Even ChatGPT suggests £90 a week for food. 😂
Here’s a 2‑week meal plan for one adult and one child, with a shopping list costed to stay under £400—aiming for about £90 per week on groceries, based on typical UK family spending ([nimblefins.co.uk][1]).
🗓️ Meal Plan Overview
Week 1
| Meal | Adult + Child Ideas |
| --- | ---------------------------- |
| Breakfast | Porridge with fruit, toast & eggs, cereal with milk |
| Lunch | Jacket potatoes with cheese, tuna sandwiches |
| Dinner | Pasta bolognese, chicken/stir‑fry + rice, fish fingers + veg, soup + bread, vegetable curry + rice, homemade pizza, leftovers family night |
| Snacks | Fruit, yogurt, toast if needed |
Week 2
Similar structure with variations: scrambled eggs on toast, oats, cereal, repeats of jacket potato, sandwiches; dinners like shepherd’s pie, chicken pasta bake, stir‑fried noodles, baked salmon + veg, tacos with mince, meat-free chilli + rice, “kids’ choice” night.
🛒 Shopping List & Estimated Cost
Below is the combined list for both weeks, with approximate supermarket prices (Aldi/Tesco own‑brand) ([inkl.com][2]):
💧 Pantry & Staples
- Porridge oats 1 kg – £1.00
- Cornflakes 500 g – £0.60
- Pasta 1 kg – £1.00
- Rice 1 kg – £1.50
- Tinned tomatoes 4 × 400 g – £1.20
- Baked beans 2 × 415 g – £1.00
- Tuna (3‑pack 145 g) – £1.65
🥖 Bakery & Bread
- Bread loaf (2) – £0.80 ×2 = £1.60
🥛 Dairy & Eggs
- Milk (8 pints) – £1.20 × 2 = £2.40
- Cheddar 400 g – £2.65
- Eggs (12) – £1.29
🍗 Meat & Fish
- Chicken breasts 1 kg – £4.00
- Mince beef 500 g – £3.20
- White fish fingers – £2.00
- Salmon fillets (2) – £6.00
🥦 Fruit & Vegetables
- Carrots 1 kg – £0.45
- Onions 1 kg – £0.65
- Potatoes 2.5 kg – £1.05
- Mushrooms 250 g – £0.95
- Peppers 3‑pack – £1.25
- Apples 6‑pack – £1.29
- Bananas 5‑pack – £0.70
- Frozen peas 1 kg – £1.20
🧂 Miscellaneous
- Cooking oil 500 ml – £2.00
- Salt, spices, stock cubes – £1.50
- Tomato puree/ketchup – £1.00
🧾 Total Estimated Cost
Pantry: £8.95
Bread: £1.60
Dairy & Eggs: £6.34
Meat & Fish: £15.20
Produce: £7.04
Misc: £4.50
Total: ~£43.63
This covers one week. For two weeks, multiply by 2 = £87.26.
✅ Tips to Keep Costs Down
-
Shop at budget supermarkets (Aldi/Lidl) — typically ~£25 for a basket of staples ([inkl.com][2], [reddit.com][3], [reddit.com][4], [studentbillscompany.co.uk][5], [walesonline.co.uk][6], [ruggedthuglife.com][7]).
-
Use supermarket loyalty apps & yellow‑sticker deals for extras and perishables ([thesun.co.uk][8]).
-
Batch‑cook soups, stews, curries; freeze portions to reduce waste — common frugal advice ([reddit.com][9]).
-
Kids’ portion control; use leftovers smartly (e.g. “SOON” dinners) ([thesun.ie][10]).
🔄 Summary
You could easily stretch the budget for added variety, premium items, or more fresh produce.
✔️ Next Steps
-
Adjust meals for tastes—swap fish fingers for sausages or a meat-free option.
-
Track spending weekly; prices vary by store and region.
-
Use money-saving apps and yellow‑sticker offers when shopping.
-
Plan prep in advance to minimise waste and maximise leftovers.
Let me know if you want recipes, portion breakdowns, or a printable shopping list!
[1]: www.nimblefins.co.uk/average-uk-household-cost-food%26sa%3DU?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Average UK Household Cost of Food 2024 | NimbleFins"
[2]: www.inkl.com/news/food-bills-will-skyrocket-by-over-680-next-year-full-supermarket-price-comparisons?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Food bills will skyrocket by over £680 next year -…"
[3]: www.reddit.com/r/povertyfinance/comments/qpq9wt?utm_source=chatgpt.com "I hope this helps whoever it can. I don’t have cheap supermarkets near me but here is food tips with just £10 if you’re struggling."
[4]: www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/comments/1g7ujco?utm_source=chatgpt.com "How much does your weekly or monthly food shop cost?"
[5]: studentbillscompany.co.uk/blog/university/student-shopping-list-uk-and-food-prices-2023/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Student Shopping List UK and Food Prices 2023 - Student Bills Company"
[6]: www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/lidl-aldi-tesco-asda-sainsbury-25450233?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Bills rise in four out of seven major supermarkets in our monthly price-check - Wales Online"
[7]: ruggedthuglife.com/london/how-much-does-a-bread-cost-in-london/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "How much does a bread cost in London? - ruggedthuglife.com"
[8]: www.thesun.co.uk/money/35666840/cheapest-supermarket-which-aldi-lidl-tesco/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Cheapest supermarket for basket of 79 items in June revealed - it's not Tesco or Lidl"
[9]: www.reddit.com/r/UKFrugal/comments/18z5kkt?utm_source=chatgpt.com "What's a reasonable monthly grocery budget per person for a UK household?"
[10]: https://www.thesun.ie/fabulous/14071652/single-mum-save-money-food-shopping-soon-dinner/?utm_source=chatgpt.c
om "I'm a single mum-of-two and I swear by 5 tips to save £200 a MONTH on food shopping - you've got to try my 'SOON' dinner"