- 2 days ago
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00I'm Jo Swash, and as a busy parent of six kids, I know getting tasty, healthy food on
00:06the table can be tough.
00:08Right kids, come on, dinner's ready!
00:11Usually this place looks like a bomb's gone off on it.
00:14No!
00:14That's not for you!
00:16So, I've teamed up with the Batch Lady, best-selling author Suzanne Mulholland, where I show you
00:21how to make fast, simple, homemade meals you can put in the freezer.
00:24She's built up a huge online following, with tricks to saving time in the kitchen.
00:29And there you have it, a meal for four, made in three minutes.
00:33We'll help struggling households, who find mealtimes a daily battle.
00:41In seven days, you have eaten seven pizzas.
00:44Wow, that's awful.
00:45By analysing every meal they eat, any cereal without sugar, every minute they waste, you
00:52will be saving, every year, 20 days.
00:55That's insane.
00:56And every pound they overspend.
00:58When you do it like that, it does look awful.
01:01I'll show you my stress-busting recipes.
01:03No, this is a proper macaroni cheese.
01:06Reveal some clever hacks.
01:08I still can't believe we made six meals.
01:10And create monthly meal plans that'll change lives forever.
01:14Yeah, can you do this more, please?
01:17If you can't beat it, batch it.
01:19It's coming over to the batch inside, Suzanne.
01:23Another one.
01:30Hello, Suzanne.
01:31Hi.
01:31Welcome to Falkirk.
01:33My home turf.
01:34Yes, your neck of the woods.
01:35So, tell me about it.
01:36So, these are the Falkirk Kelpies, and they are the largest equine sculptor in the world.
01:41They are very impressive.
01:42They are.
01:43And this week's family only live round the corner.
01:45Well, tell me more.
01:45So, they're the Brooks family.
01:47They're a family of five.
01:48Mum, Erin, is a self-professed bad cook.
01:50Although, she does try to cook for the kids most evenings, which result in the kids not eating anything at
01:55all.
01:55Yeah, it's such a shame.
01:56And the Brooks are not alone.
01:57I mean, 42% of people don't rate themselves as a good cook.
02:01It don't need to be like that, though, does it?
02:02No, it doesn't.
02:03And we can definitely help this family.
02:04Come on, then.
02:05Let's go.
02:07Ivy Marshall!
02:10Hello.
02:11The Brooks family are mum, Erin, a senior family support coordinator for a charity,
02:17forklift driver dad, Ali, and their three children.
02:2019-year-old Ava, 16-year-old Ivy, and Marshall, who's 15.
02:24And Ava's boyfriend, Luca, who's also a regular guest.
02:28Kitchen is chaos.
02:30It's chaos.
02:30Yeah.
02:30You'll see teenagers in the kitchen.
02:32Yeah.
02:32You'll see teenagers in any room as chaos, never mind throwing food into the mix.
02:36Right, that's enough.
02:39It's a wee tiny cup.
02:40Family is everything to the Brooks.
02:43This kitchen is the hub of the house.
02:44There's lots of space for the kids and all their friends.
02:48I want my children together.
02:49But feeding them is a bit of an issue.
02:52Erin does her best to give the children healthy, balanced meals,
02:56but they are not well received.
02:58How was your dinner last night?
02:59It wasn't disgusting.
03:00It just had no flavour.
03:02I do try.
03:04OK, seriously.
03:06You do try.
03:07Is that it?
03:09They'll kind of turn the roses up straight away because they know what's coming.
03:12I'm not very good at it and I tend to mess it up.
03:14Ivy fed it to the dog.
03:17He's fed to say the kids' reviews are harsh.
03:21Kids being kids, they've named some of Erin's meals.
03:24Disaster pasta is for one.
03:27Swamp soup, another one.
03:29He's wanted for breakfast.
03:31Not a chance.
03:32Right, enough of your cheek.
03:34Barf, bolognese, what's that one?
03:37Rotten risotto.
03:37Rotten risotto.
03:38It just gets me down and it causes stress and upset.
03:43On top of all this, Erin was diagnosed with ME around ten years ago,
03:47a chronic fatigue syndrome that affects her daily life.
03:51It's almost like having the flu and it can come on like a switch sometimes.
03:56So if I get stressed, if I get overwhelmed, if I do too much, if I stand too much or
04:02sit in a position too long,
04:03I get really, really sore and it makes it very limiting.
04:07So if I am having a flare up standing and cooking dinner, it's really difficult.
04:13Snacks.
04:14When Erin is too exhausted to cook, Ali steps in to keep the family fed.
04:19Here's a chicken with salad or chicken curry with rice.
04:21No, I've got curry and chips as well.
04:24But due to long and unsociable shift patterns, he results to low nutrition convenience food.
04:30Generally, it's something kind of quick and easy.
04:32I'd say there's a lack of consistency between the two of us.
04:35I'm cooking dinner for the kids tonight.
04:37I'm going to try and make a pasta sauce.
04:40What is it?
04:41Just vegetables.
04:42Good things.
04:43Healthy things.
04:44It's a pasta sauce.
04:47My mum tries and I love her for that.
04:50The issue is she's very keen to put loads of veg in meals.
04:53It's too much, to be honest.
04:56Because it just kind of tastes like crap soup.
05:00Love you.
05:02All this playful banter is taking its toll on Erin's confidence.
05:06When I went to the boiler of finding something that I think the kids will like
05:10or that's really healthy and nutritious, prepped it, cooked it and they don't like it,
05:15it's upsetting.
05:16It can be devastating.
05:17No, like I could eat it but I wouldn't eat it.
05:20I wouldn't enjoy it.
05:22It hurts because that's what I should be doing.
05:25I'm their mum and I'm not able to do that.
05:27Will you have it as soon?
05:28No.
05:29Please no.
05:30It's not long before all the kids will be leaving home and Erin fears the family drifting apart.
05:36My teenagers are growing up.
05:38They're flying the nest.
05:39I want them to fly the nest but I want them to come back here to be fed.
05:42I want to have conversations, be sharing memories, be sharing new experiences.
05:47I worry they won't come back.
05:53It's now or never to get mealtimes right for this family.
05:57This looks like it.
