Ever feel like you’re stuck when it comes to your kitchen habits? Are you bored of serving the same old dishes week in, week out? Well, if you want to shake up your routine and your taste buds, here are seven ways you can add a touch of variety to your mealtimes.
Go vegetarian for a week. If you’re a family of carnivores, try giving up meat for seven days. Look online for tasty vegetarian recipes and discover a host of delicious and healthy dishes that are meat-free. You may be surprised how much you enjoy veggie options.
Eat international. Today, wherever you are in the world, whether it’s avocados from South America, tomatoes from Spain or mozzarella from Italy, the choice of ingredients from around the world has never been greater. Ironically, despite so much on offer, most people still tend to reach for old favourites when stocking the fridge. So why not challenge yourself to only eat non-local ingredients for a month and see what tasty produce is available? Visit websites selling exotic vegetables, spices and herbs, make the effort to look for something hitherto untested and discover delicious new ingredients.
Have a no-spend week. Are your cupboards bursting with tins and packets? Is your freezer overloaded? Try skipping your weekly shop for a week and use up the things you already have. It will force you to get creative with ingredients that have lurked in your kitchen for months on end.
Theme it. If you’re looking to create new dishes but don’t know where to start, a great way to find inspiration is by picking a particular country as a theme. For example, if you loved the cuisine on your last holiday, try recreating the dishes at home or if you often reach for a Thai or Italian menu in restaurants, look online for easy recipes you can create yourself.
Make your own. Always reach for packets when it comes to cooking pasta, or pop to the supermarket when you need a loaf? Why not try make your own instead? Whether it’s bread, pasta, ice-cream or yogurt, the results will taste more wholesome than the ready-made versions.
Try a new technique. We all have a preferred way of cooking favourite ingredients but if you’re bored of the same ways of cooking them, try using the same ingredients but with different cooking techniques. For example, swap boiled carrots for roasted carrots or make potato rosti instead of the mash.
Find new spots in the house. Do you always eat your meals in the same place? Why not shake things up once in a while and eat somewhere different – move the dining table outdoors for an impromptu garden party or treat the kids to a living-room picnic on a rainy day.