It's the Summer holidays! Let's make eating cheap, fun and tasty

Chopped raw vegetables and plenty of fruit
I usually have a variety of chopped raw vegetables such as carrot batons, cucumber, onions and plenty of fruit in the fridge to create vegetables for dipping into different sauces and fruit for desert and to make pre-pared smoothies
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The great thing about all this pre- prepared food is that it is easy for the older children to get out of the fridge and make meals for themselves.  It saves you time during the week and gives plenty of options when they all want something different.  It saves you money by recreating their favourite restaurant food making eating in not only fun but also tasty and nutritious!

So the summer holidays have begun and the children all want to eat different food at different times of the day.  They never like what you have prepared and they’d much prefer a McDonald’s.  If like me you also work, by the middle of August you find yourself stressed, exhausted and the budget has gone out the window!!!
So for the last few years I have treated meal times over the summer holidays differently.  I cook in batch and try and replicate some of my children’s favourite restaurant meals in order to save money and keep the little darlings happy.
My youngest like most children, loves pizza and pasta.  He also loves eating at Subway and Nandos and the occasional treat at yes McDonalds. So every weekend I batch cook some of the following food. 

Pasta
I make a large saucepan of pasta and pop it in microwaveable bowels. I make sure there is plenty of grated cheese, meatballs, cooked chicken, pasta sauce and sweet corn in the fridge.  That way they the children can choose their own toppings. 

Meat balls
Sausage meatballs – I either buy some sausage meat or if using sausages squeeze the sausage meat out of the skin and make small pork meat balls, cook them in the oven then when cool store them in the fridge.
Beef meatballs – Buy some minced beef sprinkle in some salt and pepper and roll into small balls dipping them into some plain flour to help them keep their shape.  Again I cook them in the oven and when cool store them in the fridge.

​Sausages
I cook some sausages and keep them in the fridge.
Great for quick and easy hot dogs or sausage baps similar to those bought at most café’s and coffee shops

Bacon
I make extra bacon if doing a cooked breakfast on a Sunday. Once cool I pop it in the fridge. Again great for bacon rolls or as part of a pasta bake

Chicken
Buy an extra-large chicken for Sunday lunch so there are plenty of leftovers
Great used in wraps and sandwiches as well as pizza and pasta toppings

​Toasties
Earlier this year I invested in a toastie machine they were very popular in the 80’s and 90’s and a great way to get the children making their own meals and choose their own fillings.  It makes the boring old sandwich a little less boring!

A-Z OF RECIPES