Ideas for bulk healthy food to freeze into portions?

[PugwasHDJ80]

Mrs P and i are expecting our first baby in September.

We live quite far from family so aren't likely to get a lot of support, so we're trying to do as much as possible in advance to make our lives a bit easier.

To that end i've started making food in bulk which i'm then freezing. So far i've made:

Bolognese
Jailhouse Chilli
Couple of chicken and asparagus Pies

But quite aware that these aren't particularly healthy (especially the use of red meat)

So has anyone got any ideas for more healthy food that could be frozen for quick evening meals?

[KrazyIvan]

Stews are a good one.
Curry as well.
Don't rule out soup, as you can make a nice thick one and then only need a loaf of crusty breed.
Lasagne freeze pretty well.

These are pretty much what we did in your situation a little over a year ago

Good luck

[muppetdave]

You could always bake a couple of hams and cut them in to smaller portions for something different

[Arpa]

Thanks to the advice found in the 'Billingsgate' thread, we've started a monthly trip to the fish market. Buy in bulk, prepare (gut, scale if buying whole fish) and then portion into freezer bags before freezing. Take out in the morning and its ready to pan fry / oven bake by the evening and takes no time at all.

Healthy, easy and cheap (especially things like Coley which although cheap, are also delicious). Also lasts very well in the freezer.

Fresh veg can be blasted in a steamer container in the microwave for a couple of mins - even my over half can manage this

Thanks to all that contributed to the Billingsgate thread!

[muppets_mate]

PugwasHDJ80 said:

Mrs P and i are expecting our first baby in September.

We live quite far from family so aren't likely to get a lot of support, so we're trying to do as much as possible in advance to make our lives a bit easier.

To that end i've started making food in bulk which i'm then freezing. So far i've made:

Bolognese
Jailhouse Chilli
Couple of chicken and asparagus Pies

But quite aware that these aren't particularly healthy (especially the use of red meat)

So has anyone got any ideas for more healthy food that could be frozen for quick evening meals?

[puts on flame suit] How about substituting Quorn mince for beef mince in recipes? It's healthy and I find it indistinguishable from meat especially in the flavoursome dishes you're talking about. [/takes suit off]

Oh, and congrats on your good news

[LordGrover]

I think the jury's still out on the health or otherwise of (quality) red meat. Personally, I'm more concerned about man-made, fabricated and processed foods.

A few ideas for freezing here; click. (You don't have to be primal/caveman to enjoy some of their recipes )

[Davey S2]

muppets_mate said:

[puts on flame suit] How about substituting Quorn mince for beef mince in recipes? It's healthy and I find it indistinguishable from meat especially in the flavoursome dishes you're talking about. [/takes suit off]

Oh, and congrats on your good news

Or turkey mince.

[Mobile Chicane]

Congratulations on your good news!

If you're anywhere near a Lidl, check out the freezer section for raspberries and blueberries. These are easily as good as Waitrose, just a lot cheaper.

I use the raspberries in smoothies and the blueberries in porridge.

The 'inferno' pizza is also pretty good for those food filth moments. £1.19 if I recall. The cheese topping is a bit stingy, but that's easily remedied.

[Pferdestarke]

Try adding pearl barley to chilli and bolognese at its watery stage to bulk it out cheaply and healthily.

I do a roasted tomato soup - thick as someone suggested earlier.

Buy about 2kg of very ripe tomatoes from the market. Cut in half, season, add an onion or two, then roast until slightly blackened.

Blend with chicken stock, herbs, spices etc for the cheapest, tastiest soup going.