05:58So to find out what's going wrong we're starting our hunt for clues in the kitchen.
06:03Oh, it's gorgeous.
06:06I feel like it's a show kitchen.
06:08Yeah.
06:08Where is everything?
06:09It's so open.
06:10Where is the fridge?
06:12Take a guess.
06:13Oh, you were right.
06:14There we go.
06:16Wow.
06:16That is immaculate.
06:17It's clean.
06:18It's tidy.
06:1910 out of 10.
06:20What's here?
06:21Oh, some good Scottish stovies.
06:23What is a stovie?
06:24Mashed potatoes and meat all sort of mixed together.
06:27It's really good.
06:28Let's have a look at that.
06:29That really does look appetising, doesn't it?
06:32Homemade is lovely.
06:34Other than a few ready meals, the fridge is well sorted.
06:37And it just gets better in the cupboards.
06:41Look at this.
06:42Labels in baskets.
06:44My goodness, it's perfect.
06:46Why are we in this house?
06:49If we're going to find issues anywhere, my bet is on the freezer.
06:53This could do with a little organisation.
06:55I mean, we've got like ice lollies next to frozen chopped onions.
07:00Yeah.
07:00But there's frozen chopped herbs.
07:02Yeah.
07:03Frozen fruit, chopped veggies.
07:05Someone is cooking.
07:06It's not like it's full of just ready meals.
07:09OK, I want to know who this person is.
07:12Well, you won't have to wait another second, Suzanne.
07:15The family are home.
07:16Hello.
07:17Hello.
07:19How are you?
07:20Nice to see you.
07:22So, tell us what meal times are like at the moment.
07:24Eh, stressful.
07:25Chaotic.
07:26Yeah.
07:27Everyone making their own food.
07:28Everyone in different rooms.
07:29It's like a kind of drop in centre.
07:31It would be amazing to see if we could all sit round a table
07:33eating the same food.
07:34And enjoying it.
07:36I bet you feel great about this, didn't you?
07:39Yeah, yeah.
07:39You've got your work cut out.
07:41I tell you, you really have.
07:42Well, guys, if you want to go into the next room,
07:45we're going to catch up mum and dad.
07:46Catch you later.
07:47See you later.
07:48Bye.
07:48Bye.
07:50To really understand how bad the Brookes' meal times have become,
07:53for the last four weeks, we've watched her every move
07:56on hidden cameras.
07:58We want to see what they buy, what they cook,
08:00and more importantly, what they eat.
08:03Do you want to have a little look and find out what we found?
08:05No, thank you.
08:08Erin does a lot of cooking from scratch.
08:10What is this that we've cooked here?
08:12I don't know what that is.
08:13I don't know.
08:13But much of it doesn't get eaten.
08:17Oh, it's gone down the sink.
08:18It's gone.
08:19It's all gone away.
08:21Erin's drive to feed her family healthy veg is bordering on obsession.
08:26That is a lot of butter on scratch.
08:29And that is a lot of melted chocolate she's adding to it.
08:34Yeah.
08:35And how did this chocolate mousse go down?
08:37They see them tuck into this.
08:40Oh!
08:43So that went down quite well then, the butternut squash and chocolate.
08:46Oh, God.
08:48While not eating Erin's food,
08:50the kids are turning to Ali's quick fix convenience meals.
08:53It's such a shame when you look at it,
08:55because all that healthy food went down the sink
08:57and all that unhealthy food was going into the kids.
09:01Even worse, they're snacking on cereal with simply tonnes of sugar.
09:06Oh, no.
09:08Oh!
09:09Oh!
09:09Any cereal with that sugar?
09:11Oh, my God.
09:14I know she likes sugar, but that's just ridiculous.
09:17That's awful.
09:18Right.
09:19The story is the same day after day after day.
09:24They are being fed the right things.
09:25It's just they're not eating it.
09:27So we need to turn your healthy stuff into nice, healthy, tasty stuff.
09:31Yeah.
09:31Edible would be good.
09:32I mean, that's...
09:34Edible would be good.
09:35Good start.
09:35Yeah.
09:36Definitely.
09:37All these problems have had an effect on the family's health, wealth and free time.
09:43Ali and Erin have to face the facts.
09:44So, your weekly food budget is £179.38.
09:52But nearly 20% of that was on fast food.
09:57It's absolutely crazy.
09:57And that will be you're trying to cook, but nobody's eating it.
10:02Mm-hm.
10:02So, Ali, you are going and doing the actual shop that everybody wants to eat.
10:07So we're double spending, really, aren't we?
10:09Mm.
10:09That's crazy.
10:12Erin's efforts in the kitchen and Ali's emergency shops are eating up the hours.
10:17The time that you're spending cooking and shopping amounts to just under 20 hours a week.
10:24Eight supermarket shops on average a week.
10:28Right, that's a shock.
10:30If we could bring that down, then that's more time, more quality time as a family.
10:34And they're only achieving a nutritionally balanced diet around a third of the time.
10:39It's awful.
10:40You're putting in all the effort and all the time.
10:43It's just the kids are not eating what you're cooking.
10:46To hear it, it's really upsetting.
10:48When I look at what my children are eating, I worry about it.
10:51It makes me panic.
10:52They're not getting enough nutrition.
10:54But to find out that I'm not anywhere near where I should be, I feel guilty.
11:00It's disheartening.
11:01And I have this dream of the kids coming with their partners.
11:04And what better way to bring them all than if you're feeding them?
11:08And at the moment, I can't do that.
11:10I can't give them that.
11:11I will guarantee you, by the end of this, they'll be coming back for years and years.
11:16I'll promise you that on my heart.
11:18How does that sound?
11:20Same.
11:20Amazing.
11:21Yeah.
11:23Looking at all those numbers, that's horrifying.
11:25It definitely is worse than what I thought it was going to be.
11:28It's hard seeing the kids putting stuff down the sink.
11:31Right, things need to change.
11:33I can completely relate to this situation.
11:36Me and Stacey have had to learn that we need to work off the same hymn sheet to make things
11:39work.
11:40And I think it's the same case here, you know.
11:42There's a disconnect.
11:43So I think, with Suzanne's help, we can really make this family work a lot better than they are.
