To feed my family on £1 per person per day

[Dramatic]

I've heard about celebs doing this and finding it almost impossible but really it's not that hard, I spend £25 a week (or less) on me and 3 kids. Am I a cheapskate or do other people spend this much? I shop at Aldi if that makes a difference. Maybe I'm depriving my kids by spending £1 a day on them. How much do you spend per person per day? Surely it's not that unreasonable to think £1 a day is plenty to feed yourself, why are people making such a fuss about it?

The big pots of Greek honey in Aldi are really good value, and Greek yogurt is higher in protein than normal yogurt. You could add some jam or honey. It's also lovely with berries (which you could get if they were reduced).

Op I think you are doing really well on a limited budget. It can't db easy with 3 children on benefits, and trying to reduce debt at the same time.

Both Aldi and lidl do a deal of the week on fruit and veg, which I think are 69p. Asda does the same, but is a little bit more expensive.

Ds2's favourite cheap meal is pasta, just boiled with broccoli and peas and then grated cheese on top. It's also quick to cook, so saving fuel.

If you have a windowsill you could maybe grow some herbs and tomatoes. Post on Freecycle and freegle and see if anyone nearby has some seedlings to give away.

We were given a tray of cabbage seedlings last year, which was brilliant.

I know that financially, unless you have been in similar financial straits, it is very difficult to empathize as to what it is like trying to manage on a very limited budget.

Some areas have fruit ie apples or blackberries on public land which may help to supplement you diet. I think their is an organisation called Abundance in Sheffield which runs a project like this. It could be worth seeing if their is anything similar near you?

I'm actually really shocked that you're pregnant and not eating fruit and veg.
B vitamins, notably folate, are not stored by your body and neeeded every day are vital for foetal development especially CNS & brain, lack of vitamin A is linked to heart development and K to face and teeth.
Poor nutrition effects organ development, cognitive function and health.
And it's not good for your long term health exercise or not.
Obviously you don't need to justify it to me but I'm really surprised a midwife is fine with it.
Anyway, congratulations on your pregnancy

Its my third now but all babies healthy and fine. Never had a filling in my life yet either and its over 30 years of no fruit and veg. I do have some on rare occasions.

I would be looking to get your debt issue sorted OP as while you can manage eating like you are, its really not good.

A healthy diet is a priority. In fact, I work in housing. If you came to me for advice, saying you were struggling to afford to live, i would allocate 75 per week for shopping for your family when doing an income/expenditure assessment.

OP, you should really be spending more on food. I know you have debts to pay, but you must get Child Benefit, which for your children, would break down to over £25 a week. That money should be spent on food for your children, I think

If we're giving out budget food tips, then how about swapping the jam for peanut butter or cream cheese? You can buy the value lines for not very much more and they're infinitely better in terms of providing calories and nutrients. Also, you can get a big bag of raisins for a pound which will do you for snacks for several weeks.

I have 3 dc and my child benefit is £188 per four weeks so 47 per week, I assume the op recieves the same

Not eating fruit or veg for 30 years shows you have warped ideas about what a healthy diet entails.

However saying you should eat this, you should eat that probably isn't super helpful - you're trying to minimise debts and maximise the value and food you get into your kids which can't be easy.

I don't think is is a particularly great diet or shopping list though, but I doubt I could do better in your position.

I have the fortunate position of not really worrying about food budget, eating out, at work etc so it is hard to put myself in the position of only havering £25 and the choices if make then.

Not eating fruit or veg for 30 years shows you have warped ideas about what a healthy diet entails.

However saying you should eat this, you should eat that probably isn't super helpful - you're trying to minimise debts and maximise the value and food you get into your kids which can't be easy.

I don't think is is a particularly great diet or shopping list though, but I doubt I could do better in your position.

I have the fortunate position of not really worrying about food budget, eating out, at work etc so it is hard to put myself in the position of only havering £25 and the choices if make then.

