There are a bunch of reasons we turn to takeaway for dinner. We’re busy, we left it too late, we haven’t done the shopping, we just want pizza because it’s delicious and we’re treating ourselves…twice a week.
Whilst take away is ok on occasions, it is often more expensive and much less nutritious. Research consistently shows that meals made at home, even using simple ingredients that are quick & easy (eg. Pita pizzas or an omelette) are much higher in nutritional value and lower in salt, fat, sugar and calories. We can often whip up a simple healthy meal quicker than we can call a pizza…
Here are 5 great tips to start avoiding takeaway and unleash your inner chef.
Plan your meals
Admittedly, this does rely on some level of organisation, but the more practice you get in, the easier it will become. By planning out the week’s dinners in advance, you’re able to reduce waste and buy exactly what you need, save money on impulse purchases, and you have an idea of the time and effort commitment each night’s dinner has.
Fill your cupboards with the recipe basics
Some of the best meals are created from random ingredients you happen to have stocked in your pantry. A lot of typical home cooked go-to recipes start with the same basic ingredients such as flour, pasta, rice, eggs, vegetables, stock… you get the picture. Having a steady supply of staple ingredients in your pantry is a great pathway to never having the excuse of ‘having nothing in the cupboards’. The freezer is also a good place to have staples such as pita wraps for pita pizzas, frozen vegetables to add to a frittata or an omelette or meals cooked in advance (like soups, casseroles or pasta sauces).
One pot wonder
Being time constrained is usually at the top of the list for turning to takeaway. If this is the case for you, investing in a slow cooker could be a game changer. With countless recipes and creative ways to slow cook your favourites, these one pot wonders do all the cooking work for you. Prep your ingredients when you’re cooking dinner the night before, and pop it on first thing in the morning. 8 hours later, you’ll have a beautifully cooked and flavourful dinner ready to serve.
Try cooking your favourite takeaway
If you have a regular hankering for a specific takeaway, chances are someone else feels the same way and has created a home cooked recipe to replicate your favourite tasty treat. The pros to cooking your favourite takeaway meal is that you can adapt the flavours and ingredients as much as you like to suit your tastes. Take away foods typically contain less vegetables, so bulking up your favourite take away dishes with extra vegetables or a side salad is also a good way to make meals healthier.
The online buffet of recipes
Where there’s the internet, there’s a way.
The internet holds millions of recipes, cooking tutorials, videos, tips, and every ingredient necessary for a successful home cooked meal. There are even websites that can suggest what you should have for dinner based on your tastes and time available. There really are no more excuses!
If you need help with recipe ideas visit Healthy Core and find some easy, healthy recipes recommended by our Dietitian Stacey.
If you would like to book a consultation with Stacey, please call our friendly team on 8578 6544.