Healthy Foods You Didn’t Know You Could Make With Your Slow Cooker

The slow cooker is not just for your slow roasts – it is the ultimate tool, particularly for those who run a tight schedule. There are a hundred and one things to make in a slow cooker, and some seriously healthy (and easy) foods that could slot in to your daily routine.

There are really no excuses to not eat well these days. Everything is at our fingertips. Fresh produce, cookbooks, recipes – and amazing cooking tools to make things ridiculously easy for us. When we make our own foods we know what we are putting into our bodies. We can use wholesome ingredients and understand what it is we are consuming and how much. We are in control of our health. We can also tailor what we make to our own desires. Need more greens in your diet? Go ahead. Gluten intolerant? Leave it out. There are endless delicious and healthy things we can prepare in a slow cooker, most of which just might surprise you …

Veg and Chickpea Curry

See – not just for hunks of meat! This curry is

• Delicious and easy
• high in protein
• Full of vegetables packed with nutrients and vitamins.
• Heat onion and carrots in oil and add curry powder, garlic, ginger and a little sugar.
• Place this mix inside slow cooker along with chopped green beans, carrots, chickpeas and peppers – and choose between regular potato or a sweet potato if you prefer it on the sweeter side.
• Cook for 6 hours until tender

Poached Salmon with Fresh Herbs and Lemon

• High in Omega 3
• High in protein
• Make a broth in the slow-cooker out of a few cups of water, some white wine, a few slices of lemon, a shallot, a bay leaf and some sprigs of dill or your choice of herbs.
• Leave the fish to cook for just half an hour (checking in on it) and you get a moist delicious salmon fillet in no time!

Cuban-Style Beef

• Low calorie
• High in protein
• High in B Vitamins
• Rub a portion of beef with cumin, oregano and salt and pepper.
• Brown roast the meat and then transfer it to a slow-cooker.
• Cook onions, peppers, garlic, water, salt and pepper with crushed tomatoes on a low simmer for around 4 minutes and then transfer to the slow-cooker.
• Cook for 10 hours until tender.

Butternut Squash and White Bean Soup

• High in potassium
• Nutrient rich
• Packed with vitamins
• Place squash, chickpeas, and any winter veg you desire in a slow cooker with salt, pepper and vegetable stock
• Cook for 6 hours and serve with crusty bread and your choice of garnish. Too easy.

Chicken Tagine

• Very high in protein
• High in vitamins
• Spices help adrenal function
• Warms the body in winter months
• Throw butternut squash, carrots, onion, garlic, beans, tomatoes, broth and raisins into a 6-quart slow-cooker.
• Rub spices into the chicken and place on top of the veg.
• Cover with lid and cook for 8 hours.

Sweet Potato Soup

• Packed with potassium
• High in vitamin C
• Calcium rich
• Combine onions, potatoes, garlic, curry powder, cinnamon, 6 cups of water and salt and pepper in a 5-6 qt slow-cooker until vegetables are very tender.
• Puree the soup in a blender
• Serve with yoghurt and slivered almonds.

Chipotle Beef Chilli

• High in iron
• High in protein
• High in potassium
• High in B vitamins
• Simply add beef, chipotle peppers, onion, chilli powder, garlic, salt, cumin, tomato puree and beef stock to the slow-cooker
• Cover on low for 6-8 hours until beef is tender.
• Add coriander upon serving if you wish.

Honey-Butter Peas and Carrots

• High in vitamins A, C, and K
• High in fibre
• High in manganese
• Place chopped carrots, onions, garlic cloves, peas, butter, salt, pepper and a little water in the slow cooker.
• This will only take about 20 minutes, so just check to see when vegetables are tender and ready to serve.

Pork Tacos

• High in protein
• Contains omega 6
• Place the pork in the slow cooker
• Mix together tomato salsa, chill powder, some garlic, cayenne pepper, cumin and brown sugar in a separate bowl
• Pour the salsa over the pork.
• Cook on low for 8 hours and shred the pork when it is tender.
• Serve in flour tortillas with corn and avocado, or with whatever healthy options you desire!

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