Cooking & Storage Tips

Cooking tips are simple, practical cooking or storage ideas for all of us busy mums and dads. A good cooking tip can save you so much time and money not to mention keep you on track with your healthy eating goals.

Each week we post a new tip to our Facebook Page. Please feel free to share your own tips for us to feature.

Storage and wastage tips 

• If you like to make your own breadcrumbs choose multigrain bread over white to ensure you receive all the benefits of wholegrain goodness. Simply make a big batch and freeze in single serve portions so you have your own homemade variety on hand whenever you need them.
• Pre-grated cheese often has additives or preservatives added to it. If you love how convenient it is, try buying a block, cutting it into large pieces and grating it in the food processor. You can freeze in small batches for up to 6 months.
• Have you got a bunch of fresh herbs that you won’t use in time? Grab an ice cube tray, chop the herbs and sprinkle them in, then top with olive oil and freeze. You can use in sauces, soups or added to a quick pasta or rice dish for added flavour.
• Did you know you can freeze leftover chopped onion? Waste no more, simply place the leftovers in a freezer bag, push out the excess air, and seal.
• (Christmas) Don’t waste any Christmas leftovers this year. Turn any leftover veggies and turkey or ham into little rissoles or pies or if you are after a lighter meal enjoy a simple but delicious turkey and salad wrap or sandwich.
• Say goodbye to wasted tomato paste. Simply place tablespoonfuls of leftover tomato paste on a baking tray or ice cube tray and place into the freezer until frozen solid.  Place the frozen tomato paste cubes into a freezer bag or freezer container and store in the freezer until ready to use.
• When cooking rice or quinoa, simply cook extra, cool in the fridge and freeze in freezer safe bags or freezer containers in individual or family sized portions. Simply reheat for a healthy side dish ready in minutes.

Nutrition tips 

• Canned brown lentils are an inexpensive and nutritious way to bulk up some of your favourite meals. Simply substitute some of the beef mince for brown lentils in recipes such as bolognese, lasagne, burger patties and meatloaf.
• Greek yoghurt is a great substitute for sour cream in cooking. It’s a healthier option being lower in fat and higher in protein. Use it in baking, sauces, dips, and dolloped onto burritos or fajitas too. *1 cup sour cream = 1 cup of greek yoghurt.

Fussy eaters 

• A great way for fussy eating pasta-lovers to also eat their veggies is to swap out some of the pasta for fine ribbons of veggies such as, squash, pumpkin, sweet potato, or even zucchini.
• Try to embrace mess at mealtimes especially when babies start solids and toddlers try new foods. Allowing your little ones to touch, squish, smear, lick and even finger paint with their foods (all within reason of course!) can help with increasing acceptance of new foods and reducing fussy eating behaviours.

Cooking tips

• When juicing a lemon or lime, roll it firmly under your palm first to get as much juice as possible.
• Need to bake but don’t have any self raising flour? Simply add 2 teaspoons of baking powder to every cup of plain flour. Sift the flour and baking powder together into a bowl before using to get an even distribution of baking powder.
• Avocado’s are a wonderful and versatile food. Consider using avocados instead of mayo, tossed through salads as an alternative to dressing and in your baking instead of butter. Have you tried substituting with avo?
• A strand of raw spaghetti as a muffin and cake tester. Who knew they could be so helpful?
• To substitute fresh tomatoes for a tin of chopped tomatoes simply use 1 1/4 cups of diced fresh tomato and 1 cup of water or reduced salt stock instead.