What cheap meals are on your meal plan now the price of food shopping is increasing?

[ILikeCrapTelly]

Just that really, we've always been lucky enough to not worry too much about the shopping cost, and even though we're not in dire straits I am trying to be more mindful about what we spend weekly and stick to a stricter budget.

I was just wondering if anyone else has started to me mindful of putting cheaper meals on the meal plan? And hoping I can steal some ideas

Gnocchi bake. Bag of dried gnocchi about 70p, tin of toms, spices herbs and if you have the chili pepper things in a jar lovely. Cook sauce, add gnocchi, stir then add cheese on top and bake

I don’t spend large amounts on food in any case

Shop every 3 days to prevent waste

But meat every other shop

Purchase fresh and frozen vegetables and plan meals around vegetables but add some non meat protein into the meal for health

Don’t be swayed by ultra processed foods which work out expensive

I always recommend this, but I use Thrifty Lesley's website. She has thrifty meals, but also meal plans for about £15 a week. There are about a dozen week plans. Each are nutritionally balanced, and focus on a few star ingredients each week (cream cheese, bacon, lentils).

They do take a little while with the food prep, because it's all made from scratch, but I try to have one week every 4-6 weeks, when I follow a meal plan. As I'm vegetarian, but DH and the children are not, I alter a couple of recipes for me, but the £15 food list is a brilliant start point.

Just search for Thrifty Lesley meal plans.
They are brilliant!

thriftylesley.com/thrifty-lesley-meal-plans/

Many of the plans are for 2 people, however they translate well into 2 adults and 2 children.

Another brilliant option, is "Feed your family for £20 a week", which is a Facebook group (I believe, I'm not on Facebook), but there is also a recipe book, with 8 week rolling meal plans, and shopping lists.

Also really handy, although the shopping lists need a little more working out, if you're not planning on doing the full 8 week rotation.

Easiest way is no meat, fish, UPFs or alcohol.

dal and rice (could add flatbreads and raita)
Chickpea and spinach curry (as above)
Chilli with rice / baked pots / wedges
Mushroom ragu / pasta
Aubergine ragu / pasta
Veggie sausage tray bake with pots / veg (peppers, onions, courgette)
toad in the hole with veggie sausages
Enchiladas (make the sauce with tinned lentils)
Risotto
Homemade pizza with whatever toppings
Grilled halloumi with cous cous and salad
Tuscan stew
Sag paneer with coconut rice
Tomato and pea curry with coconut rice (Nigella recipe - really cheap and nutritious)

i do a lot of soups, casseroles and stews..Throw lots of tasty things in them, and some of my favourite herbs and spices. I sometimes make a shepherds pie, or cottage pie, and served with whatever veg.

Probably too much mansplaining, but £5 for 5 days... Atomic Shrimp,

Tonight we had tomatoey lentils with spiny roast vegetables. You could do the vegetables in a pan if you don't want to put the oven on. Tomorrow we are having a sweet potato stew with sauce made from tinned tomatoes and peanut butter. Another cheap favourite is tomato and egg curry, made from tinned tomatoes, red lentils, spinach and hard boiled eggs.