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Help £80 is too much!

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please can someone help im spendin £80 a week on food for 2 adults and a 2 year old i know this is too much but the food does get eaten! my partner works nights so he has somethin in the mornin a dinner wen he gets up and a microwave meal to take for durin the night, but im runnin out of ideas for what to cook him for dinner to fill him up before he goes ive done him casseroles to take as well but they are gettin borin for him too i am open to any suggestions which will be greatly appreciated but we cant afford £80 a week for food £50 would be fine at a push! thanks very much Ash x
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Comments

  • Hawthorn
    Hawthorn Posts: 1,241 Forumite
    Ok, what do you like?
    Do you buy premium brands?
    Any convenience foods?
    If you give us a rundown of your typical shopping list, we should be able to give you a little more insight :)
    Proud to be dealing with my debts :T

    Don't throw away food challenge started 30/10/11 £4.45 wasted.

    Storecard balance -[STRIKE] £786.60[/STRIKE] £708
  • Hi

    We are 2 adults and a 2year old and we do our shopping for about £40/week roughly. I meal plan and we eat a lot of things like fish pie, macaroni cheese, potato bakes, tuna bakes etc which we can streeeetch out. It is hard though thinking of new ideas though!
  • ok so we will eat any value products i buy offers where i can i think the main thing is my partners lunchbox things that are costin us at the moment we like most food and eat all veg my 2 year old will eat mostly anything but doesnt really like pastry! im open to any ideas my partner could take to work to fill him up! thanks ash
  • This is a great thread for inspiration on how to do it for very little;)
  • Why not look on the recipe forums they have some brilliant cheap meal ideas.
    Try swapping expensive cereal for porridge oats - easy to make and keeps you full for ages and you can add what you like such as fruit or syrup or jam or even chocolate chips to make a chocolate one, I make my own museli too so much cheaper and nicer than branded ones.
    Oats can be used to stretch meals such as Shepherds pie, stews and casseroles etc.
    I so agree with BelfastMish about meal planning and writing a shopping list and keeping to it helps too.
    Try cooking four meals at once saves on fuel and you always have a ready meal in the freezer.
    I have a Bulk cooking day once every two weeks and make lots of meals plus cakes, bread and biscuits - It all freezes well
    I only buy basic ingredients now, no biscuits, cakes, ready meals or expensive cereals and only stardrops for cleaning and smart price washing powder.
    Do you shop around for the best deals or do you stick to one supermarket?
    It reallly pays to shop around if you can, there are plenty of bargains if you are willing to look for them.
    HTH
    Blessed are the cracked for they are the ones that let in the light
    C.R.A.P R.O.L.L.Z. Member #35 Butterfly Brain + OH - Foraging Fixers
    Not Buying it 2015!
  • Could your OH take a plate pie when he goes to work? There are some lovely recipes on another thread
  • Hawthorn
    Hawthorn Posts: 1,241 Forumite
    What to take to fill the hubby up? Oooh, million dollar question that LOL.

    Mine likes sandwiches, salads (but has to be something stodgy within that - pork pie usually)
    Homemade quiche, pasta and potato salads, the obvious soups and casseroles, pasties, pies, wrap sandwiches.

    Does he like indian? What about a curry and onion bhaji? Bhaji are dead easy to make!
    Proud to be dealing with my debts :T

    Don't throw away food challenge started 30/10/11 £4.45 wasted.

    Storecard balance -[STRIKE] £786.60[/STRIKE] £708
  • What about weezl's lentil pate? I absolutely loathe lentils, but this is delicious and makes fantastic sandwiches with thick cut home made bread. I think it would also make a good filling for a plate pie, and you could spice it up in varius ways - curry, chilli, cajun etc etc - to vary the flavours if he gets bored with it. Sorry, I'm rubbish at finding recipes on the site, so please could someone do a link to it?
  • Barneysmom
    Barneysmom Posts: 10,136 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    I couldn't find the link, here's the recipe though,

    Lentil Pate thanks to Weezl of the 50p fame
    150g red lentils 11p
    ¾ pt water or vegetable stock left over from last time you boiled or steamed any veg
    2 medium onions 8p
    3 cloves garlic 9p
    2 tablespoons sesame oil or olive oil 11p
    3 tsp dried mixed herbs 5p
    2 slices whole wheat bread crumbs 2p
    1 teaspoon sea salt, to taste (may sub regular salt) 1p
    1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, to taste 1p
    1 teaspoon white wine vinegar 2p
    Prices from asda total-50p, made approx 25-30 sandwiches last time I did it, so about 2p per sandwich, no need for butter.
    Wash lentils, drain, and place in a saucepan.
    Add the water or stock, bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.
    Chop the onions and the garlic very finely.
    In a large frying pan, heat the oil.
    Add the garlic, onions, and herbs and saute over medium heat, stirring, for about 10 minutes, or until the onions and garlic are brown.
    When the lentils are done, stir them thoroughly to mash, add the onion mixture.
    Season to taste with sea salt, vinegar, and pepper.


    The only thing I don't know is how you make the breadcrumbs? Do you put them in the food processor and give 'em a whizz?
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  • Does your husband want hot food for his lunch then? If he wants something to warm him up and has a microwave to use, then how about leftovers from "breakfast"? Or he could heat up homemade quiche, pasta, porridge or other hot cereal, homemade pizza etc.
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