Best Easy & Healthy Foods
I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one to get a fright when people started talking about superfoods…all food is super to me! But there are some that are easier, healthier (and cheaper!) than others, which will give you and your family all the good things you need...
1. Kumara – packed full of vitamin A and C and virtually fat free, this yummy vegetable is a firm family favourite. Roast kumara is delicious but you could also try baking it whole (like a jacket potato) until the skin is nice a crisp, or cutting it quite fine to make chips, coating these in olive oil and then grilling or baking them until they are golden.
2. Chicken – popular, tasty and quick, chicken is full of protein to keep your energy levels steady and has loads of B vitamins to keep your nervous system in check too. Plus if you are trying to stay on the health wagon, chicken is a better choice than red meat as it contains a lot less fat.
3. Oats – it may still be a bit too hot to make porridge your breakfast of choice but you can still incorporate oats into your meal plan: you can use rolled oats to coat chicken or fish before shallow frying, or you can add a handful to a fruit smoothie for the kids. Full of fibre and cholesterol lowering, they are nature’s little powerhouses.
4. Tomatoes – you can do pretty much everything and anything with tomatoes. Not only are they naturally sweet but they are full of vitamins and lycopene, an antioxidant which is good for your man. A quick, cheap pasta sauce is a great way to feed the family. Gently fry onions, garlic and capsicum, then add two tins of tomatoes plus about 4 fresh ones (for some different textures). For extra flavour, add some basil, a little chilli powder and 1dsp of sugar then simmer and serve with your favourite pasta…yum!
5. Eggs – not necessarily a conventional “super food” but super for me because they are so versatile and so quick! Omlettes and frittatas are fast, easy supper choices or you can get creative with fritters. Instead of sweetcorn, grate 1 large kumara or 3-4 carrots into a bowl, add ¼ cup of flour and then beat 2-3 eggs and gently pour in to the bowl bit by bit til you have a thick batter type consistency that’s not too runny. Fry gently in olive oil til golden. So so tasty and the kids won’t even know there are veggies in them!