Meal prepping vegetables for the week can save you time, money, and ensure you have healthy options readily available. Here’s how to get started:

1. Choose Your Vegetables: Start by selecting a variety of colourful vegetables to keep your meals interesting. Consider bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, courgettes, and spinach. Aim for a mix of textures and flavours.

2. Wash and Chop: Thoroughly wash all your vegetables to remove any dirt or pesticides. Once cleaned, chop them into uniform sizes for even cooking and marinating. You might want to slice, dice, or even spiralise, depending on your meal preferences.

3. Blanch or Roast: For certain vegetables, consider blanching them briefly in boiling water, then plunging them into ice water to preserve their colour and crunch. Alternatively, roasting them with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper can bring out their natural sweetness.

4. Storage: Use airtight containers to store your prepped vegetables. Glass containers are ideal as they’re durable and microwave-safe. Consider portioning them into meal-sized servings for easy access.

5. Label and Chill: Don’t forget to label your containers with the date you prepared them and their contents. Store them in the fridge for quick additions to salads, stir-fries, or as sides for your main meals throughout the week.

By dedicating a little time to meal prep at the beginning of the week, you can make eating healthy a breeze!

Getting kids to eat their vegetables can sometimes feel like a daunting task, but with a little creativity and patience, it can be transformed into a fun and enjoyable experience. One effective strategy is to involve them in the cooking process. Let them choose which vegetables to prepare and allow them to wash, chop (with supervision, of course), and mix. This hands-on approach often piques their interest and makes them more willing to try the finished dish.

Another tactic is to make veggies visually appealing. Create a rainbow plate by incorporating a variety of colours – vibrant peppers, deep greens, and shiny tomatoes can turn an ordinary meal into a feast for the eyes. Additionally, try to disguise vegetables in sauces or soups; blending them into a creamy soup or adding them to a tasty pasta sauce can make them less noticeable and more palatable.

Lastly, don't underestimate the power of positive reinforcement. Praise your children when they try new veggies, even if it’s just a small taste. Sharing stories about how superheroes or their favourite characters enjoy eating their greens can also encourage them to follow suit. With a sprinkle of patience and a dash of creativity, you’ll likely find your little ones becoming more adventurous eaters in no time!

Cooking radishes can transform these often-underappreciated vegetables into a delightful addition to your meals, adding both flavour and bite. Start by selecting firm, bright radishes – whether they’re the classic red variety or the more exotic black or watermelon types.

To prepare them, wash thoroughly to remove any soil, and slice off the tops and tails. You can enjoy them raw, slicing them thinly for a peppery crunch in salads, or you can opt for a more robust preparation method.

For a simple yet flavourful roasted radish dish, preheat your oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Halve the radishes and toss them in olive oil, salt, and a sprinkle of black pepper. Roast them for about 20 minutes, or until they’re tender and golden. The heat will mellow their sharpness, resulting in a sweet, earthy flavour that pairs wonderfully with grilled meats or as part of a warm salad.

If you’re feeling adventurous, try a quick sauté in butter with garlic and fresh herbs. This will give your radishes a lovely caramelisation and a pungent bite, perfect for elevating a weeknight dinner or impressing guests at a dinner party. With a bit of creativity, radishes can easily go from humble side to the star of the show on your plate.