne and carbonara - it's the cheese and cream in the sauces. This punchy tomato-based sauce also contains sardines, which are high in Omega-3 fats. Serves 2.

Ingredients:
140g dried spaghetti
120g can skinless, boneless sardines in olive oil
2 chunky garlic cloves, chopped
1 tsp capers
quarter teaspoon chilli flakes
handful black pitted olives, sliced in half lengthways
400g can chopped tomatoes
handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Method:
Put the pasta on to boil. While it's cooking, fry the garlic, chilli flakes and capers in a little olive oil for about 1 minute. Tip in the sardines, with a little of their olive oil if you like, trying not to break up the fillets too much. Finally, stir in the tomatoes and olives and