Mrs Crocket's recipe for low-hassle, guilt-free Christmas meals

HAVE AN UN-SEASONABLY HEALTHY CHRISTMAS

Christmas should be one of our most enjoyable periods in the year - but too often it's filled with stressful concerns like: What should I serve? How will I have time to prepare everything? Will I have enough food? Will I put on weight?

With Mrs Crocket's recipe for a guilt-free Christmas, mums and dads can relax in the knowledge they're serving up fresh, healthy and convenient Christmas meals. Mrs Crocket's range of light fresh salads, mouth-watering risottos and creamy potato & pumpkin mashes mean there's plenty of time to enjoy the day!

There is a Mrs Crocket's side dish to suit any Christmas meal, whether it will involve the traditional turkey or ham, be Asian, European, Middle-Eastern or American inspired. Each product is made from the freshest ingredients and pre-prepared; so that mums and dads can be assured that their celebratory meals are nutritious, tasty and not time consuming to create.

Mrs Crocket's seven step recipe for a guilt-free Christmas includes the following tips to ensure that Christmas will be a happy & restful occasion for Australian mums and dads:

1. Shop early - don't leave your Christmas food shopping to the last minute.
2. Do as much food preparation as possible a day or two before, so you can relax & enjoy the day.
3. Cater for all tastes and diets - ensure each family member and friend has enough food with Mrs Crocket's extensive range of salads, hot mashes and other sides.
4. It's a social season, so have some extra food on hand for unexpected guests, or visitors popping in for a light meal or snack.
5. Have lighter snacks on hand for those who double dip on Christmas day (for example visiting two homes on Christmas Day). Mrs Crocket's salads are a perfect alternative to heavy rice and pasta dishes.
6. Choose food that will keep - for low maintenance hospitality throughout the celebrations. You can add left over turkey or ham to any of Mrs Crocket's prepared salads.
7. Add low-fat sides to your Christmas meals - for guilt free indulgence over the Christmas season.

Mrs Crocket's range of delicious dressed salads include: Creamy Pasta, Coleslaw, Thai and Satay Noodle Salads, Tabouleh and Penne Pasta with Pesto Dressing. These substantial and fresh salads suit every style of Christmas turkey or meat. For those who are vegetarian, Mrs Crocket's salads can easily be served along with creamy potato and pumpkin mash. Equally as filling are Mrs Crocket's fresh leafy garden salads such as Caesar Salad, Baby Spinach with Parmesan or Crunchy Asian Salad all infused with their own dressing.

These fresh dressed and leafy garden salads require no preparation time and are high in essential nutrients without compromising on taste, making them perfect for any festive occasion.

Mrs Crocket's also takes the effort out of cooking a baked Christmas lunch or dinner with their range of fresh mashes. Mrs Crocket's scrumptious blends of creamy potato and pumpkin mash will ensure that Australian mums and dads will serve a delicious, fast and fresh Christmas meal.

"Christmas is a time for the whole family to relax and enjoy each other's company, but it is difficult for the hosts and hostesses when they spend a lot of their time cooking," says Andrew Clarke, Sales and Marketing Director of Mrs Crocket's. "The fresh quality and taste of Mrs Crocket's prepared salads and mashes allows mums and dads to enjoy the day with family and friends, knowing that their Christmas meals will be delicious and filling," says Andrew. And with more than 5.5 million serves of Mrs Crocket's being served throughout the country each week, Australian's recognise the benefits of creating quick, tasty and healthy meals with Mrs Crocket's sides.

Mrs Crocket's salads and mashes are freshly prepared, made from the highest quality ingredients and available where you find your Fruit and Vegetables in Coles, Bi Lo and selected supermarkets.www.mrscrockets.com.au