Feeding your family on a budget

We understand food shops can be tricky, especially when you’re trying to get healthier as a family and keep costs down at the same time. Here are some of our top tips to help feed your family on a budget.

Balance

The first step to a healthy lifestyle is balance. You can use the Eatwell Guide — showing how much you should eat from each food group — which can help shape your shopping list to get the balance right.

Plan ahead

Plan your meals and snacks for the week ahead and write a shopping list. That way you’re more likely to buy what you need, avoid impulse buys and unnecessary waste. Also never shop while hungry, as you’re likely to buy food you don’t really need.

Recipe swaps

Reduce or replace pricier ingredients with lower-cost alternatives. Try replacing some meat/fish with pulses or vegetables, or choosing lower-cost cuts/types. You could try switching to a plant-based meal once (or more) a week.

Smart shopping

Look out for own-label or bulk-buy options for better value in the supermarket. Explore the world foods or freezer section for some bargains. Frozen fruit and veg won’t go off, so you won’t waste them — plus you can use frozen fruit to make delicious smoothies. Another way to shop smarter is to find out what time of day your local store reduces items, and get down there to snaffle up some bargains.

Use your storage

Store your leftovers in the fridge or incorporate them into other meals. Pop foods nearing their use-by dates in the freezer for another time.

Clever cooking

Watch your energy usage, microwaves, air fryers and slow cookers all use less energy than gas or electric cookers. You could try cooking your whole meal on the hob or in the oven. Be sure to check out one pot/tray recipes to save time and energy. Also remember to use your leftovers in other dishes — this could be pies, pasta bakes, curries, or stir fries. For other energy-saving tips, check out our blog.