Sticking to a healthy diet might be more of a challenge right now since a lot of people are spending more time at home.

There are plenty of things you can do to avoid unhealthy snacks but the easiest way is to not buy them in the first place. Here are some easy recipe’s that you can try out instead.

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Cinnamon porridge with bananas and nuts  (serves 2)

A scrumptious and healthy way to kick-start your day. If you thought porridge was boring, think again! Here’s an easy and nutritious way to jazz up a bowl of oats. Add a few chopped dates or a handful of sultanas for an extra energy boost.

Ingredients: 

  • 75g  porridge oats
  • 400ml milk
  • 1 banana, sliced
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp of chopped nuts (eg. almonds, walnuts or pecans)

Method: 

1. Mix the oats, milk and half the sliced banana in a saucepan. Bring to the boil and cook for four to five minutes, stirring frequently.

2. Stir in the cinnamon. Serve topped with the nuts and remaining banana.

Easy Vegetable soup (serves 2)

Super-healthy and adaptable, just add your favourite vegetables to this simple soup — leeks, peas and butternut squash work well.

Ingredients: 

  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 celery sticks
  • 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 1 potato, peeled and chopped
  • 500ml (18fl oz) boiling water

 

Method: 

1 vegetable stock cube

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a low to medium heat and add the chopped onion, stirring occasionally. Roughly chop the celery sticks into 2cm (¾ in) pieces and add to the onion pan.

2. Add the carrots and potato and cook, stirring occasionally, for another five minutes. Add boiling water and crumble in the stock cube. Stir soup, bring to the boil then turn down and leave to simmer for 15 minutes.

3. Check the seasoning. Ladle into bowls. Top with cheese if you like, and serve with slices of wholemeal bread.

Healthy banana bread (Makes 10 slices)

Using really ripe bananas adds natural sweetness to this delicious bread, and using a little honey means it is lower in sugar than most breads and cakes. The wholewheat flour and walnuts both add extra fibre and iron to this tasty bake.

Ingredients: 

  • 3 ripe bananas
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 125g (4oz) self-raising flour
  • 150g (5oz) wholemeal flour
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 3 eggs
  • 150ml (5fl oz) natural yoghurt
  • 50ml (2fl oz) light olive or rapeseed oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 50g (2oz) chopped walnuts

 

Method: 

1. Heat the oven to 170c (150c fan, gas mark 3). Line a 900g (2lb) loaf tin with baking parchment.

2. Mash the bananas and honey together. Mix the flours, cinnamon and baking powder in a large bowl.

3. In a separate bowl, mix together the banana and honey mixture, eggs, yoghurt, oil and vanilla extract. Stir into the dry ingredients along with the walnuts, then spoon the batter into the tin. Bake for between one hour and one hour and 15 minutes, or until an inserted skewer comes out clean.

-Adapted from Daily Mail