If you are looking for ideas for tasty and nutritious snacks but are pushed for time and money, then do not overlook the humble loaf! Bread is a relatively cheap and filling food product that can be used in many more ways than you might think.
For breakfasts, there is nothing quite like the simple pleasure of buttered white toast or soft boiled eggs with toasted soldiers for dipping.
Of course, the one thing we most often associate this sometimes under-rated food with is the ever-popular sandwich. Ever since polite society started enjoying it as a late-night snack to accompany gambling and drinking nights in the 18th century, the sandwich has been one of our most popular light meals or filling snacks.
And it’s no wonder, when you can ring the changes so easily! If you are catering for fussy kids, for example, a jam sandwich in white bread usually goes down a treat, or a ham and tomato sandwich in wholemeal bread makes a nutritious and filling savoury option.
Don’t forget about hot sandwiches either! A cheese and tomato toastie or a chicken and ham panini melt make a wonderfully warming snack if you’re short on time
As well as making a never-ending variety of tasty hot and cold sandwiches and quick and easy breakfasts, bread can be used as an ingredient in other dishes too. If your bread has started to go slightly stale (although not mouldy) it can be used to make a fabulous bread and butter pudding, for example, and there are many other recipes that involve using breadcrumbs. So you need never let that loaf go to waste.
And if you really can’t use it all up in time, the birds will be grateful for you sharing the leftovers with them!