Delia Smith, Well-Known British Cook, Urged Us To Go Back To Basics in 2005

It’s now 2017, and I’m still wondering: ‘do you know what’s in your food?’

More and more we are becoming inundated with information on food additives. But do we really pay any attention? Yes! We are becoming conscious of what we are eating. People are reading the labels on the packaging.

But with manufacturing companies becoming more savvy, they hide things with different names. For example, the food additive Sudan 1 has 52 other names.

And while I’m frightening you with the horror of labeling, did you know that ‘natural’ can pretty much  mean anything? For example Sudan 1 is an organic compound, so literally it’s natural. But it’s still proven to cause cancer in clinical testing.

In 2005 we were exposed to the carcinogenic properties of food dye Sudan 1 as it was used in most ready made meals and processed foods. It has since been banned in many countries, however, there is no checking process to make sure it’s not being used. And much of what is in ready-made food actually comes from third world countries. You’ve guessed it, they’re the ones that haven’t banned it.

So, how about going back to basics.

Back to Delia: Delia Smith advocated a return to “basic, old- fashioned cooking” in the March 4, 2005 Daily Mail.  She said: “You do suddenly see the horror of what can happen through one little mistake…I believe that food is a wonderful gift and it is good to give it our full attention.”

I like that. Pay attention to your food. And it’s not just ready meals. Fast food and many restaurants now order food-in-a-bag and have it delivered.

Buyer beware!

However, Delia did acknowledge that ready made meals have their place in our busy lives. “I do know that time can play a part.”

So, what do you think? Is it realistic to expect busy women and men to make every meal from scratch, or do we simply accept that we don’t have the time or energy to cook a full-blown meal every day?

There is something we can do!

Take time to plan our meals.

Breathe! Before you panic and think “oh no, here’s another thing to add into my hectic schedule” take a deep breath and relax.

Planning ahead the week’s meals will save you money at the grocery store. And save you money.

Worth reading on? I think so…planning ahead…

First,  make a menu. Just take sometime one evening a week to write a list of meals for each day. Honestly, I get mine done in about ten minutes. Get off Facebook for ten minutes. See, I’ve even found the time for you.

Then, make a shopping list. Remember to take it to the store. This is where you start to save money. Honestly, we throw less away because we are buying what we need. We also don’t fall prey to ‘ooh, that looks nice’. Well, not as much anyhoos!

Post the menu on the fridge, and remember to add snacks.

When you get home, or the kids get home, all anyone has to do is look at the menu. No time standing in front of the fridge thinking “what’ll we eat tonight?” See how we begin to save some time and energy?

When preparing meals make two or three extras and freeze them – ready meals without the additives. For example, last night I made two lasagna. Dinner last night and tonight from one. And the other has gone in the freezer.

Last week I did the same with shepherd’s pie. (Want the best Shepherd’s Pie recipe, click here.)

I also do the same with chili, pot-roast, stews and soups. Also a ton of easy cook chicken recipes. And when the kids were small I used to cook up a batch of brown rice on a Sunday and keep it in the fridge to be warmed up during the week (without any substantial loss of B vitamins.)

My daughter, Sarah, roasts root vegetables with a little olive oil and fresh herbs, then warms them up as needed.

I’m also a big fan of the slow-cooker, and oh my goodness, but how the recipes have improved. No, slow-cooking doesn’t always taste the same. But throwing something in the slow-cooker, heading out to work for the day, and then coming home to dinner already cooked–heaven!

(I’ve not branched into the new fast cooker thingies, as they remind me of pressure cooking and I’m not a big fan. But I hear good things. If you like them, let me know why. Drop a comment below.)

Now that the seed is planted, I bet you can think of lots of ways to spend a little time in the kitchen and not eat so many ready meals, processed foods and take-outs.

Anything to share? Pop a comment below, so we can all take advantage.

Stay fabulous,