Can anyone help me with an OS shopping/meal plan?

Wilks23

Hello, I've been a long time lurker on this forum but this is my first post. I'm hoping some clever person can help me stop worrying about my money so much! Apologies if this is in the wrong place etc or if this has been asked already.

Today, I looked at my "food expenditure" manager and saw I was spending nearly £400 a month on food for two people:eek: I really want to cut this down to as low as possible and hopefully lose some weight eating sensibly and doing some proper cooking.

I am vegetarian and OH is a meat eater very tolerant of veggie alternatives. Neither of us drink or smoke. He's highly allergic to nuts and loves KFC/McDonalds etc. I've cut down my hours (I work shifts) so am free to do a bit more cooking, however there will be many days when we both need packed lunches or he needs something in the evening ready to heat up because he refuses to cook. On Monday evening I need to cook for three or four people including myself.

To be honest, I've run out of inspiration for cooking and have very little money at the moment. I really want to cut out the fizzy drinks and takeaways but still feel like I'm enjoying what I'm eating, so I think a little tastebud retraining is in order!

Would somebody be so kind as to suggest shopping or meal suggestions to me?

craigywv

hi, he likes kfc well get a big tray of chicken portion and google a southern fried recipe, make it freeze some for lunches and have some for his tea , you will not make it exactly the same but over time you will get better and add spices etc which he likes. mc donalds....same again buy or make out of big pack of mince your own patties, cook put in bun wrap in tinfoil and freeze take out when needed and make hm chips. have 3 shared veggie nights a week something you both really love then the rest of the week you have each to their own. hth

FairyPrincessk

For a healthier, homemade sort-of-like kfc dish, mix Panko (japanese breadcrumbs found in most larger supermarkets) with chilli powder and garlic powder. You may want to add salt at first and then gradually decrease the salt. You'll need about a tablespoon of the powder mixture for a half cereal-sized bowl of the panko. This should do four or five chicken breasts easily.

Then, dip chicken into a beaten egg, roll in the seasoned panko and bake at about 190 until the chicken is cooked-the time will vary depending on how large the chicken pieces are.

The initial outlay for this might be more than a takeaway depending on where you get your spices (the price labels on mine indicate I paid around £1.50 total) and the panko, but a bag of panko is usually around £1.50 and will last for many, many meals for two.

This also works well for fish (defrost first).

The seasoned and baked chicken or fish makes nice burgers, can be used cold to top a salad or served with 'sides' like mash, salad, veggies etc.

HTH