With the start of a New Year you might be thinking about healthy eating or slimming down for something big coming up. In 2017 I did exactly that and embarked on my Slimming World journey ahead of getting married in 2018. Through my pregnancy there's been a lot of Slimming World rules that I've stuck to but I've spent the last 9 months really not worrying just how much chocolate, crisps or bread I've been eating. With our special arrival coming very soon I've started off my maternity leave getting organised with 5 batch cooking recipes to help us eat healthy, quick food when we're wrapped up in life as new parents. These are 5 meals perfect for the freezer to help you on your healthy eating resolutions.
Beef Ragu
This is a tasty meal that can be heated up and served with pasta; my favourite is having this with rigatoni. Spray a frying pan with Fry Light and cook chopped onions, peppers, carrots and celery along with crushed garlic. Add 5% fat beef mince and chopped bacon, breaking up the mince and browning off the meat. Drain off any excess fat before adding tinned chopped tomatoes. Add a beef stock cube and dried oregano and leave to simmer and reduce.
Pimped Mac and Cheese
This is one of our favourite meals since starting Slimming World and this has everything we need all in the containers making it super convenient. Meal prepping this takes a little more effort but it's definitely worth it. Cook the portions of pasta, I've used fusilli but macaroni or spirali would work and then set aside. In a frying pan cook an onion, chopped bacon and sausages. I use the Linda McCartney Red Onion sausages so that they're syn free. Add oregano, paprika and garlic. Heat up skimmed milk, chicken stock, reduced fat cheddar cheese and quark over a low heat before combining it with the sausage mixture. Mix this with the cooked pasta and pour into a baking dish. Top with breadcrumbs and some more cheddar cheese and cook at 190 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
Cajun Chicken Fried Rice
Another meal that we can just bung in the oven to heat up and then serve. Even better, this little fake-away is good when you're tempted to order from the Chinese Takeaway! Start off with chopped onion, peppers, mushrooms and carrots (or any veg you fancy) in a frying pan with some Fry Light. Add some garlic and soy sauce then add the seasoned chicken. In this one I've used Cajun spice and some salt and pepper. Next add in the cooked rice and mix together with a little more soy sauce. Lastly add in some beaten eggs cooked for 80 seconds in the microwave.
Diet Cola Chicken
I'm quite glad I meal prepped this recipe as it's one of those meals that I like but can never be bothered standing around leaving it to simmer. This goes well with rice, pasta or even a baked potato and is a good one to make when you set aside the time. In a frying pan soften chopped onions, peppers and carrots then add chicken to cook. Add some garlic, soy sauce, Worcester sauce and passata. Add a can of Diet Coke and chicken stock and leave to simmer. The sauce thickens up and goes slightly syrupy. It's worth the wait.
Chilli Con Carne
Another beef dish and another one that can be served up with rice, pasta or a baked potato. This is a lovely, filling dinner that's great for in the Winter and can be topped with fat-free fromage frais and reduced fat cheddar cheese and still be completely on plan. Start off with chopped onions and peppers in a frying pan with Fry Light before adding garlic and 5% fat mince. Once the beef it browned add chilli, I use the Lazy Chilli along with the Lazy Garlic for convenience. Add some paprika, coriander and chilli powder then tinned chopped tomatoes. Add a beef stock cube mixed with boiling water and leave the chilli to simmer. Once the sauce has reduced down add a tin of drained, rinsed kidney beans.
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