How to eat well for less

Is it possible to eat well for less? What if you have fussy eaters, special dietary needs or ravenous teenagers in your family? Alice Guy take a look.

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

Woman back at home after shopping groceries

Image source: Getty Images

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

Buying food is expensive and one of most people’s biggest bills. But is it possible to eat well for less? As a busy mum of four older kids, I’ve had to learn the hard way how to feed my family on a tight budget. With two teenage boys in the house, any food I buy doesn’t last long!

Here, I take a look at ways to slash your grocery bill but still eat well. I investigate how to feed hungry teenagers or fussy eaters. I also take a look at how to shop for special dietary needs without breaking the bank.

[top_pitch]

9 top tips to eat well for less

Here are my top tips for eating well for less:

  1. Write a meal plan – it’s easy to pop a few extra things in the basket, and those small extras soon add up. By checking what you have in the cupboards first and shopping for particular meals, you can plan to eat cheap and healthy meals.
  2. Stock up your freezer – frozen fruit and veggies are still super healthy and they are often much cheaper than fresh alternatives. My kids love to have frozen fruit with their morning cereal or with some pancakes.
  3. Plan at least two really cheap meals per week – my go-tos are beans and cheese on jacket potatoes or chickpea curry. Other alternatives include lentil cottage pie and pasta with mushrooms and pesto.
  4. Cook from scratch – it doesn’t have to be fancy. Learning a few simple recipes like pasta sauce and roast chicken means you can cook hearty, delicious meals.
  5. Buy cheap cuts of meat – cheaper cuts like braising beef or chicken drumsticks can still make hearty, healthy meals. 
  6. Bulk out meals with pulses and veg – adding a tablespoon of lentils to bolognese sauce helps the meat stretch further as well as being healthy.
  7. Shop the budget ranges in supermarkets – extra-value porridge oats or cheap cheddar cheese often taste just as good as the more expensive stuff.
  8. Have some emergency meals in the freezer – when you can’t be bothered to cook, oven chips, eggs and beans are really cheap and still healthier than a takeaway.
  9. Save up for Christmas food throughout the year – I add to a separate savings account during the year so I can afford to splurge a bit in December.

Can fussy eaters eat well for less?

Is it still possible to eat well for less if you have a fussy eater in your family? I’ve found it helps to think of meals that you can vary according to taste. For example, when having fajitas, tortilla wraps can be served plain with cheese and ham for fussy eaters who don’t like the fajita sauce. Chilli con carne can be cooked without spices, and Tobasco sauce can then be added at the table. 

[middle_pitch]

Can teenagers eat well for less?

What about starving teenagers who always seem to be eating? I like to stock up on cheap but relatively healthy snacks like English muffins, crumpets and good old toast. If they get the late-night munchies, they can even help themselves to breakfast cereal.

I’ve also trained my older kids to cook a simple meal themselves so they can cook some pasta or pop a jacket potato in the microwave if they’re desperate.

What about dietary needs?

When my daughter was just two, I found out she had coeliac disease. My first food shop after the diagnosis took nearly three hours as I had to carefully read every label. Still, after a few months, I started to get the hang of things. Here are a few of my top tips to eat well for less on a specialist diet:

  • Look for naturally ‘free-from’ food – specialist food is usually expensive, but you can often find naturally free-from alternatives. For example, potatoes and rice are naturally gluten free and also good value.
  • Cook from scratch – you don’t need to be Mary Berry. If you master a simple gluten-free sponge recipe, it can be made into fairy cakes or a victoria sponge and used to top fruit puddings. Yum!
  • Take snacks with you – it’s really hard to find food on the go if you have a specialist diet. It often limits you to expensive shops and restaurants. Try to take snacks with you to limit the expense.

And finally

Eating well for less doesn’t mean you’re not allowed the occasional treat. Homemade flapjacks and ginger cake are my personal favourites. And they’re even better if you can persuade the kids to cook them!

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

More on Personal Finance

Note paper with question mark on orange background
Personal Finance

Should you invest your ISA in a model portfolio?

Which model ISA portfolios offer both high performance and low fees? Hargreaves Lansdown, Interactive Investor and AJ Bell go under…

Read more »

Economic Uncertainty Ahead Sign With Stormy Background
Personal Finance

Is it time to exit emerging markets investments?

Investors may well be sitting on losses from emerging markets funds. Is it worth keeping the faith for a sustained…

Read more »

Personal Finance

Share trading? Three shares with turnaround potential

Share trading has been difficult in 2022, but which companies have turnaround potential? Jo Groves takes a closer look at…

Read more »

Man using credit card and smartphone for purchasing goods online.
Personal Finance

Revealed! Why Gen Z may be the savviest generation when it comes to credit cards

New research reveals that Gen Z may be the most astute when it comes to credit cards. But why? And…

Read more »

Environmental technology concept.
Personal Finance

The 10 best-performing sectors for ISA investors

The best-performing sectors over the past year invested in real assets such as infrastructure, but is this trend set to…

Read more »

Road sign warning of a risk ahead
Personal Finance

Recession risk ‘on the rise’: is it time for investors to worry?

A major global bank has suggested the risk of a recession in the UK is 'on the rise'. So, should…

Read more »

pensive bearded business man sitting on chair looking out of the window
Personal Finance

1 in 4 cutting back on investments amid cost of living crisis

New research shows one in four investors have cut back on their investing contributions to cope with the rising cost…

Read more »

Image of person checking their shares portfolio on mobile phone and computer
Personal Finance

The 10 most popular stocks among UK investors so far this year

As the new tax year kicks off, here's a look at some of the most popular stocks among UK investors…

Read more »