Spinach & barley risotto

This creamy dish uses a can of barley to cut the cooking time to just 25 minutes. It's a healthy, low calorie dinner option that provides three of your 5-a-day

Barley & broad bean risotto

Swap rice for pearl barley to make this broad bean risotto with ricotta and herbs. It's easy to prepare and makes an easy midweek meal that's full of flavour

Roasted new carrots, cauliflower, grains & carrot-top dressing

Try this warm grains salad, featuring carrots, cauliflower and green beans. It uses the whole vegetables – stalks and all – which are just as delicious

Stuffed butternut squash

Make a veggie roast everyone will love – this squash is packed with nuts, barley and herbs, so it has plenty of flavour and lots of lovely textures

Italian borlotti bean, pumpkin & farro soup

Warm up on chilly evenings with this hearty, healthy bean & pumpkin soup. Serve this low-calorie meal with a chunk of fresh bread for dunking

Black bean & barley cakes with poached eggs

Take in two of your 5-a-day in these savoury pan-fried cakes, topped with a perfectly poached egg. This delicious brunch dish is quick to make and provides fibre, folate, vitamin C and iron

Vegan nut roast

Combine root vegetables with mushrooms, grains, hazelnuts and fresh herbs to make this stunning vegan centrepiece. Top with parsnip crisps for added crunch

Maple-baked granola

This is a good 'blueprint granola' – follow the basic premise then add nuts and dried fruits of your choosing. Will store in an airtight container for two weeks

Beetroot & rye tartines

If you're keen to rustle up lighter party nibbles for a celebration, these low-calorie beetroot tartines with pastrami or mackerel are ideal

Pearl barley, parsnip & preserved lemon tagine

Make this colourful tagine as an easy veggie meal to feed a crowd. With pearl barley, parsnips and sweet potatoes, it's a great winter dish to fill you up

Slow cooker spiced apples with barley

Choose eating apples if you want the sliced rings to stay intact in the slow cooker. Make as a low-fat yet tasty pudding, or lazy weekend breakfast dish

Pink barley porridge with vanilla yogurt

Power yourself through the day with a healthy breakfast porridge that gets its pink hue from plums. Pearl barley adds great texture as well as releasing energy slowly