Healthy, Low-Prep Christmas Recipes That Won’t Break the Bank

Here at Right At Home in North Somerset, we know that preparing and cooking any meal can be difficult for those people who have limited mobility. If you struggle with limited mobility or arthritis makes it difficult to stand for longer periods of time or grip handles then knowing you have one of our CareGivers visiting to assist you can be the boost you need. We do, however, understand that for many of our clients cooking is something that they’ve always done for enjoyment. While we love to help you continue to enjoy your hobbies – whether that’s gardening, jigsaws or whipping up a batch of delicious treats – we understand that being able to do so independently can help you continue to feel like you.  

We also understand that, particularly at this time of year, increases in the cost of utilities and food can mean that our homecare clients tell us that they’re worried about the winter months.

Festive recipes that don’t take hours to make.

Here are two, easy-to-make, Christmas recipes from the Right At Home North Somerset team:

Cinnamon and Honey Oatmeal Cookies

These cookies look and taste great, will make your house smell festive and best of all, they don’t take very long to prepare or bake. They’re great as a treat to give to visitors, too.

Ingredients:

150g of rolled oats

100g of butter or margarine

2 tablespoons of flour

¾ tablespoon of baking powder

 1 ripe banana

1 level teaspoon of cinnamon

2 tablespoons of honey.

Method: Put the rolled oats, flour and baking powder into a bowl and mix, either by hand or with an electric mixer. Add the melted butter or margarine, mash the banana and add it to the bowl, along with the honey and the cinnamon.

Form the cookies and place them on a greased or lined baking tray - allow space between each one – and bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for about 20 minutes.

For an extra treat, you can also add chocolate into the mix, or dip half of each cookie into melted chocolate and place on a baking tray to dry.

Christmas Herb-Roasted Turkey Thighs

Turkey thighs are a low-cost alternative to a whole turkey or a turkey crown; they are also lean and provide protein in your diet.

Ingredients:

4 turkey thighs (skinless and bone-in)

1 juiced and zested lemon

2 tablespoons of olive oil

3 cloves of minced garlic (or three teaspoons of garlic puree)

1 teaspoon of dried rosemary

1 teaspoon of dried sage

Salt and pepper to taste.

Method: Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C for fan ovens).

In a small bowl, mix together the lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, garlic, dried rosemary, dried sage, salt, and pepper.

Place the turkey thighs in a baking dish and brush them with the mixture, ensuring they are well coated.

Roast in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes (ensure the turkey is properly cooked) and then serve. You can garnish with cranberry sauce on the side for a festive touch.

Mixed herbs will do if you don’t have sage or rosemary in your store cupboard.

Top tips to reduce costs at Christmas

Christmas doesn’t have to be a time of overspending and overindulging. Despite ‘tradition’ you don’t have to cook a big roast for Christmas lunch or dinner; you can choose to eat whatever you like – so if a turkey dinner isn’t really your thing, then go for an indulgent pasta dish, enjoy a hearty stew or even a pizza! It’s estimated that as many as 4.2 million Christmas dinners are wasted in the UK, including over 11 million roast potatoes and 263,000 turkeys. That’s a lot of food – so why add to the waste for the sake of tradition?

Here are some top tips to avoid spending too much money over the holiday season:

• Try adding a couple of extra items each time you shop in the lead-up to Christmas to spread the cost of festive food. If you aren’t meal planning then consider it, as it can be useful as it will help you to budget and avoid food waste.

• Consider buying non-branded alternatives to items on your shopping list, or use a supermarket that gives more value for your money. While many of us have traditions that we’re reluctant to move away from, sometimes trying something new can bring a new favourite into our lives!

• If you can get out and visit a farmers’ market or local street market, try and do so. They’re often cheaper than you expect, and you’ll be supporting local businesses in North Somerset, rather than a big supermarket chain. You may also find something unusual or different to try (as an example, you could visit the Weston Super Mare Farmers’ Market or the Eat! Festivals that take place in the area such as Eat! Weston, Eat! Nailsea, or Eat! Portishead).

• Batch cooking and freezing meals for later allows you to reduce food waste and save money on cooking costs - reheating an already cooked meal is quicker than cooking from scratch. You could also consider making ‘grab bags’ to freeze. Containing all of the meat and veggies you’ll need for a warming recipe such as a stew, the ingredients are chopped and frozen ready to grab, defrost and cook.

• Get the slow cooker out! Slow cookers are a great way to batch cook with minimal fuss, and they work well to keep costs down as well. You can use cheaper cuts of meat, and bulk out the meals with veggies to ensure a healthy, warming meal with plenty left over for the following days. Our CareGivers can help you with prep such as peeling or chopping or help with portioning it out into easily stackable containers once it’s cooked.

• If you like a traditional Christmas but there aren’t many of you, then consider ordering in! Ready to cook options can be delivered to your door in portions that are just right for one person, meaning that you don’t have to cook a 6 person Christmas lunch that could feed 6 when there’s only going to be two of you. Alternatively, if you’ve got friends who are also potentially having a quiet Christmas, why not see if you can get together and split both the costs and work while enjoying the day together

If you need help with planning or preparation for your Christmas meals, or getting to the shops, Right At Home can help. Get in touch with us today to have a chat about our services and what we can offer. Whether it’s help with simple meal prep, support with getting out and about or just a bit of companionship during what can be a lonely season – our high quality homecare services are available across North Somerset, Somerset and the Mendips. Get in touch with us today!