Feed your family for just over £20 a week.

Unfortunately, I know what it feels like to have hardly any money and to really struggle. Being unemployed, a single parent and with all the bills to pay can be very difficult. I had to feed my 2 children and myself on very little money, and I would like to show you how I used to budget for this. Here is a list of ingredients that you will need to feed a family of 4 for their main meals for 5 days, stretching to 7. I had to live like this for a while until I found employment. Obviously, some of these store cupboard ingredients can be used many times and you will make a saving anyway

I couldn’t cover within the £20 maximum to include the basics like bread, milk and washing powder etc, however, I feel that you could even get all of this at just over £30 per week.

The items below were calculated this week at current prices as of 30/01/2017, from one of the well-known big supermarkets, whose groceries can be more expensive. If you can shop around and visit a ‘Lidl’ or an ‘Aldi’ supermarket and shop at a local market you will be able to buy your fresh vegetables and meat a lot cheaper. It is best to shop around.

The 5 meals are below:

 

What you will need:

 

Pack of baked potatoes (4)-£1.00                            Pack Beef mince-£3.00/Split in half for 2 dinners

Bag of potatoes-£1.00                                                Pork mince-£1.80

3 onions-48p                                                                Medium Chicken-£3.85

Mixed herbs-70p                                                         Frozen white fish fillets-£1.90

Pack of fresh tomatoes-60p

Cucumber-50p

Iceberg Lettuce-50p

Pack of economy spaghetti-30p

Bag of carrots-45p

Half a dozen eggs-80p

Tin of sweetcorn-35p

Tin of peas-11p

Gravy powder-70p

Beef stock cubes-30p

Garlic-30p

Economy tinned tomatoes-31p

Economy Mozzarella cheese pack-47p

Frozen green beans-70p

Block of Cheddar Cheese-£1.40

Marmite-£1.00

Plain flour-30p

Tomato Puree-35p

Packet of economy pasta-30p

TOTAL COST: £23.47

 

DAY ONE:

Cottage Pie with potatoes and vegetables

1 onion

1 carrot

Tablespoon of oil

Half the beef mince from the pack

9floz water

1 level teaspoon of marmite

3 heaped teaspoons of gravy granules

Method:

Peel and chop the onion and carrot very small. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and fry the meat together with the vegetables for about 10 minutes until golden brown. Stir in the water and the Marmite. Simmer slowly for about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, peel potatoes, cut into quarters and boil for about 20-25 minutes until soft. Drain water and mash with a little milk or margarine if you prefer.

Preheat oven to 180oc/350oF/Gas 4

When the meat is cooked, mix together the gravy granules in a mug adding hot water to fill. Add to the meat mixture then place in an ovenproof dish. Spoon the mashed potato over the top and bake in the oven until the potato is slightly brown.

Serve with Green beans or vegetables of your choice.

 

DAY TWO:

 Roast Chicken Dinner:

Obviously, quite self- explanatory. Cook your medium chicken in the oven for about 1 and a half to 2 hours until the juices run clear when the leg is pierced with a knife.

Roast Potatoes

Peel and quarter some potatoes, boil for about 10 minutes until quite soft. I then drain them, put them back in the saucepan and give them a good shake until they have fluffy edges. Add the potatoes to a tray of red hot oil that’s been in the oven for about 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and place back in the oven and cook for a further 45 minutes, depending on your oven.

Serve all together with vegetables.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAY THREE:

Fish Cakes

Thawed white fish

1Ib potatoes

2-3 tablespoons of milk

2 eggs

Mixed herbs

Plain flour

4oz fresh breadcrumbs

Oil for frying

 

Method:

Place the fish in a pan and add enough water to just cover. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and poach very gently for about 15 minutes. Cool, drain the fish and flake, removing any skin or bones.

Meanwhile, boil the potatoes and mash as explained above.

Mix the fish with the mashed potato, a small pinch of the herbs and enough beaten egg to bind the mixture together. Flour your hands to prevent sticking, then shape the mixture into 6 to 8 cakes. Brush with remaining egg mixture and coat in the breadcrumbs, (add a quarter of a teaspoon of chilli or paprika powder to the bread crumbs to make them spicy, if you like) covering all of the fishcakes. Place in the fridge for about an hour.

Heat a small amount of oil in a frying pan and shallow fry the fish cakes on a medium heat for about 5 minutes on either side. Drain on kitchen paper and serve with a mixed salad.

 

DAY FOUR:

Pasta Bake

Half the pack of beef mince

Tin of Tomatoes

Tomato puree

Beef stock cube

Mixed herbs

Packet of Pasta

Mozzarella Cheese

2 to 3 garlic cloves

 

Method

Preheat the oven at Gas 5 or Electric equivalent.

Dry fry the beef mince and garlic, then drain off the excess fat when cooked through, usually about 5 minutes. Then add the tin of tomatoes, tomato puree, mixed herbs and the beef stock cube which has been dissolved in half a cup of kettle hot water. Mix together and cook slowly for about 30 minutes on the hob.

Meanwhile cook the pasta and drain according to the packet instructions.

When the meat ragu is cooked, add half to the bottom of a deep casserole dish, pour the drained pasta on top and add the remaining meat sauce over the top spreading to the sides. Cut the Mozzarella cheese ball into slices and lay over the top. Bake in the oven for a further 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese has browned.

 

DAY FIVE:

Pork Meatballs with Spaghetti

(Basic Tomato Sauce)

1 Onion

4Ib Tomatoes

1 Tablespoon of oil

1 Teaspoon of mixed herbs

Clove of garlic if preferred

Peel and slice the onion finely then chop the tomatoes. Heat the oil and fry the chopped onion until brown (and chopped garlic). Add the tomatoes and the mixed herbs and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to very low, half cover with a lid and cook on the hob for about an hour. If, when finished, you want to discard the skins pass them through a sieve.

 

Pork Meatballs:

2oz Cheddar Cheese

Garlic cloves (according to taste)

Pork Mince

5oz breadcrumbs

Mixed herbs

1 egg

 

Method

Preheat the oven to Gas mark 4 or equivalent.

Grate the cheese and crush the garlic cloves. Mix the Pork mince, garlic, breadcrumbs, mixed herbs, cheddar cheese, egg and a little water to bind together. Divide into balls and place in a greased oven proof dish. Bake in the oven for about 30 to 40 minutes, taking them out once in a while to shake the dish to prevent sticking.

Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti according the packet instructions.

Once the meatballs have cooked, add them to the tomato sauce and pour over drained spaghetti.

I really hope these meals save you some money. The Pasta Bake is very substantial and can be eaten the following day. It’s a good idea to save any left overs, and use the eggs to make omelettes and have them with some baked potatoes and salad to stretch the meals out for a further 2 days. So really all in all, you have 7 really healthy nutritious meals for a whole week for just over £20 quid.

 

PS.. I’ll post the vegetarian option next week x