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?

frozen pizza, lattice fries and peas/sweetcorn
who really cares if its freezer food its all food anyway

We are the same op.
I feel the same about batch cooking frozen stuff. But I don't mind eating the same thing for a few days in a row.

Takeaways are not on rushing nights as I plan for them with the instant pot, or pasta etc. They are for the can't be arsed nights.

Dh and I are easily led and really enjoy them so i now just go with it and enjoy the treat and the feeling. We have skewered meat kebabs quite often which come in a pitta with loads of salad so not too bad.
We can afford it. It might replace something else but you know, life is for living and we are just making choices.

I agree batch cooked curry is lovely.

Salmon fillets and new potatoes takes very little time.

Sliced ham, salad and chips

I often cook a large roast chicken for the next day/ lunches - nice with bread rolls etc

What were you batch cooking that you didn't like op. We batch cook curries (many different types so a good range), sausage casserole, chilli, 2 types of hm pasta sauce, rice (to egg fry /make into ginger turmeric lemon rice), minestrone soup, mulligatawny soup, laksa, ummmm there's sausage roll mix in there needs out into pastry. We always cook twice, for example I made noodles on Sunday and made extra for tonight or tomorrow's dinner. I made potato cakes yesterday and made a double batch so my husband will happily eat those leftovers fried up and served with something different than we did last night. If you're peeking potatoes, do double and keep half in a tub or pot in water. Change the water daily and they keep 3 days. Make extra veg eg I always make twice as many mashed carrots and put them towards another dinner. We make batches of champ and keep a tub in the fridge. For mega lazy or if I'm working my husband has frozen pizza or hm spicy chips, quorn sausages and curry sauce. We taught ourselves to cook Asian food which is great for replacing a takeaway, and I make all the curries from scratch, pastes and all. That's a lie, we keep one jar of green thai for emergencies!

Thanks for all the suggestions, some really good tips here I love the idea of a fry up, don't know why that didn't occur to me before! As an egg lover, I would also love to be able to do torrellinis or omelettes but unfortunately one of the DC's is allergic

I've been to Iceland this evening and picked up a few nice looking ready meals and convenience stuff but I'll definitely try and intersperse it with some of the healthier options mentioned here. I do sometimes make big batches that spread over 2 days, but our fridge has very limited space so can't go overboard with this (we're actually looking into buying a larder fridge to help with this). Thankfully we have a big chest freezer.

For those of you who asked about the batch cooking- it's like a weird mental block. I've tried curries, sausage casseroles, stews, basically all sorts of stuff I normally eat. But once it's been frozen, it loses all appeal for me. I can't explain it. The only batch cooks I can successfully eat are bolognese and certain types of soup.

Another thing I tried recently was frozen dump bags for the slow cooker where I prepped the raw ingredients of about 15 meals into giant freezer bags and wrote the instructions on the front. The idea was that I could take a bag out, let it defrost, chick it straight in the slow cooker and end up with lovely no-prep dinner. Except, similar to the batch cooking thing, the thought of cooking and eating them now makes me feel queasy. I have been forcing myself to make one every few weeks so that they don't end up wasted but still feel bleurgh about them

Tacos are my go to for dinner on the busy nights. Just have to fry up the mince, throw the rest of the ingredients on the bench, make your own.

Gousto have a good offer at the moment with 50% off and then 30% off for 3 weeks, this has stopped us getting takeaways on busy days, does'nt seem as much hassle when your not shopping for the food, all the ingredients are delivered, you just pick the recipes, we have had some lovely meals and the kids look forward to "Gousto" days, some recipes are 10 min one pot meals, which is great if you something quick, loads cheaper than takeaways xx

Fresh pasta or gnocchi with Pesto or stir in sauce

Pulled pork in slow cooker in morning

Egg calzone ie Omelette with pizza fillings

Swedish meatballs cook in about 15 mins with frozen mash and peas

1 or both dc have something on every evening. On Thursdays, I make a list of meals for the coming week, with attention to how long we’ll have to prep/cook/eat it.
Tesco delivery on Friday/Sat
Try and prep a couple of meals in advance over the W/e or Monday (quietest night, earliest finish).
Friday night is always Pizza Night, usually shop bought!!
I use the timer setting on my oven a lot.

• Fresh pasta tortellini is excellent with some pesto and green veg (cook with the pasta).
• I usually have some tubs of tomato sauce or bolognaisse sauce in the freezer.
• Tesco Finest fish pie is very nice
• Jacket Spuds can be a main course of their own
• Frozen Yorkshire puds take seconds to warm up and a brilliant to serve with a beef (or other) stew, which has been cooking all afternoon (in normal oven).
• home frozen mash is horrible when defrosted
• frozen chopped onions and bags of frozen Mediterranean veg are brilliant
• add garlic bread to an omelette to make it more of a main course than a breakfast or lunch.