Learning to be frugal in the kitchen

[Deleted User]

It might help if you cook a few meals specially to go into the freezer that would fit into your meal plan on those days when you are too poorly to cook. Having something the family will all tolerate (even if it's not first choice for them) ready made and set to go would mean not having to let it all go pear shaped and give you the time to rest until you felt OK again.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

Tesco have a meal planner which might help you with some ideas: https://realfood.tesco.com/meal-planner.html

LameWolf

Hi MartagonLilies. Like you, I have health issues; but I still meal plan - sort of.

I have a spreadsheet with the next few days' meals put in, but with the option of swapping two days around if I'm feeling rough; I find it works for me. I have the meals on the spreadsheet in red if they are "suggestions only" and change to blue if it's "we are having that, come hell or high water".

I also plan round other things that are happening - eg I make pizza on the days I need to make a loaf - so the breadmaker gets two uses (pizza dough then bread) for only one time of lifting it down, then cleaning it and putting it back away (it lives on top of the fridge freezer when not in use).

Does your 16 yr old help out at all?

Would the 9 yr old maybe expand their palate a bit if they were involved in making the food? Sorry if that's totally daft, I have no children myself, I'm just putting my thoughts down as they occur.

Best of luck.

maman

You've had lots of good advice.:)


I found myself mentally adding up some of the stuff you're buying that must be pushing up the cost. Obviously your husband's meal deal but branded stuff like Frubes and Babybel too. I shop at Aldi and I can get most things we need there. Also, I think I'd limit what's available for snacking as this can encourage 'fussiness' at meal times if they know they can fill up on treats later.


We eat meat but not huge quantities and often cheaper cuts. Tonight we're having a chicken casserole with chicken thighs that give far more flavour than breast meat IMO.


Although my children are grown up now, I almost always use vegetable dishes when serving meals rather than plate up in the kitchen. I found when the children (or visiting children) were younger it encouraged them to try things especially when they saw others eating. It's good for them to feel they have some control over what they're eating too. The other bonus is that everyone can take what they want according to their appetite and any left overs can be used not wasted. I tend to have leftovers for my lunch most days. One of my favourites is bubble & squeak with some pickles.

MartagonLilies

Lots of helpful replies, thank you all so much:)

Will sandwiches / rolls really freeze well? Would they not go soggy or lose flavour? If not, that would be so handy!
I like the idea of flexible meal planning, I'm not sure If know where to start.
I would love to batch cook especially for the freezer, I'm just always put off a bit, as I'm unsure on defrosting / cooking from frozen.
I've checked out the Tesco meal plans, I need a bit of time to sit down and have a proper look really. Will make some (time)

My teen isn't so good at cooking, although that's my fault really. He does make an excellent wrap, though that's about it.:o
My 9yr old wouldn't eat the food no, not even if he's made it. He just has a complete resistance to it. It's tricky, as I don't let the other 2 get away with this. They get a few foods that I won't insist on, however everything else they need to at least try.

Yes, I've had a lot of good advice:) How much roughly should lunches be costing then? I feel we do overspend!

littlegreenparrot

Could you do a couple of meat free days a week?
It would cut costs and be simple.

Baked potatoes with a choice of toppings -cheese, ham, coleslaw, beans or whatever.
Soup- easy to make, easy to get the kids to help, make a lot so there is some for lunches etc. Nice bread, wraps, oatcakes to go with it.

elsien

16 year old, 9 year old and OH could all be making their own lunches the night before, with a bit of planning. It really doesn't have to be you.
Pasta the night before, make extra, chuck in some ham/cheese/tuna/salady stuff according to preference. For example. Or sandwiches can be made the night before.

