How do people feed families on £40 a week?

lalapalooza

I used to bulk cook, need to get back into doing that - it is a real time saver when you are pushed. And you can ensure you have a satisfying healthy meal with no additives too.

I am dairy free so I do sympethise; not easy. My sister is Coeliac so really good fun when she visits - we end up with pineapple rice for tea :rotfl:

Georgiegirl256

This isn't aimed at anyone whatsoever, just a general observation about people in general who say they can't afford to eat healthily because the cost of fruit and veg is too high etc etc, well today at Tesco, I got one of their stew packs (carrots, parsnip, turnip etc) for a £1!

That alone will make a nice batch of soup I also got a huge sweet potato and a couple of onions to go with it, and a stir fry pack for to go with the salmon i have in the freezer, all for about £4. So that's 2-3 meals for only four quid!

Georgiegirl256

cte1111 wrote: »

Quick DIY tikka masala sauce:

Chop and fry some onions
Add meat to brown (or veg instead / as well)
Add teaspoon of curry powder
Finally - tin of cream of tomato soup
Leave to simmer

I saw that on the back of a Heinz tomato soup tin, and it looks yummy! I haven't got round to trying it yet, so thanks for reminding me! I was wondering what to do with the chicken breasts in the freezer.

lindseykim13

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

This isn't aimed at anyone whatsoever, just a general observation about people in general who say they can't afford to eat healthily because the cost of fruit and veg is too high etc etc, well today at Tesco, I got one of their stew packs (carrots, parsnip, turnip etc) for a £1!

That alone will make a nice batch of soup I also got a huge sweet potato and a couple of onions to go with it, and a stir fry pack for to go with the salmon i have in the freezer, all for about £4. So that's 2-3 meals for only four quid!

I agree, having noticed the offer price in Asda today on packs of 18 crisps. £4 if people can choose that over some fruit or veg there's got to be something wrong with society.

Sequeena

In our home there's me, OH and our 19 month old son. I have a good stock cupboard which took me a long time to build up and I add to it when I can but for the most part I just replace what I use.

My OH loves meat and his portions so I bulk a lot of meals wih veg. The only veg I buy fresh is carrots, onions, cauliflower and potatoes. Everything else is frozen. Fresh stuff I buy loose rather than pre packed as the cost is usually half of what pre packed is.

I do my best to meal plan it doesn't always work out but I have a rough idea and it helps. I shop online mostly as I live on a mountain and don't drive so don't often get reduced food but before I shop I check what I need.

I also have a freezer and chest freezer full of things that I'm working through slowly. Again this took a long time to build up its mostly full of fish, veg and homemade leftovers.

I shop once a week and I spend around £25-30 on food before nappies, wipes, pet food, washing powder/liquid etc.

I used to spend so much more and not know where it went but a few changes and forward planning has really helped me.

Georgiegirl256

lindseykim13 wrote: »

I agree, having noticed the offer price in Asda today on packs of 18 crisps. £4 if people can choose that over some fruit or veg there's got to be something wrong with society.

Totally agree. I didn't realise the price of multipacks until an offer was in Clicksnap on Quidco for some crisps, it was shocking the price of them, I decided the offer wasn't worth it, and that's coming from a self confessed crisp addict! :rotfl:

As Edwardia said a good few posts back, if crisps are in then they'll be eaten, and that is me down to a tea! If they're in, I can easily eat 2-3 packs, they are my one weakness - "Hello my name is Debbi and I'm a crisp addict":rotfl: - so now I only buy my favourites (Walkers Sensations) when they are on offer and not the stupid 2 for £3.50, when you know they were 99p each before that....it's the principal of it! Once upon a time I would just bung them in the trolley, but not anymore, now they are a treat.

Going to make my root veg soup today :T

quintwins

Is it just me who has will power and doesn't eat stuff just because it's in? i've seen us throw easter eggs out at haloween because there uneaten and i've had the same 6 pack of crisps in the house for over 6 weeks with 2 out of it, kids don't ask for crisps they'd rather raid the fruit bowl so we really only stick them on the side of sandwichs or much on them sometimes while watching something.

gailey_2

I shop around.

farmfoods plain frozen fish-protein.
egg based meals
frozen veggies and tinned fruits in addition to fresh.
cooking from scratch
shopping around aldis, lidls.
buying basic own brands.
batch cook and freeze.

we currently £70-80 most week on average as spend £300 a month.
we trying to reduced to 50.
we eating less meat this year.

we are 2adults, 3kids, 1 hamster.
this includes food , an all no food items.

Theres a thread on old style feed your family for £25 a week.

also one feed yourself £7 a week

both useful tips , recipes and prices.

Oldstyle taught me so much over the years.

Theres blog called girl called jack which has cheap impressive recipes I been trying.

good luck

think its gradual and will take time to change habits

sophlowe45

I wish I could change my mindset to be more like yours quintwins, I will eat an entire bar of 90% dark chocolate, and I see posts on MSE saying one piece is enough.

Although last one I have made last three days, two pieces left for today.

Crisps get eaten straightway, when Tyrells are on offer for £1, its very hard to walk past, at the moment Co op have their own brand crisps on offer for £1, I am trying not to buy a packet every day!

My best option is to shop online so I don't order that stuff and not go into Tesco Express' and Co op stores on the way home.

Edwardia

The only chocolate I eat is 90% cocoa Lindt Excellence because it has 18g carbs per 100g which is waay lower than normal milk chocolate. Because the cocoa solids count is so high in 90% there's less sugar. It's an accquired taste, but once you're really used to it, normal chocolate tastes like it's made with mostly sugar and condensed milk

OH finds 90% too high but I've found organic ASDA Extra Special Fairtrade 70% cocoa for only £1 and he loves that. Saves 83p a bar on Lindt price in Sainsbos.

Dark chocolate (only) is #9 in top 10 foods for iron as well.