Op are you also getting all the financial help that is available to you? Check entitledto and run a checker. You can also go onto the tax credits site and run a check on there for tax credits and child benefit.

Can I ask what your spending the childrens tax credit and family allowance on?

It's very sad that you have such a small food budget. Your food choices are limited and repetitive. I couldn't feed us on such a small amount, the children are very active and eat a lot. We consume serious amount of fruit, veg, milk and cheese. (My cheese bill today was £8.00. In aldi)

Have you got a garden? Can you grow some food? Just growing lettuce and tomatoes would improve your diet. Grow some strawberries, spring onions. Caugettes are mega easy to grow, as is spinach, also very healthy. Pop a note on free cycle and ask for spare plants from people, or lidl sell very cheap seeds.

If you haven't got a garden get on an allotment list, as your children grow they will become very hungry and you can't go on with such a tiny budget.

I think some people on this thread are being a bit daft. Of course your children aren't malnourished. There's not much variety but tons of children eat the same things every day. Hey are having fruit and milk at nursery and good stuff with you. It's fine.

I love food and childhood nutrition is hugely important to me. But I have enough money to wander round sainsburys putting what I want into the trolley. On your budget I think you are doing very well.

I know I will get flamed for this but why would you choose to have more children if you can't adequately (no fruit/veg) feed the ones you have?

I was thinking that. If they only have £1 a day now how much will they have with a new sibling.

I often have to throw milk out as only DD2 likes it, usually 2 pints is enough for the week.

I hate dairy produce with the one exception of cheddar cheese, and I drink my coffee black, DD1 eats a lot of fruit and veg, but she mostly buys her own.

When they were younger I struggled to feed them properly and often went without eating anything for days myself, and their diet could be fairly restricted.

We still don't eat a great deal of fruit and veg so one pack of apples, one of bananas, two of grapes and strawberries does us for the week.

Where does op say she is pregnant?

I'm not pregnant, I never said I was. I spend the child benefit and tax credits on bills, food and stuff the kids need (clothes, school trips etc) isn't that what it's for?

I have taken on board everyones advice and I do appreciate it, also the fact they are not getting enough calcium which had never occured to me as they are happy with what they get. I guess they take after me and have small appetites, I accept not all children would be happy with the amount mine eat!

Do they have vitamins? I think you can get them free from the HV?

I can see how you manage it but agree its a hard way to live. Have you tried the frozen fruit (put in a bowl a few hors before eating), peanut butter instead of jam and maybe trying to stretch to a ruin of sardines or tuna?

I would never judge someone for managing the best they can on a low income but this thread feels a bit like; "well I can, so why can't others?" Having worked with vulnerable people, I can tell you there are many reasons why people cannot do budget and plan so carefully. I worked with individuals with learning difficulties and to make a sweeping statement, those who had responsibility for shopping and cooking often found it very hard to be so specific to manage eating on such a low income.

I probably spent £30 a week as a single adult and I know I eat extravagantly but there are reasons. I am more than capable of budgeting but I am physically disabled and need pre-chopped veg and microwave meals for when I'm not feeling well enough to cook properly.

You can not feed a family healthily on £25 a week, unless you're growing your own fruit and veg, have hens laying eggs and are swapping produce with neighbours, and even then it's probably difficult.
Otherwise you are doing it by buying cheap over processed food. If you don't need to do that, there's nothing virtuous about it.

You may spend £25 but you and your kids are eating less then an average /typical child

Not sure how even with bulking with veg that you can make 5 meals out of chicken/mince

Casseroles can be cheap made with tinned toms and lentils and even pasta to bulk

Weetabix does soak up milk so if all 3 are having that every breakfast not sure why you don't get through more milk

In the end everyone has to work with their budget but if you are struggling then go to a food bank

It is actually possible, especially if you live close to a proper market. I got 2 cabbage for 1 pound, and 3 spanish onions for a pound too.

Waitrose now does a deal of 3 chicken for 10 pounds. So it is possible.