Baking with kids can be a fun, bonding activity. It can also teach kids many skills and keep them busy when they need ‘entertainment’ at home. Baking with kids can be the centre of many wonderful memories and family traditions. Yes, it is messy and requires patience, but keen little bakers should be encouraged. The problem with eager bakers is the volume of baked goods in the house, the cost
I love breakfast and do not leave home without it. That said, I opt for a quick breakfast of cereal or oats rather than cooking eggs which I like to enjoy on the weekends with a fruit smoothie or whole-wheat toast. Cereal has landed itself with a bad reputation as far as healthy breakfast options go because a) it is a rich source of carbohydrate, b) it often has
A healthy twist on a favourite dish, this Mac ‘n Cheese is higher in fibre and lower in fat that the traditional recipes out there! Macaroni and cheese is a popular go to dish for a quick family meal and is often made at the request of the smalls in the family. As a result, this dish is consumed with regularity. Mostly served minus vegetables and often with with added bacon,
These baked potato wedges are a healthier alternative to fried chips! Avoiding fried foods as a rule is good practice for achieving a healthier lifestyle and makes weight management far easier. Potatoes are often shunned for their carbohydrate content. Practicing good portion control and avoiding fried potatoes means you can, and should, keep potatoes in your diet. they assist with nutrient diversity and fibre intake while being a naturally, unrefined
This Pumpkin and Chickpea Curry combines two of my favourite foods and is perfect for MeatLESS Monday or a quick weekend meal. Easy to prepare, it tastes like winter warmth and provides a healthy dose of fibre and vitamin A. It is important to remember that meat free or vegetarian meals still require a protein reich element and as a convenient ingredient, chickpeas provide just that in this dish. Chickpeas,
Meat balls & Spaghetti is a favourite meal of mine and super easy to prepare. I love making meat balls and eating meat balls in equal measure. I enjoy making them from scratch and adding additional fibre. Using oats or oat bran instead of bread crumbs is an easy way to increase the fibre content of the meat balls. The addition of oat bran to meals is good for cholesterol reduction. Adding
This sugar free chocolate cake is a good substitute for the real deal. Its sweetness comes from the banana and date combination rather than an artificial sweetener. These two affordable sugar substitutes also offer nutritive value. While a better choice for people with diabetes, this cake does contain carbohydrates (28 grams per 1/12 slice) and therefore will have an effect on blood glucose levels. For insulin dependent diabetes, a insulin bolus
These gluten free pancakes are made with a combination of buckwheat flour and rice flour as alternative to cake flour which contains wheat. These pancakes are a great gluten free starch option for patients with coeliac disease, including those with type one diabetes. While they lack sugar, they also lack fibre and protein. The choice of filling is therefore very important as it needs to make up for this lack in
A regular intake of fatty fish helps to supply essential fatty acids, not made by the body, but much needed for brain health and their anti-inflammatory properties. These star fish cakes are made from pilchards and are the perfect way to disguise these often rejected fish. Without a regular intake of fatty fish and omega enriched food products, supplementation of omega 3 is required. Omega 6 is more readily available
I love cupcakes and the thought of making individual little cakes for people is special to me. Obviously a treat food, cupcakes should be eaten in moderation but I was pleased to find a low fat recipe for my favourite treat. Due to the lack of fibre, I recommend the use of cottage cheese for a protein containing icing to improve post consumption blood glucose levels. Simply add a little lemon
Popcorn is a popular treat for movie watching, lunch boxes, after school snacking and birthday parties. It does make for a healthier snack alternative to crisps, sweets and chocolates. Homemade popcorn is healthier than store bought and is easy enough to make. It is something kids can learn to make for themselves in a first cooking lesson. Nutritionally speaking, this whole-grain, naturally gluten free snack is high in fibre and