Fridge & cupboard essentials

We don’t always have time to do a big weekly shop with 7 days meals planned in advance, and there’s nothing worse than getting to the end of a long day, with a tired head, and having to try and pull together a family meal.

There are a few essentials you can keep in the cupboard and fridge/freezer that will help you pull together a tasty and nutritious meal (or several) without having to even think about where you left your purse. And even if you have a baby just starting out on weaning, you’ll find something to make some mush out of.

Fridge

• Hard cheese (mild/medium cheddar good)
• Eggs
• Philidelphia cheese
• Light mayonnaise
• Tomatoes
• ketchup
• Butter
• Milk

Freezer

• Frozen mixed veg
• Frozen garden peas
• Oven chips
• Frozen half a sliced loaf
• Fish fingers
• Frozen sausages – meat or vegetarian
• Frozen mince (to cook from frozen)
• Banana/other frozen fruit

Cupboard

• Pasta shapes/spaghetti
• Tinned chopped tomatoes
• Tinned sweetcorn
• Chicken soup
• Vegetable stock
• Soy sauce
• Dried egg noodles
• Basmatii rice
• Jam and honey
• Porridge oats
• Tinned spaghetti hoops/ravioli/baked beans
• Potatoes
• Apples
• White onions