11:56We're in Falkirk, central Scotland, helping the Brooks family.
12:00Mum Erin's flavourless food meant the kids were refusing to eat it.
12:04It just kind of tastes like crap soup.
12:06Where do you think the best recipes come from?
12:08People that can cook.
12:11Let's get this family out of the chaos and into the calm, batching life.
12:15So, will we take a look?
12:16OK, go for it.
12:18When we arrived, the kitchen was almost immaculate.
12:21It was just the freezer that needed a little streamlining.
12:24What is this?
12:25I've not got a clue.
12:28It's freezer surprise.
12:30I've no idea.
12:31We're going to make sure that everything's labelled.
12:34Because then we can actually eat the food once we've frozen and defrosted it.
12:37Yeah.
12:38If you knew where everything was, that's going to really help you categorise it and give it a clean-out
12:43so that you'll have a bit more space in there.
12:45Organised for all your batch.
12:47That's what we need.
12:49While you two are sorting out the freezer, I'm going to show Ali how to break his time-wasting shopping
12:55habits.
12:56We've worked out that you're probably going eight times a week.
12:59Too much.
12:59Too much shopping.
13:01We've got our shopping list.
13:02Good.
13:02We can do this, Ali.
13:03Yeah, good to go.
13:04One shop a week, son.
13:06Experts say that we should be eating a variety of 30 different plants and vegetables a week to meet our
13:12nutritional needs.
13:13Despite Erin's efforts, the brooks are nowhere near this.
13:16So, I've got a great hack to help them hit those targets.
13:20We said that you didn't potato mash.
13:21Carrots and sweet make really good mash.
13:24It widens the variety of plant-based food that you're adding to your diet.
13:27That's a neep in Scotland.
13:30A neep?
13:30Yeah, neeps.
13:31Might as well be speaking French to me right now.
13:35Another starved vegetable hiding in the veg aisle are sweet potatoes.
13:39My kids love sweet potato.
13:41Do your lot like sweet potato?
13:42Yeah, they do actually.
13:43Yeah.
13:43The good thing about these, Ali, they make great mash, great chips, great wedges.
13:48Also, Ali, these counter is one of your five a day.
13:50Yep.
13:50Lovely stuff.
13:51Let's chuck a load in, Ali.
13:52Look at that.
13:53It's looking colourful already, isn't it?
13:55The brookses are spending 20% of their weekly budget on fast food.
14:00Let's go.
14:00Let's crack a lack in.
14:01By simply having a recipe in mind and using the doubling up method, I reckon I could end this expensive
14:07habit.
14:07Why don't we get a couple of crab pleasers?
14:10What else do you lot like eating?
14:11Steak pie kind of thing.
14:12Is it one of your favourite things?
14:13Yeah.
14:14The good thing, Ali, about something like a steak pie is that you can use the cheaper cuts of meat.
14:19By the time we add a bit of puff pastry to this, it's going to cost you hardly anything.
14:23We'll get the big packs because we're batching.
14:25Also, it comes in a lot cheaper as well.
14:27So, it's a win-win for everyone, isn't it, Ali?
14:29Yep.
14:31Ali was horrified that the family were wasting almost 20 hours a week on food-related prep.
14:36If we can reduce that, it will make life so much easier for the brooks.
14:41These bags of vegetables here, this is going to save peeling, chopping, cutting.
14:45It's already there prepared for you.
14:47Aaron thinks if you buy fresh stuff, it's a lot better for you.
14:51A lot of people think that, but what they do with this frozen stuff is they pick it at its
14:54prime and they flash-freeze it.
14:56So, all the nutrients are still in there, they're probably just as healthy as the fresh stuff off the shelves.
15:01Yeah.
15:02Also, sometimes it's slightly cheaper.
15:04Yeah.
15:04So, we're winning everywhere.
15:06Eight shops a week, down to one.
15:08All sorted with just the list and some batch meal planning.
15:11Thank you very much.
15:13Have a lovely time.
15:14I think we've done a good job there, Ali.
15:16Well done, mate.
15:18The shopping's done.
15:19It's time to head back and see how the other two have got on with the kitchen.
15:23Thank you very much.
15:26Hello.
15:27Hello, you too.
15:29How are you doing?
15:29How are you doing?
15:29But we did reorganise the freezer.
15:32There's a sign on it telling where everything goes so you'll know what shelf to put everything back.
15:36Yeah, if anything's in the wrong place, yeah, you and the kids will be getting called down to say,
15:39yeah, back in the right drawer.
15:42Erin was desperate to feed her children healthy, nutritious meals, but they were literally throwing them down the drain.
15:49So we first have to help her make tasty meals that the family will actually eat.
15:54With everything in order, it's time to get batching quick, healthy and most importantly, tasty meals that the whole family
16:02will love.
16:03I'm starting with a veg-packed sauce that Erin should definitely approve of.
16:08OK, let's get started.
16:10First, roughly chop courgettes, carrots and celery.
16:15We're making triple amounts so that two meals worth can go straight into the freezer.
16:20Then add some frozen onions to a pan of oil along with all the prepped veg.
16:24That's around a kilo and a half of veg already.
16:27Now add nine tins of tomatoes.
16:30You just start putting them in, time saving double at a time.
16:33Let it simmer for 20 minutes.
16:35Each portion of this sauce contains four of your five a day, easily hitting Erin's goals for healthy meals for
16:41her family.
16:42So what we're missing now is some flavour.
16:45OK?
16:46So we're going to get flavour from our stock cube.
16:48We're going to get flavour from garlic.
16:50Garlic paste is another great time saver.
16:52And now for one thing that Erin rarely adds, salt.
16:57I want you to just go for it, OK?
16:59Don't panic about what we're putting in.
17:01Remember, this is three nights worth of dinner for five people.
17:06So, to me, that's a lot.
17:07It's not.
17:08And I don't salt much food, but with tomatoes or that, you really do have to.
17:13Adults should eat no more than one teaspoon of salt a day.
17:16But adding a small amount during cooking enhances the flavour of the whole sauce.
17:20That is much better that your kids are going to eat that than they're going to eat a processed thing
17:25that has way more salt than went into there.