Some people make and freeze them, but I'm not convinced.

suki1964

You can cut the costs of snacks, cereals, lunch box staples by just changing to shopping in lidl or Aldi

I have two grandchildren, 4 and 11 and they haven't turned their noses up at any thing Ive bought from lidl, they eat and drink all the swaps from the big brands no bother

The 4 year old is a madam and also won't eat because daddy always lets her snack all day. The 11 year old was brought up knowing he got his meals and snacks were treats and he is a great eater, even likes broccoli

I know its very difficult to cook to suit everyone, esp when ill, but a few changes where you all sit down to a meal together will hopefully cut out the snacking

I do know where you are coming from with the exhaustion, Im also living with severe pain and useless bloody hands and sometimes I too really CBA

So I have to work with what I can do and when I can

DH also has to help with veg prep. You have three children that can all help you with veg prep. Mum sits in her armchair and does things like the sprouts and runner beans And you don't have to have 3 or 4 fresh veg every day, tinned and frozen is perfectly acceptable. My step daughter would only eat marrow fat peas and sweetcorn for years, so thats what I served her and then offered carrots

Although we have a cooked meal every day and me and DH have packed lunch for work, I spend as little time as possible in the kitchen. Usually get in there around 6.30 and we eat between 7 and 7.30 and most of that hour Im sat watching the tv waiting on things to cook

I work it like this

If Im cooking a chicken, I cook two. The oven is on, it takes the same effort

Im making cauliflower cheese - make two - same amount of time and effort

Dry fry a huge portion of mince and onions. Thats then the basis of 3 or 4 different dishes here - mince and potatoes ( add chopped carrot, swede and gravy, simmer till veg soft, throw in frozen peas, serve with spuds), cottage pie - the same, just bung in a dish, top with the spuds and grill the top, spaghetti Bolognese - tinned toms, tom puree, garlic, herbs, Keema curry - add small cubed spuds, curry paste, tin of toms, simmer till potatoes are soft, add a handful of frozen peas

And that really is the extent of cooking some weeks

The chickens will be a nice roast dinner with the cauliflower cheese one day and roasted carrots and parsnips ( roast veggies are really nice and kids like them plus less washing up ) the other chicken will be served with a salad, the other cauliflower cheese will go along with sausages, all the scraps of both chickens will end up in a jar of sweet and sour and served with rice or in a stir fry or a pie

A weeks meals really made with no effort what so ever

Ok so I do cook a little bit more then that most times but when Im at my lowest, it gets that basic and its not a bad starting point. If you can get through a really bad week and still put a meal on the table every night thats not broken the bank it would really boost your confidence to try something else another week when you feel better

Encourage the kids to help. Theres a great recipe on here somewhere for Twinks Hob Nobs, that even the 5 yo can make which will help for the snacks. The older two should be able to put a simple tea together between them. get them to cook one day a week as well

The best of luck to you x

suki1964

elsien wrote: »

16 year old, 9 year old and OH could all be making their own lunches the night before, with a bit of planning. It really doesn't have to be you.
Pasta the night before, make extra, chuck in some ham/cheese/tuna/salady stuff according to preference. For example. Or sandwiches can be made the night before.

Some people make and freeze them, but I'm not convinced.

Same here, I couldn't do it either, they would be very boring sandwiches I think

Tomorrows lunch for me is a left over pork burger, in a bap, with cheese ( microwave in work) and DH has salad, cold spuds and chicken drumsticks, all left over from the BBQ tonight

Molillie

I'd start with your husband's lunches, he's an adult, and can understand the need to budget. Find out what he likes in the meal deals, and put the ingredients on the shopping list.
You have had quite a few good tips, batch-cooking, planning meals, at least a day or two in advance, etc. Don't try and do it all at once. Maybe cut the snack things available, to increase appetite for the meals (as Maman said above) When my hollow-legged nephews lived with me, they could eat a fridge clean in a couple of hours. It reminded me of Pam Ayres, who said that whenever she did a big shop her family had a big eat, and it was all gone. The nephews were easy in many ways in that they could cook basic things, and ate anything, but for financial reasons I did have to plan, and put post-its on things in the fridge that were designated meal ingredients.
Try one change at a time, so e.g. if you usually buy ham in slices, buy the whole joint, and cut that up (I'm vegetarian, so those might not be the right terms!) Once you've established a change, move on to another, and keep track of your savings so you know it's worth it. For the vegetable-dodger, blending them into sauces seems to be the current favourite way to go. Home-made pizza, as someone said above seems popular with most youngsters. Do you have a bread-maker, slow cooker etc? they can help you, e.g. making the pizza base dough during the day. I'd also look on Youtube for ways to prepare things. Good luck.