On a tight budget? Mum reveals budget-friendly menu idea to feed family of four for TWO weeks!
- Replies 8
A frugal mum recently explained how she manages to serve mostly vegan food, such as black beans, tofu, and lentil dahl, while still keeping their household food budget to just $2 per person per day.
This is how Betty, who lives close to the central business district of a major Australian city, managed to feed her family of four (herself, her husband, and her two children) on just $114 over two weeks.
The mum explained that she only placed one click-and-collect order from Coles and then went on to visit two nearby supermarkets, using a menu that was mostly made up of plant-based foods.
Sharing on the Facebook group Mums Who Budget & Save, Betty stated that her biggest struggle was trying to keep the food budget for her family as low as possible.
That's why she came up with this menu that doesn't break the bank.
'Healthy, fast, and realistic for working parents. 168 meals and 168 snacks for $114.45, $57.22 per week, $2.04 per person per day, and 34c per serve,' she said.
These are the dinner options on the menu. Credit: Facebook.
DINNERS
BREAKFASTS
These are the breakfast and lunch options on the menu. Credit: Facebook.
If you're looking to try Betty's budget-friendly menu for the next two weeks, better bring out some notepads and list down the ingredients below for your weekly shop!
WEEK ONE
FRESH PRODUCE & BAKERY WEEK 1
These are the snack options on the menu. Credit: Facebook.
Betty mentioned that you should have basic dried herbs and spices in your pantry, as well as a simple sandwich spread because these will not be included in the shopping list. Other things, like drinks and sauces, are also optional and will not be included in the list.
The frugal mum advises cutting out some of the more expensive items on the list, like lemon, LSA, zucchini, and coconut cream, for those people who are on a tighter budget.
You can also switch from more expensive whole-grain bread and pasta to cheaper white bread and from fresh kale to frozen spinach.
'This will bring it close to $100 for the fortnight but significantly compromise on health and nutrition,' she advised.
Dozens of parents who are looking to save on their next weekly shop thanked Betty for her heaven-sent menu, saying it was 'incredibly helpful'.
'Love this post! Vegan cooking is life-changing. It actually helps you become more creative and use more flavours/methods than you normally would with a meat and sides option,' wrote one user in the comments.
'What a wonderful way of demonstrating the available options!' added another.
'I love it! When protein, fats, and carbohydrates are properly balanced, it is very filling and nourishing,' said a third.
A fourth user also said, 'One of the most helpful posts I've seen; this will be useful for many people and a great way to encourage others to try vegan meals (even if it's just swapping 1-2 days a week).'
What are your thoughts, folks? Are you looking to try this budget-friendly menu as well? Let us know in the comments!
This is how Betty, who lives close to the central business district of a major Australian city, managed to feed her family of four (herself, her husband, and her two children) on just $114 over two weeks.
The mum explained that she only placed one click-and-collect order from Coles and then went on to visit two nearby supermarkets, using a menu that was mostly made up of plant-based foods.
Sharing on the Facebook group Mums Who Budget & Save, Betty stated that her biggest struggle was trying to keep the food budget for her family as low as possible.
That's why she came up with this menu that doesn't break the bank.
'Healthy, fast, and realistic for working parents. 168 meals and 168 snacks for $114.45, $57.22 per week, $2.04 per person per day, and 34c per serve,' she said.
These are the dinner options on the menu. Credit: Facebook.
DINNERS
- Pita chips & hommus, Lebanese chickpea salad
- Tofu steaks, potato wedges, & green beans
- Pearl barley 'risotto' with peas, kale & lemon
- Cuban black beans
- Cuban sleeping beans–that's what they are called after a night in the fridge
- Veg & pearl barley soup with wholemeal baguette. (Make x2 & freeze half)
- Textured vegetable protein (TVP) Bolognese & wholemeal pasta
- Red lentil dahl
- Fried rice
- Tofu cubes, mashed potato (make a double batch for pie), greens
- TVP & veg cottage pie
- Lazy noodles with either soy or satay sauce
- Main: Simple wholemeal sandwich
Side: Bean salad or leftover chickpea salad
Treat: Mini zucchini-choc-oat muffin - Main: Mexican rice salad
Side: Garlic bread
Treat: Mini zucchini-choc-oat muffin
BREAKFASTS
- Apple cinnamon oats & LSA (linseed, sunflower seed & almond mix) porridge
- Wheat biscuits with LSA & sliced banana
- Hummus with crackers &/or pita chips &/or carrot sticks
- Oranges with popcorn or extra mini muffins
- Rice cakes topped with peanut butter & banana
- Apple slices & peanut butter
- Homemade chips or wedges
- Toast or pita bread
- Banana coconut smoothie
- Orange juice icy poles
These are the breakfast and lunch options on the menu. Credit: Facebook.
