BUYING for fathers at Christmas can be bad enough, let alone trying to muster up a good pressie on some random day half way through the year.

Like Mother's Day, Father's Day always seems to suddenly spring itself upon us and send us rushing like headless chickens into some fruitless panic to a nearby shop - any shop.

But food is always a great option, and edibles (and drinkables) are a sure fire way of 'hitting the spot' with dad, and keeping things de-cluttered for the health and sanity of mum.

Generic 50s stereotypes aside, it's a well known fact (*ahem*) that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, so what better gift could there be than food?

Whether it's cooking a special meal, handing over a little indulgent treat, or creating a hamper full of goodies, there's something to suit any and every dad in this week's checkout.

First of all, start the day as you mean to go on with a hearty English fry up. Head to Plumgarths and pick up their ‘Meat for the week’ packs at a price of £30.

In it you will find four gammon steaks, 1.5lb stewing steak, 1.5lb minced steak, a whole chicken, four burgers, four chicken fillets and eight of those all important Cumberland or pork sausages.

There is plenty of scope for all sorts of meals with a list like that.

To go with your fry up, or on top of your gammon steaks, get half a dozen South Lakeland farm fresh free range eggs from Witherslack Community Stores at £1.15.

They also have Higginsons streaky, smoked or sweet-cured bacon at £12.60 per kilo (about seven slices for £3).

Father’s Day is on Sunday (June 15) and what better way to honour your dad than upstaging your breakfast with a Sunday roast with all the trimmings.

Either use the meat from Plumgarths or order a shoulder of lamb at £9 per kilo from Witherslack Community Stores. Grab a 250ml jar of Colman’s mint sauce at £1.39 for the perfect accompaniment.

Alternatively, Dales Butcher in Kirkby Lonsdale have Highland cattle rump steak at £17.98 per kilo, or the more ‘butch’ option of ribeye steak at £27.98 per kilo from Malham, near Settle.

Enjoy the steaks with all the usual accompaniments, or for something different try out their best braising steak at £12.98 per kilo and cook up a tasty heart-warming stew.

Greenbanks, Kendal, has Cheshire new potatoes at 66p per kilo, perfect with your roast, steaks, or chop them up and make a stew into a traditional hot pot.

Over in Hawkshead, The Honeypot, has hot and spicy pickled shallots at £3.75 for 370g, great for stewing.

These would also be ideal to have with cheese.

For something lighter stick them in a salad to go with your steaks and drizzle sweet balsamic dressing by Little Doone at £6.99 for 200ml.

Greenbanks have Blackpool salad tomatoes at 60p per lb to add a bit of colour. To finish, Grange Bakery has a classic selection of puds to suit your father’s palate.

Choose from apple turnovers and chocolate eclairs at £1.25 each or treacle tarts, chocolate tortes and rumnickeys at £1.50 each.

Low Sizergh Barn, Kendal, has Father’s Day gifts and hampers from £7.99 to £17.99 including everything from local beers, drinks and snacks.

For a tipple, they have two whiskeys from Spencerfield Spirit. Opt for Sheep Dip at £33.50 (70cl) or Pig’s Nose at £26.50 (70cl).