Mum's ALDI-cious meal planning and budget-friendly feasts leave more dough in wallets!
- Replies 6
In a time when the cost of living is soaring and every penny counts, finding ways to stretch the family budget without compromising on nutrition or taste can seem like a daunting task.
However, one Sunshine Coast mum has cracked the code to economical meal planning, and she's sharing her secrets with us!
Eisha-Marie Eisel, a 29-year-old mother of three, has become something of a budgeting wizard.
She manages to feed her family of five on a remarkably lean $175 weekly budget.
That's right, Eisha feeds her entire family for seven days for the price of a fancy dinner out. And before you ask, no, they're not surviving on instant noodles and canned beans alone.
Eisha's strategy involves a fortnightly shopping trip to ALDI, where she spends a total of $350.
The budget supermarket, known for its cost-effective pricing, provides ‘99 per cent’ of what Eisha's family needs, from food to cleaning products, hygiene and pet essentials.
‘I try to thoroughly plan our shop out before going so I don't need to return for any top-ups to curve those impulse purchases,’ Eisha explained.
Eisha recently spent only $88.43 on ingredients to prepare 34 meals for herself, her husband Zac, aged 29, and their three young sons—Ben, aged 11, Ollie, aged 8, and Teddy, aged 5.
She purchased ingredients from ALDI to prepare a variety of meals, including chicken panang curry, baked gnocchi, chicken tikka masala, pork rissoles with mashed potato and beans, vegetarian chickpea pad thai, teriyaki beef with broccoli, and Tuscan-style beans with garlic bread.
According to the mum, ‘99 per cent of my groceries are bought from ALDI—they have most of what I need week to week. I only need to shop elsewhere for more niche specialty items like bread, flour, and yeast.’
‘There is nothing I avoid buying from Aldi, I have had great experiences across the board with all their products, so they are always my first pick.’
The meals she prepares are not only budget-friendly but also straightforward to make, often requiring just four to seven ingredients.
She consistently adds inexpensive seasonal vegetables and legumes to meals to extend portions and save on costs.
‘I also always plan out my meals and balance special dinners with more affordable dinners,’ Eisha shared.
‘Outside of groceries, I am regularly reviewing our budget and expenses, making sure we have the best deals on our utilities and plans.’
Now, for the ‘number one question’ that Eisha is often asked: How does she keep her fresh food from spoiling over a fortnight?
The answer lies in her savvy storage techniques. She prioritises eating perishables like strawberries and bananas first.
Eisha then stores other produce in airtight containers with a paper towel at the bottom to absorb excess moisture, a trick that significantly extends the life of fruits and veggies.
She even puts an extra piece of paper towel on top of moisture-sensitive items like cucumbers, which are changed weekly.
‘Moisture is not your friend when it comes to storing fruit and vegetables,’ she said.
‘If you have a particular item like cucumbers, these will go bad a lot faster when they're exposed to moisture. So I always add an addition piece of paper towel on the top.’
Eisha highly recommends this trick for preserving beetroot, tomatoes, capsicum, onions, berries, and other produce.
Meanwhile, Eisha submerges carrots and celery in water within sealed containers to prevent dehydration, and melons aren't chopped until they're ready to eat, locking in freshness.
Additional fruits and vegetables are stored without packaging in the refrigerator's crisper drawer.
As savvy shoppers continue to share their strategies for stretching grocery budgets, the story of an Australian ALDI mum's budget-saving meals has garnered attention.
Her resourcefulness in preparing affordable yet nutritious dishes has inspired many families to rethink their approach to meal planning and grocery shopping.
This tale of culinary ingenuity resonates with others seeking ways to trim expenses without sacrificing quality or flavour.
In a similar vein, another mum's success in slashing $100 off her weekly grocery bill, thanks to ALDI, further underscores the supermarket's reputation for offering value and quality.
Together, these narratives offer insight and inspiration for those looking to make the most of their food budgets without compromising on taste or variety.
