Food Audit

yummymummy85

Hi everyone,

I've just done a check of what food we've got in and would like some advice. I need to try and make what we've got stretch as far as possible! We have about £260 to the end of the month but would like to try and spend as little of this as possible on food. I need meals for 2 adults and a toddler until Friday when my mum is coming down to stay for two weeks so for the following two weeks it will be for 3 adults and a toddler. I also want to try and do as many meals where I can cook double and freeze one lot as I'm 37 weeks pregnant so it will be handy to have some 'ready meals' in the freezer for after baby is born!
So, here's what we've got in:
Freezer

• Whole chicken x 1
• Chilli con carne x 1
• 1/2 bag of peas
• 1/2 kg of mince
• sausages x 10
• bacon x 2packs
• breaded fish x 2
• chicken dippers
• fish fingers
• cauliflour & brocolli
• oven chips
• meatballs
• steak pie x 2

Fridge

• Milk
• eggs x 3
• carrots
• ham
• mayonnaise
• salad cream
• chilli puree
• butter
• onions
• garlic

Cupboard

• Tomato soup x 1
• vegetable soup x1
• chopped tomatoes x1
• kidney beans x 1
• sweet & sour sauce x1
• tuna x 1
• baked beans x 1
• peaches x 1
• mayonnaise
• pickle
• lasagne sauce
• tomato puree
• bread
• rice
• spaghetti
• noodles
• lasagne sheets
• pizza base
• stuffing
• potatoes

I also have toddler snacks i.e. dried fruit, breadsticks etc. and basic baking ingredients.

To make matters even more complicated my mum is quite a fussy eater and doesn't eat pasta or anything remotely spicy.

I know that I'm going to need to go shopping at some point but as I said i want to buy as little as possible and try and use up as much of the stuff I've got as we're moving next week so it will be one less thing to move if we've eaten most of the food!!

Any tips would be very welcome!!!

Jevvers

Hi
Depending on how big it is the chicken should do you 2-3 days. I like this recipe and I think you have most of the ingredients except wine but I reckon stock with some lemon juice would work there (and you could substitute carrots or broccoli for green beans).

When I make this with a small chicken I find there is usually plenty left on the carcass so I boil it up a second day with some barley (you could use rice) and veg. If you have a big chicken you could use the meat for a risotto or stirfry on the second day and do the stew on day three. You can freeze the carcass if you don't want to have chicken three days in a row!

HTH

Butterfly_Brain

I agree with jevvers check out the rubber chicken thread

• Sausages can be stretched by slicing and making a sausage casserole or sausage toad so in theory you should get at least two meals from them.
• The mince can be used for a bolognaise, lasagne or a pie (can you make pastry?)
• you can use the meatballs and serve with pasta
• Use the tin of tuna to make your own fishcakes
• Make a pizza and make it different by cutting up a couple of rashers of bacon - fry until crispy and sprinkle on top of the pizza asit comes out of the oven.

If your Mum is such a fussy eater explain to her that you are a little short of money this month and see if she can bring a few bits with her to help out (Most Mum's would be horrified to think that they are imposing on you when you are on a tight budget).
HTH x