17:27Yeah.
17:28Finish the seasoning with some pepper, then add the stock and leave it to simmer until it thickens.
17:34Right.
17:35That's looking great.
17:36I think we should think about tasting it.
17:38Is it something that you do?
17:39Try not to.
17:41Until I have to.
17:43Tasting is so important.
17:45Flavourless food can be fixed here before it hits the table.
17:49Well, that tastes nice.
17:50I would say a little bit more salt and pepper, actually.
17:53Definitely more pepper.
17:55For the final flourish of flavour, add a handful of chopped fresh basil, then blitz everything up.
18:01And that's the sauce done.
18:03When cooled, bag up the extra portions for future meals.
18:07This is a versatile sauce that can go with pasta and even on pizza.
18:12Today, we're doing a gnocchi bake.
18:15Just add a bag of gnocchi to a baking dish and spoon on the sauce.
18:19So, I know that this cup is like a portion of pasta sauce.
18:22So, we're going to do five, because there's five in your family.
18:26Top with pre-grated mozzarella.
18:28It's tasty and time-saving.
18:30Then pop it in the oven.
18:33Are you nervous at all about the kids tasting it?
18:35Yes, a little bit, because they know that I've had a hand in it.
18:39Don't worry, I'm nervous too. It's my recipe.
18:42There's only one way to find out if this dish is going to be a hit with the family.
18:48Right, guys, shall we tuck in?
18:50Yeah.
18:50Good luck, everyone!
18:52Good luck, Mum!
18:53The moment of truth.
18:58This is good, Mum.
19:00Is it good?
19:01Very good.
19:01It's really good, actually, yeah?
19:03It's really good.
19:04OK, even I like it.
19:06Seriously?
19:07Do you?
19:07I do, actually, that's really nice.
19:09Perfect.
19:09Really tasty.
19:10So, have you got a full house here?
19:12Seriously?
19:12Potentially, for the first time.
19:14Yeah.
19:14Honestly.
19:15Do you all, yeah?
19:16Honestly.
19:16Oh, fantastic.
19:17Everyone is eating the same thing.
19:23This doesn't happen.
19:25Yeah, can we do this more, please?
19:27To see everybody eating the same thing, that was pretty awesome.
19:32I know my children very well, and I know my husband, and if they were just going, mmm,
19:36yeah, trying to make me feel good, I could tell, and that wasn't.
19:39They were being genuine.
19:40I mean, in that one recipe, potentially, you've got, like, four or five different dishes.
19:44Yeah, that's, I'm excited.
19:48I'm really excited, actually.
19:50This is a really good start.
19:52Absolutely.
19:53You have done well.
19:54Well done well.
19:55Evan really lit up, and I could see that she had that lovely mother's feeling of,
20:01I've done it.
20:03Well done, Mum!
20:05This was beautiful.
20:10Keeping a horde of hungry teenagers fed is hard, especially when they're always
20:14running between activities.
20:17I have the perfect hack to show you in my test kitchen, to fill a gap on the go.
20:23So, Jo, I always like to have some snacks batched in the freezer just to grab out at
20:28any time, and this is one of my kids' absolute favourite, and it is sausage and egg muffin.
20:33Come on then, I am really looking forward to this.
20:35Pre-cook 12 sausages and let them cool.
20:38Then crack 12 eggs into a bowl, one for each muffin.
20:42Not one bit of shell went in there.
20:44We are excellent!
20:46Love that.
20:47Next, whisk in some milk.
20:49One of the easiest ways to cook this is to cook all the egg together on one big tree.
20:56Pour the egg mix into the oil tree and transfer very carefully to the oven.
21:01No, don't touch it!
21:02Jo, take your hands away!
21:03Too many cooks!
21:04Oh, my God!
21:05Cook for ten minutes.
21:07I have to say, I am very impressed.
21:11When done, you'll have a sheet of egg ready to cut out fast and no faff.
21:16We'll get a little conveyor belt going.
21:18Yeah.
21:18Right.
21:19That is what batching is all about.
21:21While they're cooking, assemble the rest of the bap with whatever you want.
21:27What would you put on yours?
21:28Maybe chuck a bit of bacon in there.
21:30I'll chuck a little hash brown in it as well.
21:32Ooh!
21:33Luxury one.
21:34Basically just a full English breakfast in a bap.
21:37Now we're ready for the egg.
21:39Oh, look at those!
21:40Can I put that on your tray, Jo?
21:42I certainly can.
21:43Simply cut the egg sheet into 12 squares.
21:46Look at that!
21:47And then each little muffin just gets a square of egg put on it.
21:52Ah!
21:53Cute, eh?
21:53Wrap tightly to keep the air out.
21:56Then they won't suffer freezer burn.
21:58Just pop them out at any time.
21:59Unwrap them.
22:00Two minutes in the microwave.
22:02You're good to go.
22:03Cheers, Big Ears!
22:06Mmm!
22:07Mmm!
22:08I love it.
22:09I think I prefer it to the one that we're trying to copy.
22:14Wow!
22:17Conflicting long hours at work meant meal times for the brooks was fragmented and laborious.
22:23As a result, they were spending almost 20 hours a week preparing food.
22:28This wasted time was particularly concerning for Ali.
22:32While we've got five minutes piece, I thought I'd have a little catch up with you and try and find
22:37out what meal times are like from your perspective of things.
22:40Not great.
22:41Not great.
22:42A lot of time it's convenience kind of stuff that's maybe ready in 20 minutes because I've maybe only got
22:46maybe half an hour before I go to work or the dog needs out.
22:49So how does Erin's ME affect the family as a unit?
22:56I would say I need to pick up the slack.
22:58That's why I might be going for convenience food, for air fryer food, because, you know, she's taking a dip,
23:05which is hard sometimes.
23:06Erm, well, it's hard all the time actually.
23:10She's not going to get any better, it's just about managing her condition.
23:15So the batching would really help the family?
23:17100%.
23:17You could come home from work and you won't have that stress of, I need to pick slack up, I
23:22need to find out who's having what.
23:23You can just open the freezer and say, right kids, pick your meal, let's eat it together.
23:28Hi.
