Achieving balance in your life – and diet – takes hard work. Between the daily grind of long office hours, sitting in traffic, tidying the home, meeting family obligations, walking the dog, paying your accounts and squeezing in a very optimistic 30 minutes of exercise three times a week, who has time for planning your supper? We do! (We’re cool like that.) Find energy and inspiration for the week ahead with our handy hints on what to cook from Monday to Friday.

Monday: Butterbean burgers with herb salad and turmeric dressing  
Kickstart your week (and your metabolism) with this protein- and fibre-rich meat-free recipe. The burger patties contain the wonder grain quinoa, as well as butter beans, tofu and some garlic, fresh coriander, coconut and chilli for a flavour kick.

Tuesday: Gordon Ramsay’s stuffed chicken breasts  
This recipe for stuffed chicken breasts, or saltimbocca, comes courtesy of Gordon Ramsay’s cookbook, Gordon’s Healthy Eating. With only a handful of ingredients, this is a simple and incredibly tasty meal to add to your repertoire.

Wednesday: Parmesan-crumbed lamb chops  
Lamb chops can be successfully and satisfyingly cooked in the kitchen, too. Try these chops crumbed with parmesan and breadcrumbs, and served with a zingy sauce of olives, lemon zest and parsley.

Thursday: Roast butternut and sage gnocchi  
Sweet butternut with nutty burnt butter, crispy sage and loads of cheese: this is perfect veggie comfort food for a quiet Thursday evening. Make it with store-bought gnocchi for an even quicker fix.

Friday: Braaied pork fillet with braised tomato and chickpea salad  
Liven up your Friday with this braai dish. Sweet pomegranate molasses, tart tomatoes, and a touch of paprika make this pork recipe a little bit special.

By Linda Scarborough

Looking for more ideas? Read our previous instalments of this week’s meals: Thai noodles, fishcakes and steak; One-pot wonders and pantry-raid pastas; Beans, beef curry and fancy burgers; and Pan pizza, smoky pasta and spicy chicken.