If you're looking to try Betty's budget-friendly menu for the next two weeks, better bring out some notepads and list down the ingredients below for your weekly shop!
WEEK ONE
- Frozen peas - $2.20
- Frozen green beans- $2.20
- 2x tofu- $4.60
- 1kg hommus- $5
- Garlic bread twin pack- $1.90
- 5x 1L soy milk- $5.75
- 1 small can tomato paste- $0.90
- 1x can coconut cream- $1
- 3x can diced tomatoes- $1.80
- 3x cans black beans- $2.40
- 2x can 4-bean mix- $1.60
- Coles brand wheat biscuits- $4.15
- Microwave popcorn- $0.95
- Crackers- $0.95
- Peanut butter- $1.80
- Soy sauce or ketchup mains or stir fry sauce- $1.50
- Olive oil- $3
- Textured vegetable protein (TVP)- $4
- 1x can kidney beans- $0.80
- 1x can chickpeas- $0.80
- 1x can corn- $1
- Bag pearl barley- $1.35
- Bag red lentils- $2.30
- 2kg rice- $2.80
- Coles brand 2 min beef noodles- $2
- Wholemeal pasta- $1.65 2x choc cake mix- $1.50
- 900g oats- $1.65
- LSA (linseed, sunflower seed & almond mix)- $4
- 2x rice cakes- $2 (on special or $1.65 each usually)
- Margarine- $1.80
- Veg stock cubes- $1
FRESH PRODUCE & BAKERY WEEK 1
- Large wholemeal baguette- $1.65 Coles
- 3 loaves wholemeal bread- $5.70 Coles
- Packet large wholemeal pita bread- $1
- Bag of onions- $1 special Coles
- Bunch of kale- $2.50
- Large bag of wonky carrots- $1 Coles
- 1 celery- $2
- 3 large tomatoes- $2.20 ($4/kg)
- 4kg bag potatoes- $3
- head of garlic- $1 ($16/kg)
- 1 large avocado- $1.30(same price at Coles)
- Coriander bunch- $1.65 ($25/kg)
- 1 large zucchini- $2
- 1 large cucumber- $2
- 1 large lemon- $1.10 ($5/kg)
- 8 large bananas- $2.65 ($2.29/kg. Slightly cheaper at Coles)
- 3kg oranges- $4.90 (same price at Coles)
- 2kg apples or other cheap fruit- $4 (same price as ‘wonky produce’ at Coles)
- Cheapest leafy greens (e.g., half cabbage, a bundle of bok choy, even swap for frozen if required) I got 2 broccoli for $2 on clearance.
- 1kg bananas- $1.50 on sale
These are the snack options on the menu. Credit: Facebook.
Betty mentioned that you should have basic dried herbs and spices in your pantry, as well as a simple sandwich spread because these will not be included in the shopping list. Other things, like drinks and sauces, are also optional and will not be included in the list.
The frugal mum advises cutting out some of the more expensive items on the list, like lemon, LSA, zucchini, and coconut cream, for those people who are on a tighter budget.
You can also switch from more expensive whole-grain bread and pasta to cheaper white bread and from fresh kale to frozen spinach.
'This will bring it close to $100 for the fortnight but significantly compromise on health and nutrition,' she advised.
Dozens of parents who are looking to save on their next weekly shop thanked Betty for her heaven-sent menu, saying it was 'incredibly helpful'.
'Love this post! Vegan cooking is life-changing. It actually helps you become more creative and use more flavours/methods than you normally would with a meat and sides option,' wrote one user in the comments.
'What a wonderful way of demonstrating the available options!' added another.
'I love it! When protein, fats, and carbohydrates are properly balanced, it is very filling and nourishing,' said a third.
A fourth user also said, 'One of the most helpful posts I've seen; this will be useful for many people and a great way to encourage others to try vegan meals (even if it's just swapping 1-2 days a week).'
What are your thoughts, folks? Are you looking to try this budget-friendly menu as well? Let us know in the comments!
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