to say that fasting has massively cut down our food bills?

[streth]

I know it's not for everyone but I’ve been doing intermittent fasting one meal a day for a while now and I’ve noticed a huge difference in our food shopping bills. I just eat once a day usually a good sized balanced meal in the evening and I’m genuinely less hungry the rest of the time. I don’t snack anymore and I’m not constantly thinking about food which has been surprisingly freeing.

My teens off their own backs have started eating just twice a day they say they feel fine and they're old enough to make those choices themselves. We still eat nutritious food but we’re just eating less often and wasting far less.

Food bills have gone down significantly and with prices being what they are right now it’s honestly been a relief I know this wouldn’t work for everyone and I’m definitely not saying it’s suitable for people with eating disorders or anyone with specific health needs. But for us it’s made a real difference both financially and in how we think about food.

AIBU to think this kind of fasting can be a practical option for some people in tough times?

No shit Sherlock. Eat less food spend less money. 🤷‍♀️

🤣 exactly

Fasting will obviously reduce your food bill, you are basically skipping meals!

Personally I couldn't eat once a day in the evening - I would be starving hungry and probably chew my own arm off before we reached meal time.

I mean, it's obvious if you eat less food, your food bill will go down. Fasting is fine as long as you get enough calories each day. I used to do OMAD when I was younger and I've never been healthier than I was then, but you do need to do it right.

I think that some people spend loads of snacking so makes sense that you’ll save money stopping that.

Is it not kinda obvious that if you eat less food, you’ll need to buy less and will save money?

I think for some people they don’t have a choice.

As usual, first reply nails it 😂

I’m not convinced that’s a good idea. Clearly you’re happy with it but I suspect many would be tempted to snack between just 2 meals. And if I tried to tell my late teen boys that they could only eat twice a day, there would be a riot.

YABU for taking this line. Not because it isn't true, but because it is disgraceful that food prices are so high that some people might contemplate doing it just to save money. IF isn't healthy for everyone; it is actively dangerous for people with some medical conditions and also for people in recovery from eating disorders. Great that it works for you, but this post is silly.

Yes, and as above, fasting can be fine and even healthy, but only if you're getting enough calories/nutrients into you, so it's not great for people who are forced to skip meals to save money, and who probably aren't eating enough of what they need!

I completely agree that it’s disgraceful that food prices are so high in the first place. That’s exactly why I mentioned it – not to promote a one-size-fits-all solution, but to share what’s worked for me and my family in response to a very real problem.

I was careful to say that I know it’s not suitable for everyone, especially those with eating disorders or medical issues. I’m not suggesting anyone should harm themselves or ignore their health needs to save money. But the reality is many people are having to find ways to cope with rising costs, and for some of us, eating less frequently has had unexpected benefits – not just financially but also in terms of food waste, energy levels, and focus.

Calling the post “silly” feels a bit unfair when it’s just an honest account of something that’s helped in a tough situation. I’m not telling anyone else to do it, just opening up a discussion. Isn’t that what AIBU is for?

But, it's just plain common sense that if you need to save money on food, eating less will do it, isn't it? Dressing it up as fasting to make it more palatable is a bit off (and as I said, I used to fast a lot for health).

Fair enough, and I get that every household is different. But just to clarify, I didn’t tell my teens to eat twice a day. They chose to do it themselves after seeing how I was eating and how it was working for me. They’re both old enough to decide what works for their own bodies. If they were hungry all the time or struggling with it, I’d absolutely expect them to go back to eating more often. So no riot here, thankfully. No constant grazing and a lot less food waste.

I agree OP. Started fasting a few months ago, adjusted the two meals i now eat every day to be really nutritious and full of protein, so I eat less but very clean, good ingredients. Tofu, chicken, chickpeas, spinach, nuts, berries, fage yoghurts, sourkraut, cottage cheese.
I think the key message is that the food bill goes down, so you save money but you don’t negatively impact your health as the quality of the ingredients is actually better compared to filling your shopping trolley with UPFs.
It’s not about eating the same but less.
its about eating less and better.
I have been feeling great, my skin is better, no bloating. The money saving is a great side effect too.

But you didn't do it to save money, you did it for health reasons. Saving money has just been a side effect. That's completely different to people having to skip meals to save money.

Yes, in theory eating less to save money sounds like common sense, but in practice it’s not always that simple. A lot of people struggle with reducing how much they eat, whether that’s due to habit, emotional eating, medical reasons, or just busy lives that don’t make structured eating easy. So while the logic is straightforward, the day-to-day reality isn’t always.

For me, calling it fasting isn’t about making it sound fancier or more palatable. It’s just a way of describing a conscious pattern of eating that helps me stay consistent. It’s not a diet or a restriction for the sake of it – it’s something that happens to suit my body, my routine, and yes, my budget. I respect that it’s not for everyone, but I don’t think sharing it is "off" when it’s been genuinely helpful.

Calling the post “silly” feels a bit unfair when it’s just an honest account of something that’s helped in a tough situation.

Well, it's a "silly" post because it's self evident that if you eat less food, your food bills will go down.

I've also discovered my transport costs have gone down since I walk everywhere. Maybe that is a practical option for some people too?

That’s fair, but it’s actually a bit of both. I started for health reasons, yes, but the financial benefit has become a big part of why I’ve stuck with it. The two aren't mutually exclusive.

I’m not saying people should skip meals out of desperation. That’s an awful situation for anyone to be in. But I do think there’s a difference between choosing to eat less often in a structured way that works for you versus being forced to go without food. What I’m doing isn’t about going hungry or depriving myself. It’s about eating more intentionally, and it just so happens to cost less too.

I completely agree we shouldn’t normalise food insecurity, but I also think there’s space to talk honestly about the strategies some people are using to cope, especially when they feel sustainable and health positive rather than punishing

But, I'm talking about in context of this thread, and you haven't actually given any tips about how to fast healthily or anything, so...

Interestingly when I leave my teenage dd to decide how/ when to eat she only eats two meals a day too.
we meal prep and all ingredients are available in the fridge to build your own meals. I’ve noticed she’s been having breakfast and one main meal only over the summer holidays.

I get what you're saying, but I don’t think it’s silly to talk about something just because it sounds obvious in hindsight. Lots of things are “self-evident” on paper but still hard to put into practice or even think about in a new way. People are overwhelmed right now, and sometimes hearing that someone else has found a manageable change that genuinely helped can be useful, even if the basic idea isn’t ground breaking.

Your example about walking is actually a good one. Yes, it's obvious that walking saves money but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth talking about how people are making it work, what they’ve found challenging or beneficial, or how it fits into their lives. It’s the same with food. I’m not claiming I’ve invented a revolutionary new idea, just sharing something that has helped me and my family in a tough time.

I eat between two and three meals a week and that seems to be enough.

Eating once a day is very extreme eating.

(Speaking from experience) I would be very, very careful about what you are modelling around your teenagers, who need to eat much much more than you.

Bil was hinting at this, him and his wife are doing it and feeling and looking great. I’m finding life a little tough at the mo do tons him, no, my plan was looking after myself through comfort eating. He wasn’t thrilled to hear it but to each their own. Good for you though