Aibu to be annoyed the food shop disappears so quickly

[toadstool32]

It drives me insane. Food shop arrives and within a day most cupboard snacks / fruit has been eaten. I’ve spoken to everyone on numerous occasions about making things last. Family of 5 plus a dog, spending anywhere between £100-£130 a week. How do you make things last?! (Obviously not fresh stuff with dates but the constant snacking).

edited to add: school lunches and snacks are all provided by school. I get lunch at work too. So this is just home food.

you are missing the point.

I cook meals with lots of veg: carrots, sweet potatoes, cabbage, beans etc.
I have lots of fruit available, apples, pears, bananas.

I do not have bowls of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and grapes, because they are expensive.
That was exactly the same when I was growing up.
We had strawberries about twice a year, as a treat, in June when they were in season.

Of course it is lovely to have berries, but it is not essential

OP clearly says she doesn’t bake?

You dont have to cut back on fruit and veg. The cheapest diets are those full of fruit and veg, pulses, legumes etc

Prior to every meal, act continental and have salad. Each day vary the colour, day one green salad with shredded greens, lettuce, cucumber, avocado (not too much as this is pricey), green beans, green olives, etc. Day two - red salad, tomatoes, red peppers, red cabbage, beetroot, radish etc. Day three - orange and yellows with grated carrot, sweetcorn from the tin, orange and yellow pepper, cold roasted butternut squash. Day 4 purples, so beets and purple carrots if you're lucky enough to get them and black olives

The salad gets variety and fresh veg in, you dont need much of it and then fills up a bit before the main meal. Play around with dressings and herbs to make it taste different each time.

Oh come on. Making waffles is easier than scrambling eggs.

Was just quoting OP. If she doesn’t have the brain space to bake, I think that’s up to her surely?

You manage snacks on top of other foods for just this price for a family of 5? We are only 3 of us and I eat only bread and vegetables and we still spend 200

You manage snacks on top of other foods for just this price for a family of 5? We are only 3 of us and I eat only bread and vegetables and we still spend 200

Well not just that but theres no need for posters to exaggerate to make a point. Of course making waffles isnt that hard but it is in no way as simple as cracking a couple of eggs in a pan and scrambling them up. Takes two minutes, one pan and one spoon, nothing else.

I think I would rather the kids have eggs than waffles in any case.

No need to buy snacks, just fruit, nuts and tinned fruit. Make large pasta dishes and soups, tons of bread and you will be always full, healthy and manage more on this humble budget.

Delicious Balkan fillers: spread butter on slice of white bread, then minced meat and in the oven until brown. Or: mix feta with eggs and same procedure - rich, nutritious, delicious, aromatic , could be food or snack or anything

this is useless advice. Hand them the marge tub and the jam pot.

Don't be silly 😂

That sounds gorgeous

Exactly.

What so they dont like it and wont eat it so it's just a waste of money

Prunes and dates are pricey though

Although if they're not eaten they can be used for cakes and stuff

3 adults child 16 and 8 . I do cook from scratch most the time . Buy fruit and veg half price from uber eats, so helps . Breakfast, cereal, toast ,fruit , lunch I normally have a soap I’ve made or jacket potato’s, sandwiches, dinner vary, today fajitas made with mince beef veg and rice, yesterday chicken wings with pasta , with home made pasta sauce, corn on the cob

Sounds like you aren’t feeding them enough.

Yeah it's only one banana a week each...it's really not much at all

It's probably been said but I'm on a budget and buy ... that is cheap:

Bananas
Apples
Eggs
Potatoes
Beans
Bread
Sweetcorn
Peas

Meat is expensive now😭

I make massive tray bakes, cakes, sometimes bread to try to fill mine up - 3 x teenagers

Occasionally boxes of ice creams but I'm afraid they disappear

Food is really expensive now

...tinned fruit, soups with bacon whizzed up in, lentils!! Tinned tomatoes, milk, shreddies, Lidl good for nuts and dried fruit,

You can cook hearty meals on a budget but you have to change your mindset slightly. Things have changed

When my kids were young, you could have spent any amount and it would be gone in two days. Any snacks were hidden but always found, so we clearly had ill disciplined kids.

Yeah, you’re being tight. That’s nowhere near enough

It’s not your family’s fault that you basically can’t afford to feed them enough. To come on mumsnet and make out they’re doing something wrong saying “I’ve spoken to them numerous times about making things last”… how exactly do you expect them to make their 1.20 banana, 4/5 strawberries and small handful of grapes last for the week?

Shouldn't have had that 3rd child or the dog if you can't afford them. Not exactly difficult