Healthy meals that won’t cost the earth

You’re keen to embrace healthier eating but, with the rising cost of living, you could be forgiven for wondering if this will also take its toll on your wallet.

‘But the good news is that healthy eating really doesn’t have to cost the earth, particularly if you’re cooking from scratch,’ says WeightWatchers’ nutritionist Jess o’Shea.

‘WW’s recipes involve buying a few, good- quality, nutritious ingredients that will keep you feeling satisfied for longer. You’ll be spending less on expensive ready meals, takeaways and impulse purchases, too.

‘If you plan meals in advance and batch cook (freezing extra portions for later) it will be easier to keep track of your PersonalPoints and budget. You will only be buying the ingredients you need, also reducing food waste.’

Fresh fruit and veg can easily be replaced with frozen or tinned in some recipes — not only is it just as nutritious, but it’s usually cheaper and can be kept for longer.

‘To ensure you stay within your PersonalPoints Budget and make choices that will benefit your overall health, it’s best to avoid fruit in syrup, and choose vegetables that are cooked in spring water,’ explains Jess o’Shea.

If you do buy fresh veg, try looking out for ‘wonky’ items, which taste good but can be cheaper. And make sure you store them properly — nothing ruins a salad quicker than soggy spinach or shrivelled tomatoes.

A few vegetables, such as potatoes, should be stored in a cool, dry place. Most can be kept in the fridge, where the optimum temperature is about 4.5c (any lower and you risk freezing them).

To prevent veggies from drying out and getting soft, you should keep them in a humid environment by placing them in a plastic bag in the salad drawer.

You don’t have to buy expensive cuts of meat — if you’ve got a slow cooker at home, you can use cheaper ones. Try braising steak (cutting off the fat before cooking) to make a casserole.

Avoiding convenience meals also helps; you could buy a whole chicken, cook it, cut the meat off the bone, then make a broth with the carcass — it will go much further than a chicken breast pack.

If you join WW, you’ll find the app is also packed with other budget- friendly advice and healthy family meals — including recipes for four for under a fiver.

Shop-bought snacks are also expensive. Limit how many you

buy or, better still, bake your own instead. It costs less and is healthier and more fun.

Simply use the WW app for inspiration, get the kids involved and start experimenting.