23:29I think Suzanne's got something up her sleeve that's going to save you time and money, but also tickle your
23:35fancy.
23:35Cool.
23:36Come on.
23:36I'm going to show Ali how to make a home cooked version of a family favourite, steak pie.
23:45It's fast will help take the load off of Erin and replace his habit of buying quick fix convenience food.
23:51I want to show you how you can make one in the slow cooker, okay?
23:55Yep.
23:55Slow cooker's great for you because you could wake up in the morning, pour it all in, go to work,
24:00come back, put the top on the pie, you're good to go.
24:03Yep, perfect.
24:03Dead easy.
24:05The meat for this pie is diced beef, which is a great cheap protein.
24:09We start by browning it to seal in the flavour, which works really well.
24:13Clearly.
24:15Joe, do you want to stop eating the beef?
24:17Have you caught me?
24:18It's really nice.
24:19There's more going in his mouth than it's going in the slow cooker.
24:23Unlike Joe, once the meat's browned, do transfer it to the slow cooker, then chop some carrots and add in.
24:30Once cooked down, the kids will barely notice.
24:33We're making two batches, so we just want half the carrots into the slow cooker.
24:37Yep.
24:38And we just want half the frozen chopped onions.
24:41Follow that with tomato puree, flour and beef stock to make a rich thick gravy.
24:47Lastly, we are feeding five people, so you can do a few good bits of salt and a few good
24:53bits of pepper.
24:54Once seasoned to taste, put the lid on and cook for six hours.
24:59Now for the freezer batch, put everything except the meat in one bag.
25:04Done the meat separately, because we're going to brown this when you come to wanting it, okay?
25:08Add the meat to another and you're done.
25:11When needed, defrost, cook and you've got a quick tasty meal with minimal effort.
25:16Simple.
25:17As every good batch cook, I shall squeeze the air out of this before I see it.
25:21He's learning all the tricks of the trade.
25:24Once the slow cooking is finished, transfer the filling into a pie dish and cover it with puff pastry.
25:30The filling can also be served as a stand-alone stew with mash or roast potatoes.
25:36Great job.
25:37You think there's something you can do without us being here?
25:39Yeah, definitely.
25:40Possible the kids could do it too.
25:41Then put it in the oven until the pastry is golden brown.
25:45Ooh!
25:48Hang on!
25:49Look what your Ali done, eh?
25:52Oh, that looks so nice.
25:54Did you make that?
25:55Yeah.
25:56I'm surprised.
25:58On you go.
25:59Stuck in.
26:00We're serving with neeps and tatties for a true Scottish flavour.
26:04Mmm!
26:06That's lovely.
26:07That meat's really nice and tender.
26:08You taste all the flavours coming through.
26:10You taste it.
26:11Yeah, love it.
26:11Good.
26:12Who needs a takeaway?
26:13When you can make a pie like that?
26:15I know.
26:15So much better.
26:16Delighted.
26:17Yeah, well done.
26:18Aw.
26:19Well done.
26:20Well done.
26:20Well done.
26:24I think that's the end of air fryer pies and stuff like that.
26:28No excuses now not to be cooking.
26:30100% I'll make that pie again.
26:32It will definitely save me time in the kitchen and something enjoyable for us all to eat.
26:36It's a winner.
26:37You can leave us free alone now.
26:39I'm going to stay with this slot.
26:41I feel like Ali, you can definitely prepare some real healthy food that's going to be low in cost and
26:47high in nutrition.
26:48It's just the rest of the family need to jump on board.
26:59In Falkirk, we've been helping a family in crisis.
27:03They've named some of them's meals disaster pasta, swamp soup.
27:08Mum Erin was desperate to cook healthy nutritious meals, but the kids were refusing to eat them.
27:13Will you have a soup?
27:15No.
27:15Please roll.
27:16On top of that, the kids are getting older and starting to fly the nest.
27:20I want them to come back here to be fed.
27:23I worry they won't come back for food.
27:26As a mother with children of a similar age, I want to chat to Erin and find out how I
27:30can help.
27:32Tell me about how you're feeling about the kids and their age at the moment.
27:37It's lovely to see them growing, you know, getting that independence and making their own decisions.
27:44But at the same time, it's not great because they're growing.
27:47I miss them.
27:49I genuinely miss them.
27:50Tell me how you feel about that in terms of them coming back home to have a lovely dinner.
27:56Do you think it would happen now if you didn't reset?
27:59The way that I'm doing things is not working.
28:01So I have to change.
28:03I absolutely have to change.
28:04I would love for the kids to want to come here to try my cooking.
28:08You know, to have, like, mum's favourite.
28:10Ali's mum's a really good cook.
28:12And the kids get really excited and they're like,
28:14oh, we're getting grandma jam or is this grandma's lentil soup?
28:17I'd love them for them to be able to say that about me.
28:20If they could want to come to the dinner table to enjoy eating with us,
28:26that would be really special actually.
28:28Yeah.
28:29To help Erin fulfil that dream, I'm going to show her an absolute classic.
28:34A roast chicken dinner, spatchcock style.
28:38Erin, what do you think?
28:39Do you think a roast dinner will be enough to entice the kids home at the weekends?
28:42Definitely.
28:43That is one of the kids' absolute favourites.
28:46Perfect.
28:47You're in good hands.
28:48Well, you're in one set of capable hands.
28:52Spatchcocking is a technique used to flatten a whole chicken
28:55so it cooks more evenly and quickly,
28:57helping make Sunday roasts foolproof.
29:00This would take about two hours to cook this chicken,
29:02but when we spatchcock it and lay it flat,
29:05it takes about an hour and ten minutes.
29:06We're going to do this on one tray.
29:08We're going to be adding some carrots and some onions to the tray
29:11before I touch the chicken.
29:12So you're not having to keep washing your hands,
29:14washing the board, washing the knife.
29:16While you two do that,
29:18I'm going to crack on with preparing some roast potatoes.
29:22You've got a big responsibility there, Jo.
29:24I mean, we're doing a lot of roast potatoes
29:26so we're going to put them on another tray,
29:27but literally you could have it all in the same tray if you want.
29:30Does that mean that a lot of the flavours kind of mix together then?
29:33Exactly.
