In current times, families are faced with reduced disposable income through wages cuts, redundancy, and increased taxes. The Nutrition & Health Foundation (NHF ) is asking people to use this as an opportunity to shop smart, cook smart, and eat smart together in order to establish a healthy diet for life for all the family starting with Eat Smart Week (April 19 to 25 ).
This year the NHF has teamed up with top chef Rozanne Stephens who has come up with tips for Eat Smart Week:
Take time out to plan all your meals and snacks for the week. Make a comprehensive list and stick to it when you go shopping. Keep a small stock of store cupboard essentials and freezer treasures so you can concentrate on the fresh items.
Buy loose fruits and vegetables so you get the exact quantity you need to help save money and prevent food wastage.
Freeze chicken and fish in individual portions so you need only defrost exactly what you need for each recipe.
Keep the amount of food in your freezer under control and use all items within two months of purchase. Label and date foods to ensure you use the oldest first and also to help avoid having to throw out foods.
Weigh and portion rice and pasta so you are not left with 'bits' that are too small to make up a recipe and wasteful to throw out.
Invest in airtight containers to store dried goods in to maintain freshness.
Only buy two for one or special offers in the shops if you have a recipe to use them in. The most useful special offers to buy are store cupboard essentials that you use all the time.
If you have leftover vegetables, chop up and serve with a low fat dip as a healthy snack, this also will help prevent waste. Try baking a tray of muffins or biscuits as a fun family exercise. Baking is surprisingly easy and cost effective.
Buy cheaper cuts of meat from your local butcher, cook slowly to make inexpensive delicious meals.
