Share This Article
There’s nothing worse than getting home after a long day, realising it’s load shedding and that you won’t be able to cook the delicious and nutritious dinner you had planned. While it may be tempting to order some takeaways or head to the petrol station to stock up on some sugary snacks, these solutions aren’t great for your long-term nutrition goals – or your budget.
Instead, with some planning, you can get through power cuts and make sure you’re eating well. Here are four tips for surviving the dinnertime load shedding slot.
Invest in a quality flask
Flasks are a must-have for load shedding. These magical items can keep your water hot for hours, which means you can still enjoy a warm cup of herbal tea even when the power is out. For something more substantial, hot water can also be incredibly useful for making instant meals like protein powdered soups. These meals can be whipped up in less than five minutes. All you need to do is add hot water to the powder for a tasty and warm snack.
Bring out the braai
Load shedding is the perfect excuse for a mid-week braai. Whether it’s chicken breasts, veggie patties, grilled vegetables or even a toasted sandwich, there are so many different foods that you can cook on a braai. Throw in the ambience of a warm fire and that mouth-watering braai smell, and you’ve got the makings of a wonderful evening. You could also enjoy some protein chips or a warm cup of herbal tea while you wait for the fire to heat up.
Keep your pantry stocked with basic, ready-to-eat snacks
Sometimes you get that awkward load shedding slot that is just too early for dinner but ends too late for when you usually want to start cooking. In these moments, you may need a little snack to fill the gap until dinner. Instead of reaching for a sugary treat, choose something more nutritious. Make sure you always have a variety of tasty, high-protein ready-to-eat snacks on hand to keep you full between meals. For example, protein bars and air-popped protein chips can be an excellent choice for keeping those hunger pangs at bay until the power comes back on while still making sure you’re giving your body the nutrients it needs. It’s also always a great idea to keep some protein shake powders on hand. These can be enjoyed as a shake or smoothie, or you can add them to things like oats, over night oats and porridges for a tasty load shedding-proof and protein-packed meals and snacks.
Get a small gas or camping hob
If you’re looking for a more long-term solution that is still somewhat budget-friendly, it may be worth buying a small gas or camping hob. This way, you’ll still have a stove to cook on when the electricity goes off. You could also purchase a gas kettle to ensure you’re never caught without boiling water.
Unfortunately, load shedding will probably be here to stay for a while, so we need to find ways to manage it better. Eating out, ordering takeaways, or buying a bunch of processed snacks isn’t a solution for your budget or health. Keeping things like protein powders or powdered soups on hand is an easy, no-fuss way to still meet your nutritional requirements when dealing with electricity interruptions. What’s more, these items can be added to a variety of other foods to make them more nutrient dense. Try these tips to make the most of your dinnertime load shedding slot.