Meal Planning Help

threellamas

Hi Everyone,

Ive just moved home and discovered that my parents are spending +£800 a month on groceries for 3 people and a cat. They think that's normal (name brands, some convenience foods and eat very well). Ive convinced them that I can at least half their shop, and they can still eat well.... now I need to do it. Dad has given me £400 for the month to show him its possible (I want to spend around £300). Can anyone help with a meal plan - I don't want a budget value, eat the same thing everyday type thing, but nice (diary free) plan, and needs at least 4 meat dinners a week. They are big eaters and I don't want to scare them off the money that can be saved by having a boring first week.

Ive got some ideas but looking for inspiration. Help!!

Thanks

Tommelise

You should be able to feed them very well for that amount

What kind of meals do they prefer?
- I think you will get a better and more useful response if you give some examples of the kind of meals they eat now

threellamas

They kind of eat anything - tonight was spag bol, tomorrow is curry, sunday roast, then its whatever takes their fancy in tesc*s on the way home.

They also eat alot of snacks (scones, crisps, biscuits etc).

Do you think its just a case of cooking from scratch more often and bulking out with veg.

They just dont have the time normally, but at the moment I guess I can bulk out the freezer with home made pre made things like quiche, curries etc. They tend to buy everything take away/pre paid and they love all flavour of take aways so I guess I need to learn to re create that...hmmm...

They are both attempted a health kick at the moment so want to try some easy to make veg side dishes for them.

good_advice

Hiya, £800 a month just on food for 3 people is a lot.
There is 3 of us - all adults and x1 Queen bee dog.We would eat very well for that money.

Are your family eating out in restaurants several times a week? takeaways?

You say they don't have time. Do they both work long hours?
I think that will make a difference to some people.

Will the roast on Sunday become cold meat and jacket potato on Monday?

Before doing any shopping you need to see and use what is in the freezer and cupboards. Always go shopping with a list of needs and not wants.

Best of luck.

maman

What variety of shops do you have available?


I've saved load by shopping in Aldi and a bit of other shopping around. So eg. I'd be buying their crisps in Farmfoods and the biscuits in Aldi.

aliwali

I have made several curries from the Hairy Bikers curry book, my husband has declared them all better than takeaways! They can easily be batch cooked and frozen. We particularly like the Tikka Masala, korma and lamb pasanda.

Owl

Jamie Oliver's ministry of food curries (especially if you make our own paste) are also delicious, declared by my hubbie as "better than the takeaway!"... (And as ex- military, loves a curry!)
Jamie's make good sized portions, and I bulk them with mushrooms, peppers and extra onions.... Do not add extra water (as he states) to the Chicken Tikka Masala!
I usually make a tikka masala, and a rogan josh (he uses lamb, I often use stewing beef). This makes enough for 3 x dinners, we have a dollop of each curry, rice and "sides". So, one dinner then and 2 for freezer which then make very quick meals!

JIL

To me I would meal plan then shop for the week.
But first of all I would get the none food items out of the way. Get the washing powder, shampoos, toilet roll etc for the month. Maybe from somewhere like Wilkinson's. Then get the pet food.
With what's left meal plan.
Work out breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks. Bake some scones. Much cheaper and more filling.
Aldi do a really good curry sauce it has spices in the top. Add some chicken onion and peas. Nan bread and rice. Costs £6 for 3.
You could even do lentil dahl as a side dish.
Have a look on the grocery challenge the first page is full of recipes.
Good luck

Tommelise

Good advice above:

Buy sesonal vegetables, and buy whatever is on offer - look especially out for loss leaders in the supermarkets

I write down what is on offer - then I look at what I already have in stock

Then I plan what to eat during the week looking at the list above, making sure what I end up buying will be used up. The meas are planed around vegetables. If there are good offers on meat I will make one to eat and one/ two for the frezer of the following meals: Lasagne with meat, moussaka, meatballs for curry etc

When I shop I only buy what I need for the week unless there are very good offers on someting like oats or tinned tomatoes.

I buy spices, feta, coconut milk and any special vegetables at etnic grocers

Some dishes we enjoy:
http://www.prouditaliancook.com/2010/08/zucchini-tomato-gratin.html

http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/roasted-broccoli-farro-salad-feta.aspx

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/pasta_with_roasted_cauliflower_and_prosciutto/
- we make this without pasta and use bacon instead of prosciutto for as a main dish with a light salad and homemade bread- the bacon in the dish make it easier to accept for any meat eaters

http://www.aubergines.org/recipes.php?eggplant=272

http://markbittman.com/roasted-carrots-with-cumin/
- good, cheap side dish - very filling - I add fresh chopped parsley if I have it

http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/type-of-dish/italian/pasta/roasted-mediterranean-vegetable-lasagne.html - the favorite lasagne in our household - the children prefer this to lasagne with meat

mummyroysof3

For the meals could you work out what they cost now then try to make it cheaper. I would find it very hard to meal plan for other people so I wish you luck. There are 5 of us including 3 kids and we have pets and spend less than that so sounds doable to me

EstherH

http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/0716022354/ref=cm_cr_pr_btm_link_next_2?ie=UTF8&pageNumber=2&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=byRankDescending

Hope this link works, I've only managed to do a link once before.
I haven't got this book as we tend to eat cooked from scratch meals and takeaways awe a rare treat. But I have heard that it is really good and if your parents are eating lots of takeaways it may be worth you trying it.

HTH's

Esther x