29:33You're going to get that lovely juicy flavour all coming together.
29:37Just absolutely delicious.
29:38Excellent.
29:39Put them on your tray.
29:41To help with that flavour,
29:43I'm getting Erin to infuse some oil with rosemary, thyme and garlic.
29:48Flavoured chicken in the shops,
29:49it's going to cost you more money
29:51because someone else has had to flavour it for you.
29:53If you learn how to flavour it yourself,
29:54you're saving a lot more money.
29:56Right, OK.
29:57Now it's time to spatchcock the chicken.
30:00I use a pair of scissors because it's easier.
30:02We want to run the scissors up each side of the spine.
30:05Then we're going to turn it over and flatten it.
30:08Oh!
30:08Bravo you than me, Suzanne!
30:10And I just give it a little...
30:11You hear that?
30:12Mm-hm.
30:13..and then you just turn it over and you push it flat.
30:17You now have a nice little flat chicken.
30:19Then we coat the chicken in all that lovely infused oil.
30:23And then lift it up...
30:26..right on top of your tray.
30:27So, Erin, what do you think?
30:28Something that you might be able to do by yourself?
30:30Yeah, definitely.
30:31Might need a little bit of extra pair of hands,
30:33but I think that's quite doable.
30:35In the oven it goes for about an hour.
30:37Now, this roast would not be complete without gravy.
30:41I love gravy.
30:42If you mess your gravy up, you almost mess your dinner up.
30:45One time, I had all the family over for a Sunday roast
30:48and I got a pot out of the dishwasher.
30:51I made my gravy.
30:53I chucked it over everyone's dinner.
30:54I didn't realise the pot still had a dishwasher tablet in there.
30:58Oh, no!
30:59It was unedible, yeah.
31:01Oh, the full dinner as well.
31:03This is another great little hack to zhuzh up your gravy.
31:06Just fry off some shallots, add some fresh thyme,
31:09a teaspoon of Dijon mustard,
31:11and once it's all cooked down, add this to your instant gravy.
31:15And voila!
31:16And there's so many more flavours in there.
31:18It definitely doesn't look like instant gravy now.
31:20No.
31:20And if you make double, once it's cooled down,
31:23just pop it in the freezer for your next roast.
31:26I'm impressed.
31:27Are you impressed, yeah?
31:27I am impressed, yes.
31:29Thank you very much.
31:30I think the kids might adopt that.
31:32A bit of saucy gravy, please.
31:33Yeah.
31:34How come you get a named recipe when I'm the one that writes all the rest?
31:38I don't know.
31:38It just happens, doesn't it?
31:40Once the chicken's cooked, it's time to see if this meal has what it takes
31:44to keep the kids coming back to the family table.
31:47Look at that, eh?
31:49That's really good.
31:50Smells amazing.
31:51This looks like a movie dinner.
31:56What do you think of Mum's dinner?
31:58Really good.
31:59To be honest, it's better than Dad's.
32:00Oh!
32:02I love it, especially the gravy.
32:04Oh!
32:04I didn't think I'd like the veg in it, but...
32:06Swashy's posh gravy!
32:08What?
32:09The cream always rises to the top, doesn't it?
32:12A couple of days ago, she would dread bringing a meal out.
32:15Are they going to eat it?
32:16Are they going to like it?
32:17What are they going to call it this time?
32:18Whereas tonight, she was, like, smiling and that was nice.
32:22And if you look around, there's so much healthy food here.
32:25Yeah, this is lovely to see.
32:26Yeah, they're all chomping away, tucking in.
32:29So, Ava, you've been away from home for a bit now.
32:32What do you think?
32:32Will this draw you back in?
32:34Yeah, I think so, definitely.
32:37I think you're going to struggle getting rid of the kids.
32:41I think having us all sat together as a family is important.
32:44She almost looked proud that, oh, I've made this.
32:47They're loving the food, they're enjoying it,
32:49and they seem really excited, and that's the main thing.
32:52It was so emotional for me, even, to hear the kids saying,
32:57you know, this is lovely to see my mum feel so much pride
33:00in something that she's cooked for us.
33:02As a mother of similar age kids, that is just what you want to hear.
33:07Long may it continue in the Brooks family.
33:10Feeding the family can be expensive,
33:13especially when it ends up in the bin.
33:15The average family of four waste £1,000 worth of food every year.
33:19I've got a great hack to keep food waste, and that cost, down.
33:24And the biggest culprit of the waste is usually fresh fruit and veg.
33:28It's always good stuff.
33:29All right, what are we doing?
33:30So, all we're going to do is, I like to make these things called soup bags.
33:34Roughly chop any veg you don't want to go to waste.
33:37Fresh produce can lose some nutrients over time,
33:40but freezing it locks in all the goodness.
33:43There you go.
33:43Then put it all in a freezer bag.
33:46We love soup in our house as well.
33:47So nutritious.
33:48It's not costing you any money if this was all going to end up in the waste anyway.
33:53Take as much air out as possible, and then you can just flatten it off,
33:57and it's ready to go in the freezer.
33:59When you're ready to make your soup, defrost the veg and roast it in the oven on a baking tray.
34:05Well, it smells lovely, that does.
34:07Look how lovely that looks.
34:09Look at the colours.
34:10Pop the veg in a pan, cover it with stock, and leave it to simmer for 15 minutes.
34:16And then you can just blitz it with your hand blender.
34:20And Joe, we've got free soup.
34:26Oh, that's lovely.
34:27That tastes so fresh, and it cost us nothing.
34:30You can save ageing fruit too by making a smoothie.
34:34So many of us let it spoil and throw it away.
34:37Joe, have a guess about how many bananas we waste in the UK per day.
34:4159,000 a day.
34:43Higher.
34:44Higher?
34:45100,000 bananas a day.
34:46One million bananas a day.
34:49Go to waste.
34:50Go to waste in the UK.
34:51Oh, that is a shame, isn't it?
34:52At least today we know that we...
34:54We've saved two.
34:55There we go.
34:56Once the fruit is chopped, fill up a freezer bag, squeeze out the air, seal it up and pop
35:01it in the freezer ready for when needed.
