| In this interview we spoke to mum of two, | | | | Start small, start healthy versions of their |
| Kimberley Saunders about cooking healthy food | | | | favourite food. Chicken nuggets for example. We |
| for a family of four living on a tight budget. | | | | got chicken breasts and made our own. We did |
| Is it hard to cook good quality meals for our | | | | roasted potatoes instead of chips. Fish fingers we |
| children when you are on a budget? | | | | turned into tuna patties. It's a bit of tuna fish |
| No, not really because it depends on how well you | | | | mixed with a bit of egg, put breadcrumbs over |
| know the basics of cooking and nutrition. A lot of | | | | the top and cook. |
| that's been lost as they didn't teach it in schools in | | | | What about mothers who are pressed for time? |
| our generation and there are people who think | | | | The tuna patties are as simple as opening the tin |
| you have to buy things that are cheap on the | | | | and popping under the grill. I know a lot of |
| price label without realising that it's not healthy or | | | | mothers are pressed for time. Why not invest in |
| that it's actually more expensive than it looks. | | | | a slow cooker. You can do roasts, soups, |
| Does cheap meals mean burger and chips? | | | | casseroles. You can even do puddings in it. |
| No it doesn't. You can buy a bag of chips for | | | | Should we shop in the supermarkets or smaller |
| about a pound and that will only do one or two | | | | shops? |
| meals for a family of four, but you still have to | | | | Look at what you're getting and what you have |
| have the burgers and there's a lot of fat in that | | | | available in your area. If you have a good market |
| food. | | | | by you it's cheaper to go to the market to get |
| What are the alternatives? | | | | your vegetables. If you've got a good local |
| You could still have a meal of hamburger and | | | | butcher get to know him. If you have some |
| chips but adapt it. There could be a lean turkey | | | | garden space grow your own vegetables. It's |
| mince homemade meat patty, put under the grill | | | | important that children know where their food |
| and serve with green beans and sweetcorn. For a | | | | comes from. I know my children wouldn't touch |
| family of four that'd be around £2.50. I'm | | | | tomatoes until we grew cherry tomatoes in our |
| not saying that chips aren't fine for the occasional | | | | own garden. |
| treat. The green beans you could get fresh, | | | | What basics should we have in the cupboard to |
| tinned or frozen so it's available to anyone | | | | try and save money? |
| regardless of budget. | | | | A good stock cupboard would include tuna, tinned |
| What about kids that are picky? | | | | fruit and vegetables with no salt added. I would |
| I do understand that some people say their kids | | | | recommend always having eggs on hand - |
| won't eat some things. It takes a bit of fortitude | | | | another quick meal. |
| and patience to get a child to eat healthily. One of | | | | What other tips do you have? |
| the things that kept me going was saying that | | | | A big portion of our budget goes on food. I write |
| there are children in Africa who've never seen a | | | | meal plans so I know what I am going to cook. I'd |
| chip in their life. If a child is hungry they're going to | | | | go to the supermarket and not even look at the |
| eat it. | | | | offers. You really can feed a family on a very |
| What tips would you give parents? | | | | small budget. |