We share five ways of rethinking your meals to set the mood for a year of great food.   

1. Treat veg with the same care as meat 

We’re a meat-loving nation, unashamed in our unshakeable conviction that chicken is a vegetable. So, what would happen if we treated salad with the same kind of respect, tenderness and thought as steak? As Jamie Oliver points out time and time again, never have we had so much easy access to such a wide variety of in-season vegetables in supermarkets – not to mention all the spices, herbs, grains and pulses that make them sing. If we treated veg like we do meat, they’d actually get a prime spot on the menu… They’d be marinaded, rested, dressed and dined like the finest lamb chop. They’d be cooked with care, served in the centre of the table and they’d leave us drooling. And we’d get in our ‘five a day’. Now that’s a thought… 

2. Cook one new recipe each week 

We all have them: the dog-eared pages or sticky notes marking which recipes we’d like to cook “one day”. Make tomorrow that day. Every week is special enough to warrant a recipe you’ve been saving for the right moment, so jump in and get to it. Embrace the creativity and learning curve of trying something new – techniques, ingredients and flavour combinations. Who knows: You might find a recipe to add to your weekly rotation. 

3. Embrace small steps for bigger flavour 

Have you ever mixed coriander through mayo? Added sriracha to your scrambled eggs? Cinnamon to your hot chocolate? If not, please do! Adding a sprinkle of this or a dash of that can totally transform a meal’s taste (and then your day). If you feel you’re eating the same-old same-old, think of small, inexpensive ways to make meals shiny as new with herbs, sauces and spices. Some things you may have forgotten about are items such as yeast extract, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice and pesto. Keep them handy and get creative. Chef and restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi is a fan of what he calls “flavour bombs”: condiments you can make ahead, keep for a long time, and add at the last minute for quick flavour. Take it from the expert and start experimenting. 

4. Eat at the table 

There really is nothing like sinking into the couch, turning on a fun series and indulging in a hot bowl of something at the end of the day. But not at the cost of conversation. 

Setting the table, dishing up and catching up creates a daily sense of occasion and chance for connection. What’s more, talking at mealtimes forces you to eat slowly and with more awareness. This is much better for digestion and allows you to get a sense of being full before you’re overfull – we’ve all been there! 

5. Learn a new kitchen skill 

If we haven’t yet convinced you to try your hand at making dumplings, then this is the second sign! Or try making your own butt er, cheese, ice cream or handmade pasta. Take a deep-dive into decorating cakes, making preserves or mixing cocktails. Not only will it add variety to your cooking, but it does wonders for your brain – the adage of ‘use it or you’ll lose it’ is true of memory, problem-solving and creativity. And you’ll have something new and yummy to eat at the end of it… it’s a win-win! 

Words: Christi Nortier  

Photograph: Zhann Solomons