Realistic food budget without any 'nasties'

hopefullyoptimistic

Hi I have found lots of ideas on here for budget meals thanks to everyone but now I am asking for more lol

We have recently had thousands of pounds of unexpected bills so need to sort out my total budgeting. I try to use the cheapest available food but don't buy anything with aspartame or similar, glucose-fructose syrup and long lists of chemicals and minimal processed although not strict on that point.

I am just wondering what a realistic budget for 1 adult, 1 adult who eats for 1.5, a 5yr old who will eat most things, a fussy 11 yr old and 1 due in 2mths who will be breast fed for 6mth.

I do stews, lasagne, cottage pies with added lentils/oats to reduce amount meat used but after that my ideas run out really.

Thank you in advance for any ideas for budget, recipes, menus, or cleaning tips you can share x

FairyPrincessk

Can't offer you a fixed number for your crew--but I will say that with two adults, big eaters the both of us! We avoid the things you mention and spend around 150-160 a month. I do it by making my own dressings, sauces etc., not using much meat, not buying pre-packaged cakes etc. and not buying soft drinks (squash, fizzy drinks etc.). However, I'm not too fussy about the meat that we do eat--I try for no added ingredients but it doesn't always happen.

Think about soups and salads--these do not always need to be "light options"--I make a number of salads that include things like brown rice, aubergines, different cheeses and home made dressings that make them filling and keep the additives out! For soup nights I try to either do a cheese or egg side dish, or I serve some sort of starter or pudding and make sure there is bread there as well.

Egg/breakfast dinners can also be good, as can jacket spud nights (top with leftover HM chilli rather than baked beans which are a nightmare!) or explore peasant food from around the world--veggie curries, ratatouille and the like.

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi and welcome. We are a family of 2 adults, DS 14 who eats like an adult and DD 8 who has a healthy appetite and DS 18 who visits when on leave. The children are all good eaters and not fussy (although the boys used to be). I have a very well stocked cupboard and freezer and aim to spend £40-50 per week including pet food and toiletteries etc. I place a home delivery shop once a month for bulky basics (pet food, tins etc) and the occassional order from Approved foods or similar site.

I am by no means an expert but I find the best way to food shop is to meal plan around what you already have in stock, then make a list of what you actually need to buy. I try and shop when the reductions are available and as well as buying from my list I will pick up any fruit/veg/meat that is reduced and either incorporate it in my plan for that week (perhaps by swapping days around or modifying recipes) or freeze it for later use. I also buy reduced bread and freeze that although I find the in store bakery type keeps for several days anyway.

Be inventive with what you have, one of my family's favourites is a suet pasty roule filled with whatever I have to use up, it might be leftover bolognaise/chilli, cheese and bacon, mixed diced vegetables with herbs and garlic, anything works, I top it with cheese and bake until golden. It is lovely served hot as a meal or sliced when cold for lunch boxes. Another good one to ring the changes from sandwiches is homemade pizza, either with your own dough or I find reduced ciabatta is great, make a basic tomato sauce (tinned toms, garlic and herbs), top with whatever you like, ham/tuna/pepperoni and top with cheese. They freeze well so can be kept for a 'stand by' incase you run out of bread.

Like you I like to know what is in our food so cook most things from scratch, get the children to help and they might be more inclined to try different things if they have cooked it. I also bulk out mince, don't forget to add grated carrots/courgettes etc as these add nutrients and fibre as well and are undetectable in the cooked food!!

For cleaning I use stardrops, vinegar and zoflora, they will clean just about anything. and far cheaper than specialist cleaners for different rooms. I mix up a solution in a spray bottle and use it with micrfibre clothes. For laundry I have used Gloop before but I try and just stock up when I see a really good deal, also there are sellers on [EMAIL="Eb@y"]Eb@y[/EMAIL] who sell broken laundry and dishwasher tablets really cheaply and they last for ages (arrive in a hessian sack, I just box them in plastic containers and even use the dust at the bottom of the bag a la laundry/dishwasher powder).

HTH and I am sure someone else will be along with loads more ideas, there are so many helpful people on here.

321 xxx

hopefullyoptimistic

Thank you lots of ideas for me to try already! currently I am using vinegar and bleach for cleaning but ds hates the smell of the vinegar. Also looking into hm laundry detergent but seem to be able to get non bio cheap enough and use sodium bicarb to whiten mo. Hoping it works,well on washable nappies too!!??!

Butterfly_Brain

Weezle has a good site with plenty of cheap and affordable recipes
http://www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk/recipes.html?opt=rcost

hopefullyoptimistic

Thanks butterfly brain! Lots of recipes for me to try. Love the way they are rated easy, medium and hard lol think I'll stick to easy ones for now. Not many my fussy ds will eat unfortunately oh well he can always eat cereal if he's hungry x