35:05Here's one that I already had in the freezer, and all you need to do is put them in your
35:09little
35:10smoothie machine.
35:10Lovely.
35:11Add some milk to the frozen fruit and blitz it all up.
35:15Think how easy that is in the mornings.
35:17Oh, look at that.
35:19That looks delicious.
35:21So healthy.
35:22Cost us nothing.
35:23Cheers.
35:23Cheers.
35:26Before we arrived, the Brooks family meal times were a source of much stress and upset,
35:31and more food ended up being thrown away than eaten.
35:35Oh, no.
35:38We've shown Erin and Ali some simple recipes the whole family have loved.
35:43Can we do this more, please?
35:46And to keep them on track after we leave, I've created a 28-day meal plan.
35:51These are all recipes that are made in advance, really simple, a really low cost, and you
35:59won't be spending hardly any time in the kitchen.
36:02Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
36:04And I've put lots of things on it that I know as a family that you love to eat.
36:08There'll be no more disaster pasta or sugary cereals.
36:12Breakfasts have been replaced with healthier alternatives like overnight oats.
36:16Lunches can be simple, tasty, filled wraps or bagels.
36:20And dinners include delicious family favourites like paella or fajitas.
36:25I'm seeing lots of vegetables, I'm seeing lots of healthy things.
36:28The gnocchi in there as well, which I'm really excited about making that again, because that
36:32was a huge hit.
36:33All of these, you can do any time you want and have them prepped, ready to go.
36:37Having so many disasters, like disaster pasta and bath bolognese and all that.
36:41I've kind of given up trying, but you've boosted that confidence.
36:44So, yeah, I'm definitely willing to keep going.
36:47And we wish you the best of luck.
36:49Thank you so much.
36:51With Ali's steak pie and Erin's gnocchi already batched in the freezer, I feel hopeful
36:56we've given them a great start to batching life.
37:00Suzanne has done an amazing job at teaching me the basics.
37:03Baby steps, absolutely baby steps.
37:05I'm not going to run before I can walk, but the kids have tasted some amazing food.
37:09So I think they've got a bit more confidence in mum and dad now we're cooking.
37:13So I think they're probably going to be more likely to try new things.
37:16So who's cooking tomorrow night?
37:17We have you.
37:19Do it together?
37:19My turn tomorrow night.
37:20Your turn tomorrow night.
37:22They just stick to the plan that they're going to be hitting it nail in the head every single time.
37:27Yay!
37:27Oh, this is exciting.
37:29My main concern is Erin may just slip back into not giving any flavour to the food.
37:34And that's where we'll see them go back into having all those sort of unhealthy meals.
37:46When we first met the Brooks family, their meal times were in disarray and Erin's cooking was lacking in flavour.
37:53Ivy fed it to the dog.
37:55To help manage that chaos and get the family eating together, we created a 28 day plan.
38:01I haven't given up trying, but you've boosted that confidence.
38:05If they can stick to it, it will impact their lives for good.
38:09This is what you should expect at the end of the year.
38:12Wow.
38:14That's insane.
38:17How do you fancy going through the book with me?
38:19And we'll prep some stuff for tonight.
38:22Since we've been gone, Erin and Ali have been taking the bull by the horns with this new routine.
38:27Sweet potato and chickpea one pot.
38:29Do you like the look of that?
38:30Yeah.
38:31There seems to be a lot of vegetables in there.
38:33Perfect.
38:33Help me do some veg.
38:34Is that all right?
38:35Nice to see them working together in the kitchen.
38:38You know, I was really surprised you picked this dish because there's loads of vegetables in there.
38:42And to see some flavour back in them dishes.
38:46Talking about compromise, you know what's coming next?
38:49Salt and pepper.
38:50No, I don't think it says that in the recipe.
38:52It doesn't have to say it in the recipe.
38:54Look.
38:55Look.
38:56Loads.
38:56Cooking before was chaos.
38:59Erin used to get agitated in the kitchen.
39:01Now she's definitely a lot calmer, she's smiling.
39:03She looks like she's enjoying it.
39:05Erin has even enhanced my freezer system.
39:08I knew we were kindred spirits.
39:10I've added some little labels so that there's no excuses.
39:14Everybody knows where everything belongs.
39:16If I'm going to be doing batch cooking, I can come in and see, right, I've got plenty.
39:21It's reduced stress incredibly.
39:23I feel so much more organised.
39:25Definitely made life easier.
39:27It wasn't just the freezer that needed streamlining.
39:30The Brooks family were hitting the shops, on average, eight times a week.
39:35Oh, quick.
39:37Pork nuts fosh.
39:37I could make some chocolate mousse.
39:39No chocolate mousse?
39:40Is it on the list?
39:41No, but it could be on the list.
39:42Put it back.
39:44No more wacky experiments, please, Erin.
39:47But broccoli is.
39:48I can get broccoli.
39:49Today, they're armed with a shopping list, aiming to make this the one and only trip of the week.
39:54This is so much easier.
39:55Right, we've got red onion and sweet potato and that is us done in this section.
39:59So, batch cooking, so five or six, maybe?
40:01I'm liking this.
40:03I'm liking this too, Erin.
40:05By using the doubling up method, this should only require the one trip.
40:09Oh, wow, that we can batch it.
40:11Already, I've got a wee rainbow in the trolley, so I'm quite happy.
40:14So, you've compromised.
40:15I'm all to compromise with.
40:17So, salt and pepper, are you?
40:19Salt and pepper, here we go.
40:21And that seasoning will only help to get eager bums on seats around the dinner table.
40:27Steak.
40:28Yes.
40:29No, no, no.
40:30This one.
40:31It's cheaper per kilogram.
40:33And that's the one we got.
40:35We're batch cooking.
40:36That made two steak pies.
40:37That's a good idea.
40:38We're definitely going to use it.
40:39I'm impressed with how much you've picked up.
40:41I do listen sometimes.
40:44Come on.
40:45This not only reduces the time spent shopping, but hopefully helps with the bank balance.
40:50So, that's less than half we were before.
40:53So, if we can be organised like this.
40:54That means we've saved £100.
40:56You better get a wee pen away.
40:57Where are you taking me?
40:59Steady.
41:02£100.
