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Food

16th Oct 2017

7 winter fridge essentials for busy parents

Katie Mythen-Lynch

Warm up this winter with Avonmore Soup.

Ask any parent; family life is hectic.

Sometimes there’s barely time for dinner, homework and teeth brushing before the alarm goes off and it’s time to do it all over again.

It’s no surprise that, when it comes to providing nutritious, filling meals, even the most organised of mums and dads drops the ball occasionally.

Hey; we’re only human, right? No need to pack yourself off on another guilt trip.

The trick is to fill the fridge with clever items so you’re never caught out. This little list will get you out of a pinch when hunger strikes and you’re halfway through the third load of laundry or managing a crisis at work while wiping porridge oats off the kitchen wall.

Aaah, parenting. Nobody said it was going to be easy!

1. Fresh fruit

Keep an air-tight container of zingy chopped citrus fruit (apples, oranges, grapefruit) within easy reach in the fridge so the kids can help themselves when they feel like a snack. Squeeze some fresh lemon or lime over the pieces to prevent browning.

2. Batch cooked grains

Set aside an hour to batch cook a few portions of healthy grains every Sunday. With brown rice, quinoa and cous cous ready to go in the fridge, all you need to do is sprinkle them over a stir-fry or add them to a quick curry to serve up a filling meal when time is tight.

3. Avonmore Soup

You’d be hard pressed to find a member of the family, of any age, who doesn’t enjoy a warming bowl of wholesome soup, but who has time to blend up a batch every week? We always keep a carton or two of fresh and delicious Avonmore Soup in the fridge. Kids adore the Tomato and Basil and Creamy Potato and Leek, while the Feel Good range is just 100 calories per 400g pack – ideal for peckish mums and dads. One bowl (200g) is one of your five recommended daily servings of fruit and vegetables!

Handy tip: Buy the larger 700g carton if you have hungry school-goers, it disappears fast after school!

4. Cheese

Melted on crusty sourdough; sprinkled on a baked potato or layered over a pasta bake, cheese is a refrigerator must-have. Opt for ready-grated and pre-sliced options to save precious minutes (and cleaning up!) at meal times.

5. Eggs

Protein-packed, full of brain boosting Omega 3 and simple to prepare, the best thing about eggs is that they last for weeks in the fridge. Add a few beaten eggs to last night’s leftovers and cook on a low heat in the pan for a tasty frittata or whip up a quick scramble for breakfast to ensure tummies are full on chilly mornings.

6. Cream

Nothing adds gourmet flair to everyday dishes like a generous splash of cream. Swirl a teaspoon into your soup or add a splash to your favourite pasta sauce to elevate your dinner in an instant.

7. Onions and garlic

These two veggie must-haves are the basis for almost every recipe under the sun. From a shepherd’s pie to a winter stew, having a humble onion and a few garlic cloves in your arsenal can open the door to a world of yummy dishes. While you batch cook your grains on Sunday, try dicing three or four onions with some garlic at the same time. Pop it in an airtight glass container and store it in the fridge to fry up as needed during the week.

Avonmore soup is made using nature’s best ingredients, which are cooked slowly to ensure the wonderful flavours are kept locked in, & then packed immediately after cooking to ensure all the wholesomeness and freshness is maintained. Available in eight delicious flavours.