We spend plenty of time making sure our machinery is fueled, serviced and ready for long days in the paddock, but how much thought do we give to keeping ourselves fueled?
Harvest is a busy time of year, with early starts, long hours and plenty of work to keep us occupied. With so much happening, food can sometimes become an afterthought, and convenience often wins when time is limited.
When we’re tired and running low on energy, it’s easy to reach for a quick sugar hit to get us through the afternoon. But what we eat can play an important role in maintaining energy levels, concentration and overall wellbeing throughout those big days.
Making breakfast, lunch or dinner during harvest doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. With a big harvest ahead, we’re taking a look at the connection between food and energy, with some examples of simple meal ideas that can fit around the demands of harvest.
Here are three easy meal ideas to provide a little inspiration for the busy days ahead, we like to call them harvest hacks!
Breakfast: Overnight Weet-Bix
Early starts don’t always leave much time for breakfast. Overnight weet-bix are a quick, nutritious option that can be prepared in just five minutes the night before.
Combine 2 weet-bix , ½ cup milk of choice in a container. Top with Greek yoghurt and your choice of fresh or frozen fruit. Add chia seeds, protein powder, nuts or a drizzle of honey for extra flavour. Refrigerate overnight and they’re ready to grab in the morning.
Harvest tip: Prepare a couple of containers of weet-bix and milk combined and yogurt on top at once so breakfast is sorted for the next few mornings. You can mix up your toppings on the go.
Lunch: Chicken burrito bowls
A filling lunch doesn’t need to be complicated. Burrito bowls are an easy way to combine protein, grains and vegetables into one meal, and they’re ideal for preparing in bulk.
Start with a base of rice, then add cooked chicken or beef mince, black beans, corn, capsicum, tomato and lettuce. Finish with salsa, avocado or a dollop of Greek yoghurt.
Harvest tip: Cook a larger batch of rice and meat ahead of time, then assemble individual portions.
Dinner: Loaded spaghetti bolognese
After a long day in the paddock, cooking dinner from scratch might be the last thing on your mind. Having a few meals prepared in the freezer can make all the difference.
Make a large batch of bolognese using mince, canned tomatoes, onion and grated vegetables such as carrot and zucchini. Serve with wholemeal spaghetti and a sprinkle of cheese.
Harvest tip: Double the recipe and freeze individual portions. You’ll have a quick meal ready to reheat after a big day!
