What would you say is a reasonable food budget for two adults and one child?

[Gotsomedebt]

I need to reduce my food bill. Currently I think we spend way too much but this can definitely be reduced through meal planning and budgeting.

So I'm wondering what a reasonable amount would be to allocate to food per week? Just food. Not including toiletries, cleaning stuff, pets, etc.

I was thinking of trying £40 a week but I'm not sure if this is too low really. I priced up breakfast and lunches (cheaply) and it works out as leaving only £3.61 for dinners on £40 per week.

What would you say is a reasonable amount for a family of three to spend on food per week?

I'd say £80 a week. 🤷

how old is your child?

Im a single parent of two and not a chance i could budget like that with two very sporty teens!

I spend £75-100 (depending how much meat, whether I’ve done any of my shopping in Aldi) for 2 adults, 2 children. I cook a lot in advance, mostly vegetarian. £40 sounds a bit low tbh.

£100 per week on average

Should have said, child is 5 but a human dustbin. We're all dustbins tbh and can put absolutely loads away. More than we should.

Just food? No toiletries and stuff?

We are 2 adults and a 4 yo. We spend about 90 a week. Just on food.

It has been estimated that an adult needs at least£40 to have a healthy diet

We are 2 adults and 1 child (another child at uni so occasionally here for evening meal, has breakfast most days).

Main food shop is around £85, top up of bits/lunchbox snacks from Aldi then probably another £20 a week.

Couldnt get it any cheaper without really cutting back on quality/cutting out meat.

sounds like an opportunity to cut down intake if nothing else

I would say £100 too but that would include cleaning stuff and toiletries (it doesn't make sense to me to separate these out if you are getting them in the same shop). You could do it for less if really having to cut back hard, but below that you would need to be willing to eat either a lot of very same-y basic meals or a high amount of beige/heavily processed foods.

For comparison: We are 2 adults and 2 DCs (7 & 9, but sporty with large appetites so are eating 2/3s to a whole adult portion depending on how much training they've done that day). We aren't working to a specific budget, but I am conscious of what we are spending and trying not to let it get out of hand with rising prices. I meal plan the dinners. I buy most of our meat as a yellow sticker, then freeze it until we want to use it, but do only buy free range or (sometimes, depending on the supermarket) higher welfare. Half of our dinners and almost every breakfast and lunch is vegetarian.
I am currently spending about £120-130pw on all food (inc top up shops), cleaning products and toiletries. We also have 2 cats, but only the odd box of meaty chunks is included in the weekly shop when caught short between deliveries (maybe £10pm). I couldn't do it any cheaper without reducing variety or quality.

I don’t think you can cut it that low and healthy anything like a healthy diet. Health is where I try and prioritise my spending.

I'd say £60. Using recipes like this for dinner would be £25 for the week. Then say £20 for lunches and £10 for breakfast, plus some snacks https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/budgetfamilyymealplannfor_four

£60 - £65

But does depend on things like how many meals that covers - eg if child gets a good meal at school for free every day.......if you typically go and eat a Grandma's every Sunday ...... if you take packed lunches to work or buy something each day ...... if you are vegetarian ....... if you need to buy 'specialist' stuff for any medical / ethical / religious diet

I think £100 a week but that would include loo roll, toiletries and washing liquid etc.

I could easily spend more than that.

I'm sure it would be possible to spend less, but it would be into taking some serious plotting and planning.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/budget_family_meal_plan_for_four

There are more of these meal plans available, serves four would likely cover dinner for two and a small child, and lunch for one or two the next day.

we are 2 adults and a teenager DD so effectively 3 adults I do monthly rather than weekly budget I can do it for £100 per week including all toiletries, sanitary stuff toilet paper and cleaning stuff ( anything form supermarket so tin foil the occasional light bulb or new mop head) Doesn't include make up or any clothes even if bought in supermarket, then about £15 for school lunches so £460 for 4 weeks to be honest holidays are not less as we tend to buy more treat food instead of school lunches therefore as a month is normally more than 4 weeks £500 is my monthly budget for all food drink toiletries etc this includes alcohol and treats. I try and save a bit each month to add to christmas food budget
with a 5 year old I would think you could do £75-80 reasonably and maybe £60 if very careful and use cheap protein but protein is what fills you up rather than cheap white bread as you are hungry again very quickly and it may not be as healthy as it ought to be

This website seems to think £80 pw. I don't think you could do it for less than £60. I have just spent £52 on food for me and DD aged 17 until Thursday no alcohol, no cleaning products.

Sorry this website
https://www.nimblefins.co.uk/average-uk-household-cost-food

Shopping at Lidl/Aldi has saved us absolutely loads OP

I'd say £60 for two adults plus extra for the child, presumably they are having school dinners so only need breakfast, a light dinner, then food on weekends.

I think it depends on what you’re eating.
i average around £40-£50 per week for 1 adult, 1 child and a cat.
i do a big monthly shop and then weekly top ups. I also use the community pantry for cheap cuts of meat. freeze for later
a frozen bag of veg goes a long way to help bulk up meals and lasts ages.

shopping around helps. For instance- i get tins from aldi but fruit from the local market as it’s way cheaper.
Asda is cheaper than lidl for some essential range stuff. Iceland do some good deals on frozen stuff.

We do about £60 a week for two adults, a 4.5 year old and a 1.5 year old. No alcohol, but includes nappies/toiletries/cleaning stuff.

Instead of setting a budget you could work at meal planning and switching to some cheaper but still healthy ingredients - rice, lentils, legumes, potatoes and pasta make a good and healthy base to a meal, as long as there is half a plate of veg too. I think food is really important, and you shouldn't be cutting too low if you can afford more. Just cut out buying expensive branded stuff you don't need nutritionally. Focus on nutrition and see where you get to. We spend between £75 - £100 for two adults and an 8 year old. I focus on buying quality ingredients with as little highly processed as possible, but we don't eat a lot of meat. This budget doesn't include toiletries or toilet paper. Does include some alcohol but that can be cut and if you frame it as being healthy out or choice, that's ok

Probably around £100 a week the way things are now.