I was raised to eat frugally, although not always in the most nourishing manner. Some weeks our meals consisted of how many ways we could cook a 20kg bag of potatoes! I did learn some tricks and tips though which I have carried through to adult hood and coupled with my now healthy nutrition knowledge. Just yesterday I was excited to find some gluten free pizza bases and pasta dish in the clearance section. I am always scouring the reduced sections of the supermarkets for items which can be added to my pantry and freezer, as budget, healthy options. “Best if used by” vs “Sell-by” vs “Use-by” – Food Product Dating Almost all food products come with a date on the label. And let’s face it: those labels are much more confusing than they should be. If you’re not sure what’s the meaning of a “best if used by” (or “best-by”) date, or you have no idea if you should toss a product that’s after its “sell-by” date, this short guide is for you. When playing the ‘is it still good?’ or ‘is it still OK to eat?’ game with your food and its shelf life (refrigerator or not), it’s fairly easy to jump to your own conclusions about what ‘Sell by’, ‘Use by’, and ‘Best if Used by’ mean. For example, one may fear that they will get sick and drop dead if eating something after the ‘use by’ date, but not feel the same fears about the exact same product if it had the same date on it, but was instead stamped with ‘sell by’. But what does each guideline really mean? And is it really safe to eat the food after the use or sell by dates versus throwing it away? Examples of commonly used phrases: A "Best if Used By/Before" date indicates when a product will be of best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date. A "Sell-By" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale for inventory management. It is not a safety date. A “Use-By" date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. It is not a safety date except for when used on infant formula as described below. A “Freeze-By” date indicates when a product should be frozen to maintain peak quality. It is not a purchase or safety date Fresh grains, wholefoods, fruits, meats, fish and vegetables are staples for a healthy diet, but some processed foods can still have their place, especially when they are budget friendly and coupled with the right ingredients. Home made pizzas are a regular in our household, ass many healthy additions can be utilized. Wraps, pita, muffins and of course home made dough can be used as bases. My favourite toppings are baby spinach, cheese, anchovies, olives, pineapple and mussels!. Not everyones cup of tea, byt with pizzas there are no rules! What do you have in the fridge and pantry? My 6yo daughter loves cheese, anchovies and olives! More tips coming in the follwing days. What have you found useful in recent times?
