To ask you how to make £30 last

@tearsandtiaras

It might also be a good idea to look over on the cost of living board (think it comes under the Money board) as there are general tips on there around budgeting, frugal living, getting out of debt etc which go back a few years. Possibly some tips for general help if you are often a bit short. It can't be easy on you as a single parent when your rent is so high.

I missed that you are GF. In that case I'd go a Chinese route and do a lot of stir-fries - can use any cheap veg - and fried rice dishes. Chicken thighs and omelette strips are good for these. Soy sauce is cheaper in the world food section usually.
I also keep little bits of leftover veg from chopping in a bowl in the fridge then when I've enough, make a soup with sauteed onion and potato and a tin of chick peas.

I wouldn't panic too much on the healthy eating for a couple of days.

For your DD I would get a loaf of cheap bread, some cheese spread and basics crisps for her lunches. Maybe a pack of cheap biscuits.

A couple of tins of beans, onion, tinned tomatoes and some frozen mixed veg (the finely chopped basics kind) - make up a vegetable casserole and/or bean chili to have with rice.

You could have a portion of this for your lunch too.

A bag of potatoes gives the option to have your casserole /chilli with potatoes and you could also do egg and chips or tortilla.

Your DD could have the pasta with tinned tomatoes and cheese for one of her dinners.

You will need milk - is your DD OK with porridge for breakfast?

Really I would just concentrate on cheap carbs to fill you both up. There will be fibre and vitamins in frozen veg, tomato and beans so no need to worry about expensive salad stuff.

And why does this country even have food banks when they could just reopen the Poor Houses.

Oh give over, seriously.

Don’t listen to them. Smug people are always the first to judge and criticise. I think you are making the best decisions for your self and your daughter, and that’s good enough.

Do you have any points on a Nectar card? If so you could spend them in Sainsbury's?

Ignore them

Cheapest mince to make a big chilli to do a few meals with rice/ jacket potato

OP asked for recipes not judgement.
£30 still left isn't as bad as overdrawn and credit card bills.
I'm going to use some of these tips as things are getting much harder this Winter
And evidently from the good tips on this thread there is enough money for food and childcare..

Then don’t donate. You haven’t read the thread properly because the OP has clearly said that she will categorically not be using a food bank. The fact that the OPs daughter is being taken out by another parent, for inset day, while she works a 12 hours shift, must be at least some relief for the OP that she won’t be alone for those long hours. It’s £10 very well spent.

And this is why foodbanks are broken and i do not donate to them now. People using them rather than tell their teen they can't have £10 to go out with friends.
I tell my kids no we can't afford that all the time.

You can’t imagine that the day out was organised when the OP thought there would be money to cover it, and that it was a good, cost effective way of ensuring childcare on a random inset day? And that CP social workers can’t just take a day off at any point because they have essential visits and meeting planned, that would leave children at risk. And you’ve completely ignored the OP saying she isn’t going to access a food bank anyway.

I would do some sort of pasta Bolognese you can all eat even for a few days. Add carrot like suggested.
Serve with some bread to fill you all up.

I often have beans on toast while my children have the main meal. I also make a pot of veg soup which I will have with toast in the evening.

Wednesday will soon be here, you are doing great. Take any help offered, I really would love to help a friend in this situation.

Please see if your entitled to help with the rent, take good care @tearsandtiaras

Too good to go bags?

Agree with others Iceland have £1 meals and freezer fillers. Bag of chicken strips for £1 can be split over a few days with rice, tomato, eggs for eg. I batch cook when I'm "flush"and get meat on offer for the freezer so that I can do it again in the future when times are lean. We've just had to spend £300 at the vet to get a lump investigated, which takes away all the good savings I've made, so I feel your pain.

Google “feed your family for £20 a week”. Not always the most nutritious meal plans but will stop you going hungry.

In Lidl, usually near the tills, they usually have boxes filled with a variety of different vegetables and fruit - for £1.50. You could get a couple of those and make quite a few meals.

I work for a local authority we do not promote food sharing apps. I also work in child protection we deal with high level safeguarding in complex situations. We do vouchers for food banks which admin organise. I am
Not asking for a food bank just helpful
Tips

I’ve been a CP social worker for over 25 years, I know what the job entails - and income maximisation and crisis management are inevitably part of the high risk, complex situations that families find themselves in and need help with. You’re in London, one of the best resourced cities in the UK, there will be community pantries and food co-ops that will make your money go much further and get you to pay day.

I get that it’s very hard to be in a professional role, working very long days and still find your money doesn’t go far enough, and ideally no one should need support to buy food but the community resources exist for a reason and are worth using.

Our Lidl does £1.50 boxes of short dated fruit and veg( which is actually fine) - we often get potatoes,aubergines,melons grapes, broccoli etc which last us for a week. Usually put out relatively early in the day - worth a look?

And this is why foodbanks are broken and i do not donate to them now. People using them rather than tell their teen they can't have £10 to go out with friends.
I tell my kids no we can't afford that all the time. I think a lot of people imagine those using a foodbank are truly desperate, literally not any money left, not has 30 quid for several days but wants to give 1/3 of it to a teen to socialise

Pasta with tinned tomatoes and some frozen veg thrown in
Omelette frozen veg thrown in
Lentil chilli and rice (assuming you have spices) (same base but without the beans in for Bolognese. Make a big batch )
Jacket potato with tinned tuna /baked beans
Porridge

Go almost veggie for the week

OP, check if you have a Community Fridge, or similar, near you. They are open to anyone, and it could help you top with a few bits of food, to tide over till Wednesday. Also Food Banks exist for these very same situations.