Will this work to stop us buying takeaways?

[AgesAndAges]

We need to cut back on takeaways, more for the expense than anything else. DH and I would generally have one maybe every 10 days- 2 weeks, and the kids would probably get a maccys every 2 weeks too. Not too often in the greater scheme of things, but it's costing us about 100 a month that could be better spent elsewhere.

Problem is, we have a few busy days in the week when there are different clubs and activities, and it's just easier to go for the quick option. I've had an idea that maybe if I buy a good stock of freezer convenience food, we'll be less likely to end up with takeaways on the no time/can't be arsed evenings. I generally cook from scratch every other day so I'm sure a few frozen pizzas won't hurt.

Will this work? What kind of frozen convenience foods are worthy replacements for takeaways?

Why not batch cook some basics like bolognaise or mince and onions to keep portioned up in the freezer? Would take just as little time to reheat and serve as the (expensive) frozen convenience foods!

Burger sauce on a standard supermarket burger in a bun gives it the 'fast food' flavour. Heinz is good.

I've tried batch cooking, and I get really into it but then when it comes to actually eating the food, I just don't fancy it. I know this is weird of me. I remember doing a huge batch cook before dd1 was born and a lot of it ended up being chucked 6 months later as I just couldn't face eating it.

I'm like that with batch cooking. I would do a dine in from m and s now and again. Not that cheap but cheaper than a takeaway and you get dessert and wine.
Massive fresh pizza from Asda is about £4, tasty and probably would feed 4.
High end supermarket lasagna that you can just stick in the oven. £5
Google 'fakeaway recipes' and do all the prep the night before.
Slow cooker curry?
Freezer fish, chips and beans or peas is always a winner and easy.
Pick up a hot rotisserie chicken on the way home and have with bread and salad.
Garlic bread and fresh, stuffed pasta and sauce- very quick.

We also have a couple of days where we are really busy. In fact, on 2 evenings we have just 45 minutes to eat & get changed, so I understand where you're coming from.

Today is one of those days & I was very tempted to go down the takeaway route, but instead I took 5 minutes extra this morning to bung a casserole in the slow cooker. The DC will have some with crusty bread when they get home from school, DH & I will have the rest with Jacket potatoes tonight. Another meal with a very quick turnaround is scrambled egg, toast & baked beans/salad/mushrooms, maybe a slice of ham if we're hungry. Both of these are very quick to do & cheaper & healthier than takeaways.

We did slow cooker food on sports nights, or we'd end up going to Burger King on the way home.
Other than slow cooker we had Iceland frozen curry, Pilau rice, or chinese food in the freezer.

Have a look in Lidl. They don't always have the same things in but we like their frozen pies and pasty things in the white boxes. A lot of them are veggie too.

I've fallen out with my slow cooker recently, used to love it but now for some reason, everything either tastes overly sweet or else metallic

Had another thread on it but didn't get any answers or solutions. Maybe it's the type of things I'm cooking, or maybe I'm overcooking stuff?

If the food tasted better from it then I'd definitely use it for the busy days!

This is a great thread. Pasta and couscous are very fast. I have an instant pot which is brilliant for cooking meat quickly but it smells like the last thing you cooked.

I'm similar with the batch cooking, I can't explain it, I wish I could do it as it would save so much money it would be life changing.

Yep Monday's and Tuesday are really busy for us. On Monday we have sweet potato mash (4 pots in the microwave for ten mins, the scoop out the inside and mash with a bit of grated cheese) beans, frozen sweet corn and peas (all cooked in the microwave!) on Tuesdays we have scrambled eggs on toast with raw cherry tomatoes and spinach on the side. We have the same thing every week which sounds boring but it so much easier and you can make sure it's balanced over the week.

I'm the same with batch cooking too. I'm funny with food though. If I don't fancy something I'd sooner not eat. I realise this is incredibly privileged.

I know what you mean about batch cooking OP. It absolutely has its place but it can all get a bit samey.

