FOOD HACKS for busy mums

Chosen by Modern Family Food’s Emily Kerrigan

Food writer and mum-of-two Emily is teaching her kids to cook – and love – real food (modernfamilyfood. co.uk). She is a Jamie Oliver Food Revolution Ambassador and posts daily kitchen hacks and simple fresh family food ideas on Instagram. @modernfamilyfood

Herbs in a snip

Herb scissors, £7.50, M&S These multi-blade scissors chop herbs in seconds. I use mine to shred baby spinach leaves too – my kids like spinach and soft herbs shredded into chicken and couscous salads.

Roll-and-go biscuits

Nostik silicone pastry mat, £12.99, johnlewis.com Save time greasing and lining baking sheets by using one of these (see p49 for our kids baking recipes).

Splatter-free bakes

Allehanda mixing bowl with lid,

£8, ikea.com The thought of flour all over the floor can be enough to put you off baking with little ones, but this lidded bowl leaves room for a whisk, meaning cake mix stays in the bowl and your sanity stays intact!

Pack-your-own pouches

Doddle Bags, £10.99 (10-pack), doddlebags.com

Fill your own reusable, dishwasher-proof, colour-coded pouches with purée or yogurt, saving money and the planet.

Label lover

Freezer stamp, £39, fraserandparsley.com Bring order to your freezer with this stamp, created by two mums with five kids between them – they’re experts in home organisation!

Clever meal prep

Cook & Go lidded Pyrex glass dishes, from £9.99, Ocado Batch-cook food in these dishes, snap on the leakproof lids and stack up, ready to reheat straight from the fridge.

Insta-chopped veggies

OXO Good Grips vegetable chopper, £20, lakeland.co.uk Clever, compact and easy to clean, this dices an onion (and other veg) in one instant press.

Press it

Breville two-slice panini maker, £29.99, breville.co.uk

Paninis are perfect for a fridge forage and a quick lunch for the kids.