Shop Smart, Cook Smart, Eat Smart

THE NHF* EAT SMART WEEK 19TH – 25TH APRIL 2010

With so many families now faced with reduced disposable income through wages cuts, redundancy and increased taxes, the Nutrition & Health Foundation (NHF) is asking people to see this as an opportunity to shop smart, cook smart and eat smart together, in order to establish a healthy diet for life for all the family - starting with Eat Smart Week (19th – 25th April).

Now in its fourth consecutive year, this innovative initiative from the NHF aims to show that healthy eating is achievable for everyone, regardless of their cooking experience.

This year, the NHF has teamed up with chef Rozanne Stevens, who has come up with 10 quick, nutritious and budget friendly one-pot wonders which can be made and enjoyed by everyone. Not everyone, male or female, knows how to cook, and many people are now faced with a new challenge of having to plan menus and find recipes the whole family will enjoy whilst on a restricted budget. Not only can this be challenging but also time consuming.

“With purse strings tightened, families have become more conscious of what they are spending on food every week,” says Dr Muireann Cullen, Manager of the Nutrition & Health Foundation. There is the temptation to buy what’s on special offer, rather than perhaps what’s best for nutrition.

Obesity levels are now at an all time high in Ireland with direct and indirect costs accounting for €4 billion** a year; it is imperative that people start to make the right choices when it comes to food shopping and eating.”

The tradition of planning ahead for cooking and shopping is something of a lost art now that most of us decide on our meals only the day before, or often on the same day. The most important factor influencing our choice of what to cook is the ingredients we have at home – and, of course, the amount of time we have available.

One-pot meals are an easy and time-efficient solution and, to illustrate how eating the smart way is not only sensible and vital, but also quick and fun, Rozanne has prepared ten ‘one-pot wonder ‘recipe suggestions. To make cooking at home as easy, accessible and affordable as possible, Rozanne has also prepared a freezer treasure list, a store-cupboard list and given her top ten tips.

Some sample recipes follow, together with a nutritional analysis for each one - you’ll find the full recipe collection and Rozanne’s Eat Smart Week lists and tips on the NHF website :

Hearty Tuscan Bean Soup

Easy Red Thai Fish Curry

Tray Baked Chicken and Mediterranean Vegetables


* The Nutrition & Health Foundation (NHF), is a multi-stakeholder partnership, involving industry, government, scientists, health professionals and other relevant stakeholders. It aims to provide consumers with evidence-based information about diet and physical activity and to promote healthy lifestyles.

**Report of the National Taskforce on Obesity (2005)]