A BOLTON caterer is launching a weekly meal service for people who need a break from lockdown cooking. 


Sushma Solanki, who launched her Sushma’s Snacks catering company in 2016, will be offering healthy, ready-cooked dishes to see customers through the week. 


“I have got a lot of clients who are working from home and trying to home-school at the same time,” said Sushma, 50, explaining her decision to launch the new service. 


“Nobody wants to have to stand around cooking when you’ve got three kids running around.”


The new service, which is set to launch this month, will let people place online orders for a minimum of four meals for the week ahead.


The menu will change weekly but will always focus on vegan, vegetarian and healthy dishes. 


‘Ketogenic’ diet-friendly meals will also be available on request.


Vegan options will include sweet potato and coconut milk curry with rice and broccoli, or quinoa salad with tandori cauliflower steaks, while vegetarian dishes will include paneer biryani with green lentils and rice, or a soya keema curry.


Meat and fish-eaters will be able to order dishes including prawn stir fries with noodles, or tandoori salmon with broccoli and sweet potato wedges.


Sushma says the dishes can be stored in the fridge for five days before being reheated in the oven or the microwave. 


Sushma, who was born in Kenya and came to Bolton in 1995, has seen her business flourish.


She can usually be found offering cooking lessons and catering at events all over the North West.


And in 2019 she won Family Business of the Year at the Bolton News Business Awards. 


The new meal service is the latest of several innovations Sushma has made since lockdown.


Over summer she began to offer barbecue packs  and in October launched her own spice range. 


“It has been a very difficult time,” she said.


“My business was thriving.


“It was doing well then Covid hit.


“I needed to think on my feet.”


For more information, see sushmasnacks.co.uk or email info@sushmasnacks.co.uk