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 (19th – 25th April). This innovative initiative from the NHF, which is in its fourth consecutive year, is aimed at showing everyone that healthy eating is achievable for everyone.
This year, the NHF has teamed up with top chef Rozanne Stephens who has come up with ten quick and nutritious, budget friendly one-pot wonders which can be made and enjoyed by everyone. With unemployment rates now running at 12.7%, it is understandable that today’s moms, dads and families are more challenged than ever. Not everyone, male and female, have the ability to cook and many are now faced with the challenge of having to plan menus and finding recipes the whole family will enjoy whilst on a budget. Not only can this be challenging but also time consuming.
“With purse strings tightened, families have become more conscious of what they are spending on food every week says Dr Muireann Cullen, Manager of the Nutrition & Health Foundation. There is the temptation to buy what’s on special offer, rather than perhaps what’s best nutrition wise. Obesity levels are now at an all time high in Ireland with direct and indirect costs accounting for €4 billion a year*; it is imperative that people start to make the right choices when it comes to food shopping and eating.”
In our current society, we now don’t really plan ahead – with most of us planning our meals on the same day or the day before. The most important factor influencing our choice of what to cook is the ingredients we have at home – time of course is also an influential factor. To illustrate how eating the smart way, is not only sensible and vital, but also colourful, delicious, quick and fun, Rozanne has prepared ten delicious one-pot wonder recipe suggestions. To make cooking at home as easy, accessible and affordable for everyone as possible, Rozanne has also prepared a shopping list, a store cupboard list, a basic list of equipment needed and given her top ten tips!
Rozanne’s Eat Smart Week recipes are available to download from the NHF website: www.nhfireland.ie