The launch of the Sainsbury’s ‘Summer Sorted’ campaign is offering practical help and entertainment ideas for parents across the UK this summer.
Parenting on Female First
The campaign is fronted by three real and inspirational families who urge parents to be more creative and have fun with food, as well as offering practical help to manage the household budget
The 'Summer Sorted' recipes include Apple Thins, Pitta Pizzas, Meatballs and Sloppy Joes and Yoghurt Buttons. From healthy snacking, to ideas for making multiple meals out of one, as well as recipes to get kids cooking – the recipes all use standard store cupboard staples / budget buys to make your weekly shop go further.
Rashida Boateng, one of the three families to take part, is a secondary school food technology teacher from Walthamstow, East London. Rashida has a passion for cooking both at work and at home. She cooks with her husband Alex and her three year old daughter, Bailey. During the summer holidays, Rashida is the main child minder for her six nieces and nephews and she heads to the kitchen to keep them entertained.
Rashida spoke to Female First to share her advice on how to make meals more fun and creative without breaking the bank.
Hi Rashida! You have teamed up with Sainsbury’s ‘Summer Sorted’ campaign, offering practical help and entertainment ideas for parents across the UK this summer. Why did you choose to be a part of this campaign?
I’ve loved cooking from an early age and was watching chefs on cooking programmes such as Ready Steady Cook when I was growing up. I’m lucky- I have a real passion for cooking and feeding people and I really enjoy my work as a secondary school food technology teacher.
Through my work and my personal experience I have gathered lot of tips to share for keeping children entertained and well fed during the school holidays (without spending a fortune!).
You are the main child-minder for your daughter, nieces and nephews during the summer holidays- How do you keep them entertained with food?
I love to get the children involved with the preparation at mealtimes – it makes them feel like they ‘rule the menu’ and it’s also a great way to keep them entertained. I also think it’s important for children to learn to cook from scratch, so they are well equipped when they are older. Cooking is a great activity for children and can give them a real sense of achievement when they’re prepared and cooked a dish from start to finish.
How do you find the perfect meal that they will all enjoy?
I like to make quick and simple recipes which are tasty and will give the kids lots of energy. I like to have both fresh, tinned and frozen foods at hand so I can make meals as economical as possible and can be adapted creatively. Sainsbury’s Pitta Pizzas are perfect for making with kids as they get to choose their own toppings to create their own individual pizza designs! Some of my daughter’s and nieces and nephews’ favourite meals include pizza / calzone (with a homemade bread base), fruit kebabs, chicken and pasta bakes. Simple yet delicious filling dishes!
How do you keep the recipes interesting and delicious?
Plan out your meals for the week, that way you can ensure your children are getting the right amount of goodness in their diet and you won’t find yourself with nothing to cook and end up serving an unhealthy ready meal. There will be days when you have little time to prepare a meal so make sure you have a good supply of pre-chopped vegetables, frozen fruit, tinned pulses and beans, such as chickpeas, to add to salads and stews. I often freeze meals in smaller portions so they can be reheated when needed and having quick tried and tested recipes at hand is a good idea!
As you are a secondary school food technology teacher you will have many ideas when it comes to food. But can other parents who don’t have a background in food still be creative with their recipes?
Definitely – when you’re doing your weekly shop, pick up the recipe cards in-store to give you inspiration for meal times. Pick fruits and vegetables in season – they’ll be at their best and taste delicious and are often on promotion, making your shop more economical. Introduce new foods in your weekly shop – perhaps a new vegetable, or a new grain like quinoa, buckwheat or couscous – to keep meal times interesting and varied.
What advice can you give to parents to make cooking entertaining?
Give your children an achievable task in the preparation of your meals so they enjoy being part of the cooking process – be it peeling vegetables, measuring / weighting ingredients, mixing ingredients or even the setting the table in the way they’d like!
How do you keep a meal healthy that still appeals to children?
I like the kids to pick their own fruit and vegetables when we go shopping at our local Sainsbury’s that way it involves them and keeps the shop fun! I also find with my little ones that it gets them a lot more involved in the food preparation and cooking process.
How can parents make meals that are appealing but are cost effective?
I love to create twists on classic dishes such as my mackerel Bolognese dish. Being Caribbean, I’m a fan of using flavoursome ingredients such as garlic, onion, thyme and ginger for BIG flavour! Having a good supply of fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables at hand – the more colourful, the better – are perfect for using as toppings for Pitta Pizzas. I try and bulk buy where possible and separate into individual portions then freeze anything we don’t use to reduce our household waste.
Do you think it’s important for families to cook and be creative together?
Cooking is so important for the family. Not only is it an important life skill but it’s a great way for families to bond. If families cook together and know what goes into their meals, they will be less reliant on fast food. Learning how to use leftovers from dinner into lunch the next day will save a good deal of money on your weekly shop!
What advice can you give to parents to be more creative?
Preparation is key! Have store cupboard ingredients stocked up so you can get baking on rainy afternoons or at the weekend. On sunny summer days, have some sandwich bags, Tupperware and a cool bag, so any meal can be transferable and enjoyed on a family day out.
Rashida Boateng and her daughter, nieces and nephews make Sainsbury’s Pitta Pizzas on the TV ad which aired last week.
Rashida cooking with her Family
As part of the campaign, Sainsbury's have launched a competition to encourage families to upload a ‘platie!’ That being a photo of their attempt at a Sainsbury’s ‘Summer Sorted’ recipe uploaded to @Sainsburys with hashtag #Platie #SummerSorted with a chance to win a £200 grocery shop. The competition closes on 5th September.