Sauces

Sauces provide a great chance to add more vegetables.

Meals such as curries, chilli and pasta dishes work best with flavoursome sauces, and are a great chance to add extra vegetables
  • Sauces usually require tomatoes. Tinned tomatoes or a carton of passata are just as good as fresh
  • Adding extra tomatoes can make sauces go further
  • A few squirts of tomato puree adds richness and flavour – these tubes last a while and can be used in a number of recipes
  • When it comes to vegetables, frozen is just as good as fresh – big bags last a long time and are quick and easy to add to sauces
  • If your sauce needs milk, butter, ghee or cream, choose lower fat and lower sugar options of dairy products (or dairy alternatives)
  • Lower fat options include semi skimmed, 1% or skimmed milk, or low fat natural yogurt

Bulking out sauces with extra vegetables can help you reach your 5 a day.

Salt and seasoning

  • Seasoning soups and sauces dried herbs and spices instead of salt can add flavour, and are much cheaper than fresh herbs
  • Sauces like soy sauce or fish sauce are very high in salt, so think about adding a little less
  • Some stock cubes can be high in salt - lower salt options are available on the market for you to choose

Making a change

How to make small, manageable changes to what you eat and drink.

Make a change