The Great Escape Magazine

Having the right tools makes it significantly easier and safer to carve a pumpkin. Many garden centres and supermarkets sell dedicated pumpkin carving kits in the weeks leading up to Halloween. These typically include a small saw-edged carving tool with a rounded tip, a scoop and a poker. They're far safer than using kitchen knives, which can be sharp and harder to control. If you have young children who are excited and wriggly, it's worth having a brief conversation before the tools come out. Explain what's about to happen, who will be doing which jobs and – crucially – that the sharp tools belong to the grown-ups.

Mindful eating forms part of an intuitive eating programme, which is a broader approach to self care. Intuitive eating encourages rejection of fad diets and social pressures in favour of listening to the body's needs. Unlike dieting, mindful eating and intuitive eating do not focus on eliminating certain foods.

Make the most of the season's fresh ingredients with these tasty French recipes for autumn – from cosy soups to roasted veg, casseroles, crumbles and more.

How about a family retreat for quality time with your partner and children? A fun and relaxing way of investing in the relationships that matter most.

Digital wellness is about taking a break from the norm and from stress, just like holidays in general. Here are 5 Novotel tips for a digital break.

Help children sleep well and make bedtime easy for everyone with Novotel's 16 clever suggestions for ensuring quiet nights and sound sleep.