£10 to £15 for food a week?

loobyloose

quintwins wrote: »

i did post a few costed meals already but for a family of 5 we usually buy/spend

£15 per fortnight (and £10 every other fortnight) in the local farm shop on milk (90p for 2 litres), 20kg of spuds(lasts over 2 weeks), huge bag of 25 apples, huge bag of 24 oranges and any other offers they have

i buy huge packs of chicken breasts from makro at £18 for 5kg theres a good 24+ in there and there massive and don't shrink we only need 3 for all of us so enough for 8 dinners dinner

then i go to tesco and buy

carrots 80p
onions £1
mince £8.80 (does 8 meals)
gravy £1
frozen mixed veg 80p
frozen green beans £1
frozen brocolli 80p
frozen cauliflower £1
bananas £10 (we need about 25 a week i limit the kids to one aday)
15 value eggs £1.25
block of cheese x2 £4 (always on offer might spend £4 on 2 blocks but it works out the same)
value pizza x2 £2
value garlic bread x 4 £1.48
6 loves of bread £3.30
pork shoulder roast £3
value marge £1.20
value flour 60p
pasta 40p
tom puree 60p
frozen peas £1
frozen sweetcorn £1
beef shin £1
own brand ready break £1
value wheatbix 60p
sugar 80p
beans x 4 £1
sausages £1
value chips £1.25
gammon £3 (only buy on offer/reduced my lidl always has these reduced)
ham/corned beef x2 £3

sorry chopped it down..

am concerned £10 for 25 bananas are you buying in packs as loose they are only around 10p each in a supermarket, the great supermarket con.

duchy

I love these threads - Material girl I'd definitely recommend a slow cooker (you can buy one/two person sized ones) -for example you can throw a couple of chicken legs in one with a little butter in the morning and come home to lovely moist roast chicken that night -(use the second leg in a stir fry the next day or mix it up into something Mexican). Once you start cooking from scratch it gets easier to get into the habit-especially when you realize you get more food and tastier than the ready prepared meals.

quintwins

loobyloose wrote: »

sorry chopped it down..

am concerned £10 for 25 bananas are you buying in packs as loose they are only around 10p each in a supermarket, the great supermarket con.

opps no thats for the month at around 25 a week, btw i know 25 bananas seems like loads but at 3 kids eating one each aday it soon adds up, then we would eat the odd one aswell

terra_ferma

pourwitty wrote: »

not everyone has access to indian supermarkets sadly
Also i still think it's too expensive/luxury and pretty much one use (a bulker with no flavour.)
where as veg can be used in everything and you can make things from it, it also adds flavour and volume
where as mince adds texture and volume and you can't really make things from it, you put it in things you have already made
I'll have to try it in a chilli when i'm feeling flush though.

I think you need to consider nutritional value of food as well.
If you want to save money not using meat you still need to add good sources of proteins.
Eggs, Cheese, beans, pulses like lentils, or proper meat substitutes are needed, can't just be vegetables.

Personally I would recommend lentils for bulking up, if meat is also used.
Definitely, I would NOT regularly eat meals that are just vegetables without a source of protein like pulses or meat substitute.
With children, this is even more important, as they need more protein to grow.

Some money-saving tips for bulking up:
http://www.netmums.com/family-food/guide-to-cooking-on-a-budget/save-money-and-the-planet-eat-less-meat

Info on protein content of some non-meat foods:
http://veggieadvisor.com/health/protein-sources-for-vegetarians/

AdmiralX

I had read that hand milled grain for bread keeps it nutritional value when eaten on the day. There are hand mills for grain and some make their own flour.

Material_Girl_2

So far I've been doing quite well. I've taken my own cooked lunches to work nearly everday. I bought lots of pasta and pesto and been cooking them with veggies. Not bored of it yet but will soon try out some of the other recipes on this thread. Got eveything in Lidl but will try Asda or Morrioson soon to compare prices.:D

hopefulmoneysaver94

just done my shopping (took boyfriend and ended up paying an extra £5 for today lunch from the deli section ) But just got some mince cooking for tonights Cottage Pie And going to freeze that too