41:02That's a massive saving.
41:04It was enjoyable.
41:05It was quick.
41:07That's us for another...
41:08That's another week.
41:09No more shopping for next week.
41:09Until we come back.
41:10No more shopping.
41:11Yes.
41:11That's it's me.
41:13They're not only saving time and money, but the food is now so appealing the kids are
41:18inviting their friends over.
41:20I've got a house full tonight.
41:21All the teens are in and the extras.
41:23So, I've just defrosted some of the pasta sauce and I've just made a bit of pasta.
41:26Would you mind doing your garlic bread?
41:28Yep.
41:29I can do that.
41:29Perfect.
41:30So, there's a huge lack of stress in the kitchen now.
41:32Knowing that I can throw some things together and we're all going to be able to sit down
41:37around the table and have a nice meal.
41:38That's a big deal.
41:39A really big deal for me.
41:41That was quick and easy.
41:42Hey, kids.
41:43Still out of time.
41:44Hello.
41:45Grab a seat.
41:46Come on in, guys.
41:47Come on.
41:48This is the tomato pasta.
41:50Homemade tomato sauce.
41:51So, dig in.
41:54And the reviews of Erin's cooking have definitely improved since the days of a disaster pasta.
41:59Have we got any nicknames for this pasta dish?
42:01It's just that sneakily.
42:04Pleasant pasta.
42:05Pleasant pasta.
42:05I'm liking this.
42:07I'm liking these new nicknames.
42:08Yeah, I think it's really...
42:09I am going to go for signs.
42:11Oh, that's...
42:11Oh, that's...
42:12Well, high praise indeed.
42:14Thinking about meal times now, it's more confidence.
42:18It's having the skills to sneak in some vegetables and have them tasty as well.
42:22Who knew?
42:24It's really nice having us all round the table, having everybody here.
42:27And this is what I wanted, so thank yous.
42:29Thank yous for...
42:30It's nice being here.
42:31...trying it out and having faith in me and my cooking.
42:34It's nice to be able to bring my boyfriend here, and we've got a good meal.
42:38Everybody's chomping in.
42:39I'm liking this.
42:39I'm liking this.
42:40I think it'd be great if she kept doing what she's doing, because she's really enjoying
42:44it.
42:44We're loving the food that she's making, and we're liking making it with her.
42:48I just wish it was a little bit more.
42:50That's what I'm saying.
42:51That's the only complaint that's not bad.
42:53Oh, I'll take that.
42:54Definitely, I'll take that.
42:59I'm back in Scotland to see how the Brooks family have been getting on.
43:04I feel like we left them in a real good place.
43:07So today, I'm back with an added incentive on why they should stick to this plan.
43:14Hello, guys.
43:16So, let's have a little reminder of what the stats revealed the first time round.
43:2120% of your budget was going on fast food.
43:24You were going to the shop like eight times a week, so you were wasting a ridiculous amount
43:29of time.
43:30And the fact that you kept using convenience shops just added to your weekly bill as well.
43:34So, shall we have a look at what the stats have revealed?
43:37Yeah.
43:40If you continue to follow the plan, this is what you should expect at the end of the year.
43:52Oh.
43:54Wow.
43:55If you stick to this plan for an entire year, you should expect to save £3,178.
44:04That is a huge amount of money you could be saving.
44:06Yeah.
44:07I'm thinking about a holiday.
44:09What are you thinking?
44:10Yeah.
44:11A holiday, I am blown away.
44:13Time-wise, this is incredible.
44:14You will be saving every year, 495 hours for about 20 days.
44:21495 hours.
44:23That's insane.
44:24Yeah.
44:24Thinking about the family adventures we can have in that time.
44:27I know for you, Erin, the most important thing and the reason that we were here initially
44:32was to get the nutrition levels up.
44:35It's well in the green zone when it comes to nutrition.
44:37That is making me a very happy mum.
44:40This is amazing.
44:40This is a great reason to stick on this journey.
44:42Is Erin looking more confident in the kitchen to you?
44:45Yeah.
44:46She's smelling a lot more and I've been able to relax and know that she's not stressed
44:50out.
44:51The kids are getting a good nutritious meal.
44:53Yeah, so I'm delighted.
44:55I've seen my children eating their vegetables.
44:58They've also asked for second and sometimes third portions.
45:01That's a massive swing around from them scraping their food in the sink when no one's looking.
45:05I think that's amazing progress.
45:08It's huge.
45:08That's huge.
45:09Well, I'm going to leave you to this.
45:11If I'm ever flying past again, I'll pop in.
45:14You're always welcome.
45:16More than welcome.
45:16Thank you so much.
45:17Take care.
45:18Say goodbye to the kids for me.
45:19Bye.
45:20Take care.
45:21With those stats, that's a huge incentive to keep going and makes eating with my
45:25family so much more enjoyable.
45:27She seems so happy just seeing us all sitting together.
45:30I'm really glad that she's gotten to do this and we've gotten to make her happy with
45:35it.
45:35You don't need salt.
45:37Okay, maybe a little bit.
45:40The way things are going, I've got really high hopes that as the kids, you know, move
45:43out, they'll be enticed back more and more for our family meals.
45:47Yeah.
45:47Because this is where you know what's going on in their lives and what's happening
45:50for them and how they're feeling.
45:52So that's really important for me and it will be forever.
45:55And then when they decide to have a family, they'll want to bring their families and their
45:59partners back.
46:00Because already we're seeing it.
46:01So if that's already started after this short space of time, I'm really confident about
46:06the future.
46:10Next time.
46:11Come on Darren, we ain't got all day mate.
46:13We help a single dad stuck in a rut.
46:15It is exactly the same pretty much every night.
46:19Break his bad habits.
46:21Okay, we might have to fix the freezer I think.
46:24And try to give the family a fresh start.
46:26Well done.
46:27Here's to being dad.
46:33Tomorrow, two groups of teenagers embark on an illuminating exchange trip, switching
46:38South London for Arkansas and vice versa in school swap UK to USA in year eight.
46:43Next, Michael Sheen's aiming to make a difference and make a point as he plans a high stakes heist
46:47on the debt industry with a secret million pound giveaway.
Comments