Things to stock up on in your pantry

When looking for items to stock up on, always make sure that you have checked what’s currently in the fridge and cupboards to avoid purchasing things you already have. Some of the essential items that you can add to your winter stock are:  

Extra virgin olive oil

Vinegar

Canola or grapeseed oil

Chia seeds

Canned black beans

Quinoa

Raw almonds

Chicken

Dried lentils

Vegetables

Whole grain pasta

Salmon/fish

Have a meal plan in place

Planning your meals are one of the ways that you can make sure that you stick to a healthy diet and also save on money. The additional benefit that comes with this is that you will be able to buy food that will stay fresh instead of it going off before you have fully consumed it. Keep in mind to create a meal plan that has dishes that do not take long to prepare and do not require things that are out of season.

Versatile black beans

Black beans are easy to make meals with and can be paired with a range of dishes. It comes packed with fibre and protein that can help in boosting your energy levels, especially in winter where things tend to take a slump. You can also choose white beans to add to soups and stews that can be paired with whole-grain pasta or rice.  

Slow-cooked beef roast

A beef (or chicken roast if you prefer) packed with vegetables is a great way to enjoy the best of both worlds for meat lovers. It is a great way to also add tantalizing flavour into your vegetables as they cook in the juices from your meat. Remember to choose lean versions of whatever meat you will be using to keep the dish healthy. It is a nutritious and protein-filled meal that can come in handy on those days where you feel like you need a twist to your meals.

Stir fry

The beauty of stir fry is that it is easy to make, versatile, and allows you to be creative with your dish. You can opt to choose a chicken, beef or mince stir fry. There are also vegetarian stir fry's that can come in handy on those nights where you don't have the time or energy to prepare a meal that will take hours while getting your necessary nutritional servings in. 

Spicy soup

Bring some heat to those cold nights with chilli soup that is also filling. What this dish comprises of; lean ground beef, onions, green pepper, kidney beans, stewed tomatoes, chilli powder, ground coriander, cumin, minced garlic cloves, and dried oregano. You can find the recipe here.

Healthy burger patties

Looking for a homemade burger that is healthy and tastes good and doesn't come with the guilt. What you need is a grated sweet potato, two eggs, one cup of flour, salt, and pepper. Mix the grated sweet potato, your two eggs, and flour together.

You can add half a teaspoon of salt and pepper for taste. Make sure that your dough is not too wet or too dry but has the consistency of a normal burger patty.

You can use a cup to cut out the size of your burger patties or roll them out into round circles that fit the palm of your hand with a pin. Drizzle olive oil into a pan and heat it up. Add your patties into the oil and fry until golden brown. You can choose to garnish it with tomato sauce or grated cheese and enjoy it as a snack.