I like the idea of grilling some decent quality burgers, stick brioche buns and accompaniments on the table and a big bowl of coleslaw (Asda do a great fine cut one in the salad aisle with dressing sachet so you can add as much or little as you like.

A treat tea but still low effort.

Rotisserie chicken with bread, agree yum!

Whilst the above are easy I know you wanted suggestions of good oven ready so sure you'll get a few soon!

Nothing wrong with a freezer meal now and again. A bag of chips, frozen breaded fish/burgers/pizza and some peas, beans or frozen veg would cost around a fiver to feed a family with some leftovers.

I keep ready meals in the freezer too, although I think the overall amount of plastic is less for option A above (it's a consideration for me, might or might not be for you, too).

Supermarkets etc are doing decent Indian or Chinese meals these days too, so you could switch your takeaways for supermarket versions and save money that way.

My son likes the jars of Bolognese in Aldi. Last night I had a ready made packet of carbonara and he had Bolognese and I just cooked up a huge pot of spaghetti and split it between the sauces.

Ready in under 15 mins.

It doesn't always have to have meat either.
Scrambled eggs with beans is very fast, mashed potato ect or my number one favourite thing: soup

Would your children eat soup? I have the most fantastic book, it's called 'soup glorious soup' and a lot of them can be made quickly or the night before, it's the best book ever, I've used it loads.

I still get takeaways sometimes though.

The only thing I batch cook is a couple of frozen fish pies. We have this on Wednesday to make sure the kids are getting a bit of fish in their diet. I get a mix of fish from Iceland, a jar of sauce and the mash is a mix of white potatoes and cauliflower, with broccoli and carrots on the side (as mine won't eat cauliflower unless disguised!)

Takeaways have both a convenience benefit and the great feeling.

Replace both of those and no need for takeaways.

We have one meal out as a couple every 6/8 weeks, one takeaway a month and 1-2 fast food lunches a month. I think that is reasonable but still costs us about £100 a month. It probably isn’t better spent elsewhere for us as they all have a place and a purpose.

For CBA days I do a fry up.Bacon,eggs,beans,toast and sometimes chips.Takes 10 mins from start to finish

We have a couple of busy nights too.

We will have nice sandwiches and crisps some nights. I might make a quiche the day before and have it with salad and maybe chips. Baked potatoes if you have time to shove them in before you go back out. Omelettes are nice, or scrambled eggs and beans on toast.

Or I do spag bol the day before, and put it in the fridge overnight, same with a nice stew. Supermarket pizzas are good, and pasta and a fresh sauce from the supermarket.

One of our go to quick meals is Fresh filled pasta with sauce and salad. Takes minutes.

We also have stir fry and noodles as a quick tea too. Just soak dry fine noodles in boiling water whilst bag of veg is stir frying.

Salmon is great in a hurry, cooks quickly & really versatile.

I do batch cook sometimes, but feel as if we are eating mince based meals too often at times. Sausage casserole reheats well, great with crusty buttered bread.

Fajitas are a good, quick option and pretty healthy too. You can get one of those kits with the spices to make it even easier.

The takeaway meals at Iceland are bloody brilliant. Tastes so like a meal from a Chinese or Indian takeaway.

Slimming World frozen burgers are some of the best frozen ones I've ever had.

I barely looked at the freezer aisles for a long time, I think it's a throwback from my 70s childhood when everything seemed to be frozen (and disgusting).

A year or so ago I was shopping for someone else and had to venture into the frozen section, I was surprised how nice some of the items sounded, especially the fish.

DH makes excellent takeaway style dishes, I think most of them are Hairy Bikers recipes. We've had pork chow mien and also sweet and sour chicken this last week.

Frozen pizzas. Easiest dinner ever.

I'm out tonight so that's what I've got for my husband to "cook"

Often 3 for £5 in Tesco too.

Tasty. Feels naughty. Way cheaper that a takeaway. Very little effort.

We regularly get the pizzas from Asda - really good value and our one loads the toppings on. Easy to shove in the freezer for nights like these.