As a mom, one of the biggest challenges we face is making sure the whole family eats healthy and enjoys good quality food. Getting the kids to eat their five a day can be a challenge and when working full time it can be difficult to make time for home cooked meals. 

But today that is going to change. We have a list for you here of some super healthy meals you can enjoy as a family this week, and every one of these meals is packed with goodness and flavour. 

Try these recipes this week and help your family be more healthy in 2021. 

Packed vegetable pasta 

The first meal we have for you today is one that is super healthy, and one that can also be prepped in advance and frozen for convenience. Try out this recipe and it will soon become a mainstay of your diets. 

Ingredients: 

• 500g penne pasta (or gluten free pasta)
• 200g Parmesan 
• 100g cheddar cheese 
• 1 large eggplant 
• 1 large zucchini 
• 1 bell pepper 
• 1 sweet potato
• 1 butternut squash 
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 1 carrot 
• 1 block halloumi
• 500ml passata 
• 1 tbsp tomato purée 
• 3 tbsp mixed herbs 

1. Chop up all of your vegetables and place into a baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 1 hour at 200C. 
2. In a large saucepan, cook pasta according to package instructions. 
3. Slice your halloumi block and fry in a pan with a little oil until browned on both sides. Remove and cut into small chunks. 
4. In a large pan, add your passata, herbs, and tomato purée and heat. Add the vegetables, pasta, and halloumi and heat through. Add a handful of Parmesan and a handful of cheddar and stir to melt. 
5. Serve with some extra cheese or freeze for a later date. 

Zucchini meatball boats 

Everyone loves meatballs, but often when we enjoy meatballs we also have pasta and garlic bread. This midweek meal however is a healthy way to enjoy meatballs and it will be the ideal choice to add to your meals this week. 

Ingredients: 

• 4 large zucchinis
• 1kg lean beef mince 
• 100g Parmesan
• 1 egg 
• 50g breadcrumbs 
• 100g cheddar 
• 50g shredded mozzarella 
• Basil leaves 
• 2 tins chopped tomatoes 
• 2 tbsp chopped chorizo
• ½ white onion, diced 
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 
• 1 tbsp tomato purée 
• 2 tbsp mixed herbs 
• Olive oil 
• Salt and pepper 

1. Season your beef with salt and pepper, and mix with breadcrumbs and half of your Parmesan to form meatballs. Don’t make them too big. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes. 
2. Slice your zucchini in half lengthways. Scoop out the middle and place in a baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and add 1 tbsp mixed herbs. Bake at 200C for 20 minutes. 
3. In a saucepan, add your onion, chorizo and olive oil and sweat for 8 minutes. Add Worcestershire sauce, herbs, tomato purée, and chopped tomatoes and simmer for 20 minutes. Blend. 
4. Grill your meatballs to cook them through. 
5. Add a small spoon of sauce to each zucchini boat, followed by meatballs, followed by more sauce. Sprinkle the cheeses on top and bake for 10 minutes. 
6. Serve with basil leaves. 

Salmon fishcakes 

Eating healthy is important for the whole family, and if you want to make sure your children don’t suffer from illness or issues as they grow older you should fuel 

 them right. For example to avoid the dangers of untreated hearing loss, you can consider diet as well as treatment and add salmon to the plate. Salmon is full of fatty acids and protein – and should be eaten once a week for your health. 

Ingredients: 

• 500g cooked salmon 
• 200g potato 
• 200g sweet potato 
• Salt and pepper 
• 1 tbsp parsley 
• 1 tbsp Rosemary 
• 1 tbsp thyme 
• 1 lemon
• 200g golden breadcrumbs 
• Vegetable oil 

1. Boil your potato and sweet potato until tender. Mash. 
2. In a bowl, mix potato, salmon, herbs and salt and pepper. Shape into discs and chill in the fridge for 1 hour. 
3. Heat up a frying pan with some vegetable oil. 
4. Take your fish cakes out of the fridge and roll them in breadcrumbs. Fry for 3-4 minutes on each side until crispy and golden. 
5. Serve with lemon wedges, salad, or chips. 

Homemade pesto pasta 

If you want a filling and comforting meal to give to your loved ones this week that is also healthy, this simple fresh pesto pasta is the ideal choice and will only take you 20 minutes! 

Ingredients: 

• 400g tagliatelle (or 100g per person)
• 1 bunch basil
• 150g pine nuts 
• 200g Parmesan
• 2 cloves of garlic 
• 100ml olive oil 
• 1 lemon, juice only 
• Salt and pepper 

1. In a blender, add your basil, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and half of your Parmesan. Blend until smooth and adjust to taste. 
2. Cook pasta according to package instructions. 
3. Mix your pasta and pesto together, and add extra Parmesan. Serve with a side salad for a balanced meal. 

Hidden vegetable lasagna 

One of the best ways to get picky eaters to eat more vegetables is to hide them in a sauce, and we are going to add this veggie sauce to a simple lasagna that will be ideal for a Friday night around the table with your family. 

Ingredients: 

• 500g lean beef mince 
• 1 tin chopped tomatoes 
• 1 carrot 
• 1 white onion 
• 2 cloves garlic 
• 1 bell pepper 
• 1 zucchini 
• 1 butternut squash
• Lasagna sheets 
• 1 tbsp flour 
• 1 tbsp butter 
• 350ml milk 
• 100g cheddar 
• 100g Parmesan 
• 100g shredded mozzarella 

1. Chop your vegetables and roast them with some olive oil for 45 minutes. Blend.
2. In a saucepan, fry off your beef until cooked through and add the blended vegetables. Add chopped tomatoes and stir through. 
3. Make a cheese sauce by melting butter in a pan, and add flour. Cook out for 1 minute and slowly add milk, whisking constantly to make a thick paste. As the flour dissolves add more milk until you have a sauce. Add cheddar cheese. 
4. To assemble – add your meat mixture, followed by a little cheese sauce, then pasta. Repeat until you reach a final sheet of pasta. Add your cheeses. 
5. Bake in the oven covered for 30 minutes, followed by 5 minutes uncovered.