Recipes to tackle some of the most common 'isolation struggles.'
Recipes to tackle some of the most common 'isolation struggles.'
When stuck inside, there are numerous obstacles that we don't usually face on a regular basis, so here are a few recipes to combat some of the most obvious but harrowing!
1. Boredom
It's officially been 1 full week of lockdown, and I sincerely hope you are all coping as best you can. Isolation and being stuck inside can mean some of us are at a loose end. I am assuming we are all a little bored, or definitely on the verge of getting there, confined within the realms of our homes. For many of us, work has slowed or fully ground to a holt – which is a daunting and scary notion, trust me – I'm right there with you. Now is the time to channel that energy into something else, and I don't mean Tiktok - get in the kitchen and get creative.
Solution
My aim is to provide you with fun and creative recipes which will not only aid to pass the time, but also provide you with a sense of achievement. For many of us, our days might be lacking that sense of accomplishment or the high we sometimes we get from a particularly great working day. Or the feeling after you've closed a great deal, or perhaps come up with an exciting new idea. We need to try and recreate these feelings of achievement - and what better way to do this than cooking. I would suggest my sweet potato gnocchi recipe as it's hands-on, made from scratch and the ingredients are easily accessible and also cheap. Talk about a boxer ticker!.
2. Busy schedules
I appreciate isolation hasn't left all of us with free time. For some of us, work hasn't stopped and may have actually become more taxing. Balancing WFH with trying to entertain the kids and also putting food on the table means life has become pretty chaotic pretty quickly.
Solution
For those of you that fall into this category, I recommend cooking bulk recipes. These are found in the form of stews, curries, soups and chillies etc. Not only are they healthy, nutritious and delicious for all the family, but also mean you have meals ready, on hand, without having to turn to ready-meals.
It's not new news that ready-meals have a high amount of hidden salt and sugar. I used to think I was being super healthy by just having a pot of soup that you can buy from your average supermarket. I then realised that by consuming one of those pots, I was having over HALF of my daily salt intake in one sitting. From that moment on, I never bought a soup even again. Recipes for these can be found on my IGTV and my website. Here's a recipe for a curry which is utterly delicious and also doesn't require exact ingredients. It's perfect if you are struggling to get to the shops or unable to find fresh produce. Also, have a look on my website for the veggie chilli and soups.
3. Trying to stay healthy
Isolation means we are potentially working next to the fridge – DANGER ZONE! We are in for a long ride of this and snacking at 15-minute intervals is going to leave you feeling a tad on the squishy side post isolation.
Solution
Isolation absolutely requires snacks - how else are we meant to get thought the day? However, it's essential to make sure these snacks are (for the most part) healthy and nutritious, while still being tasty.
There is homemade Granola, protein balls & oat bars. These are not only fun and therapeutic to make, but will stop you snacking on chocolate and crisps. Quick, step by step guides, using very few stock cupboard ingredients, all-natural - with no refined sugars! Take a browse!
