Simple swaps to your weekly menu can help keep your brain healthy over time. Masterchef fan favourite Conor Curran says it’s simple for home cooks to add colour and creativity to their meals.
The passionate foodie suggests 10 common pantry ingredients that most people have on hand at home can combine to make delicious and healthy meals.
“The ingredients I always try to keep are natural flavour bombs. Ingredients that allow me to add a lot of flavour without relying on sugars and salts. So olives, anchovies, lemon, olive oil, dried oregano, garlic, dried chilli flakes, honey, tahini and always have a can of chickpeas at all times,” Conor says.
“I think herbs and spices are always a great place to start. Begin with base ones such as fresh parsley and cumin and then begin building your spice and herb palate. You will get it wrong along the way, but the amount of spice mixtures that I have accidentally stumbled across that I still use now astounds me. Also paprika makes anything pretty.”
Conor’s top five time saving healthy cooking hacks are:
While food is his passion, Conor uses his creativity in other ways to relax and recharge.
“I love writing, whether its thoughts, poems, recipes, writing helps me calm down. Watching when Harry Met Sally does wonders for the anxiety and my garden and tending to my plants. We should all be trying to grow something, it’s incredibly cathartic.”
Follow @EatPlayRestAustralia on Instagram, for more brain-healthy tips and inspiration.