Have you tried any budget-friendly meal-planning tips that have worked wonders for your household? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below!
However, one Sunshine Coast mum has cracked the code to economical meal planning, and she's sharing her secrets with us!
Eisha-Marie Eisel, a 29-year-old mother of three, has become something of a budgeting wizard.
She manages to feed her family of five on a remarkably lean $175 weekly budget.
That's right, Eisha feeds her entire family for seven days for the price of a fancy dinner out. And before you ask, no, they're not surviving on instant noodles and canned beans alone.
Aussie mum-of-three, Eisha-Marie Eisel, shared her ALDI shopping strategy to feed her family on a $175 weekly budget. Credits: Instagram / Eisha-Marie Eisel
Eisha's strategy involves a fortnightly shopping trip to ALDI, where she spends a total of $350.
The budget supermarket, known for its cost-effective pricing, provides ‘99 per cent’ of what Eisha's family needs, from food to cleaning products, hygiene and pet essentials.
‘I try to thoroughly plan our shop out before going so I don't need to return for any top-ups to curve those impulse purchases,’ Eisha explained.
Eisha recently spent only $88.43 on ingredients to prepare 34 meals for herself, her husband Zac, aged 29, and their three young sons—Ben, aged 11, Ollie, aged 8, and Teddy, aged 5.
She purchased ingredients from ALDI to prepare a variety of meals, including chicken panang curry, baked gnocchi, chicken tikka masala, pork rissoles with mashed potato and beans, vegetarian chickpea pad thai, teriyaki beef with broccoli, and Tuscan-style beans with garlic bread.
According to the mum, ‘99 per cent of my groceries are bought from ALDI—they have most of what I need week to week. I only need to shop elsewhere for more niche specialty items like bread, flour, and yeast.’
‘There is nothing I avoid buying from Aldi, I have had great experiences across the board with all their products, so they are always my first pick.’
The meals she prepares are not only budget-friendly but also straightforward to make, often requiring just four to seven ingredients.
She consistently adds inexpensive seasonal vegetables and legumes to meals to extend portions and save on costs.
‘I also always plan out my meals and balance special dinners with more affordable dinners,’ Eisha shared.
‘Outside of groceries, I am regularly reviewing our budget and expenses, making sure we have the best deals on our utilities and plans.’
Now, for the ‘number one question’ that Eisha is often asked: How does she keep her fresh food from spoiling over a fortnight?
The answer lies in her savvy storage techniques. She prioritises eating perishables like strawberries and bananas first.
Eisha then stores other produce in airtight containers with a paper towel at the bottom to absorb excess moisture, a trick that significantly extends the life of fruits and veggies.
She even puts an extra piece of paper towel on top of moisture-sensitive items like cucumbers, which are changed weekly.
‘Moisture is not your friend when it comes to storing fruit and vegetables,’ she said.
‘If you have a particular item like cucumbers, these will go bad a lot faster when they're exposed to moisture. So I always add an addition piece of paper towel on the top.’
Eisha highly recommends this trick for preserving beetroot, tomatoes, capsicum, onions, berries, and other produce.
Meanwhile, Eisha submerges carrots and celery in water within sealed containers to prevent dehydration, and melons aren't chopped until they're ready to eat, locking in freshness.
Additional fruits and vegetables are stored without packaging in the refrigerator's crisper drawer.
As savvy shoppers continue to share their strategies for stretching grocery budgets, the story of an Australian ALDI mum's budget-saving meals has garnered attention.
Her resourcefulness in preparing affordable yet nutritious dishes has inspired many families to rethink their approach to meal planning and grocery shopping.
This tale of culinary ingenuity resonates with others seeking ways to trim expenses without sacrificing quality or flavour.
In a similar vein, another mum's success in slashing $100 off her weekly grocery bill, thanks to ALDI, further underscores the supermarket's reputation for offering value and quality.
Together, these narratives offer insight and inspiration for those looking to make the most of their food budgets without compromising on taste or variety.
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