Make your meals cheaper, healthier and filling!
You don’t need to change the meals your family loves to get more veg, beans and pulses into family dinners. Start with a favourite and make one or two small changes that work for your family.
We’re joined by home cook, creator and presenter Lauren Leyva with her tips on how to make your family favourite meals go further with then look below on how to use these techniques with your favourites dishes.
3 simple steps to get you started
Where to start
Meals with sauces, fillings or mixed ingredients are often easy to add to. Try bolognese, chilli, curry, stews, casseroles, pasta dishes and pies with extra vegetables, beans or pulses.
Check out our tips below on how to make many of your family favourites go further.
Add some veg
Adding extra vegetables is an easy way to make a familiar meal go further. Try adding veg you already know your family enjoys, or start with a small amount of something new.
Try chopped onions, carrots, peppers or mushrooms in sauces and fillings, or frozen peas, sweetcorn and mixed vegetables for an easy shortcut.
Add some beans
Beans and pulses can be added to lots of familiar meals. Try lentils in bolognese, kidney beans in chilli, chickpeas in curry or butter beans in a stew. Start small and build up as your family gets used to the change.
If your kids are cautious about a whole shiny bean give them a little half-mash with a fork or masher before they try it.
Start with these family favourites
How can I get my family on board?
Get your kids involved
Children become more comfortable with healthy food and changes when they can explore it without pressure. Touching, choosing, helping, talking and playing around food all help children become more familiar and confident, making it easier to try new foods over time. Check out our easy, low-pressure ways to get kids involved.
Kids cooking
Children can be more comfortable with changes when they have a part in making the meal. They could choose a vegetable, rinse beans, tip in frozen veg, stir a sauce or add their own toppings.
Check out out our guide on how to make cooking with kids simple, positive and stress-free. Why not try our Kitchen Ninjas?
Still struggling?
You’re not alone. If meals regularly end in arguments, your child refuses food or sitting down together feels like more stress than it’s worth, we’ve got practical advice from child psychologist Dr Clare Holley to help.
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