Amid the ongoing cost of living crisis, millions across the UK are striving to provide nutritious meals for their families while keeping expenses to a minimum.
Some may be reducing their weekly food budget to put money aside for a new house, vehicle or perhaps a getaway. Whatever the motivation, there are numerous strategies for feeding your household on a tighter budget, with many supermarkets offering own-label products at lower prices or maintaining exceptionally competitive rates overall.
Iceland and Food Warehouse are particularly recognised for excellent value, attracting shoppers with their extensive selection of frozen goods, budget-friendly items and overall convenience.
Iceland challenged me to feed my family of three on just £20 and document what meals I could prepare.
Following some careful planning, I visited my nearest Food Warehouse, determined to secure the best deals available for my household, which comprises myself, my fiancé and our two-year-old toddler, whose appetite can fluctuate dramatically from ravenous to virtually non-existent.
Abigail Nicholson bought £20 worth of food in Iceland Food Warehouse to feed her family
Upon entering the shop, I was instantly drawn to a promotion offering 10 products for merely £10. The selection encompassed everything from pizzas and battered fish to chicken dippers and sausages. For this bargain haul, I snagged two packets of Aunt Bessie’s Skin On Homestyle Chips – which shoppers reckon beat McDonald’s offerings – alongside Richmond thick pork sausages, a couple of packs of Pukka Pies’ chicken and vegetable variety, Birds Eye battered fish fillets, Birds Eye breaded cod fish cakes, some chicken dippers, and two Goodfellas pizzas.
My strategy was to sort out the bulk of my protein and accompaniments through this portion of the promotion, then construct meals around them. Another bargain I took advantage of was the three frozen vegetables for £5 deal, though I only grabbed two – carrots and broccoli – allowing me to allocate that spare pound somewhere else.
From the chilled section, I purchased a cheese blend of cheddar and mozzarella at £2.50, plus a three-pack of onions for a quid. In the ambient aisle, I picked up a substantial packet of tagliatelle for £1.25 and a bag of Uncle Ben’s long grain rice for £1.
With 50p remaining, I treated myself to a post-shop indulgence of a chocolate flapjack… absolutely gorgeous! There were plenty of additional promotions available to complete the task, including 10 fresh items for £10, the identical deal on store cupboard staples, and even £1 frozen ready meals featuring favourites like cottage pie, lasagne, and sweet and sour chicken. In total, I picked up 20 different products for just £20, slashing £13 off the usual cost of my shopping basket. For this challenge, I’ve given myself permission to dip into some kitchen basics like flour, spices, eggs and milk – and I reckon I can whip up five distinct meals from my haul, creating 24 portions altogether.
My dinner plans feature toad in the hole accompanied by chips and veg, homemade fish or chicken katsu curry served with rice and chips, a cheesy broccoli and chicken tagliatelle, pizza night, pie with chips and vegetables, and fishcakes paired with chips and greens.
The menu strikes a balance between straightforward, speedy suppers perfect for those solo parenting evenings, alongside wholesome dishes packed with plenty of vegetables.
Abigail will be cooking and documenting her dinners over the next week to see if they create six dinners with 24 portions. Shop the Iceland 10 for £10 easy dinners offer here.