FEEDING the family has never been more expensive.
A new school term means packed lunches are back on the menu and, with supermarket prices soaring, it’s hard to keep costs down.
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But smart swaps can mean spending less . . .
POP IT IN: A packet of crisps could now be seen as a luxury item, with a tube of Pringles coming in at nearly £2 in some shops.
Instead, try a 500g bag of popping kernels, £1.30 at Sainsbury’s, and make popcorn. You only need about two tablespoons of kernels per portion.
BE FREEZER FRIENDLY: Busy school mornings can mean you run out of time to make lunch and grab something pricey on the way to school. Instead, make sandwiches in advance and freeze for the week — they will thaw by lunchtime. Did you know you can also freeze cake?
Skip costly chocolate bars and bake a loaf cake. When cooled, slice and freeze the pieces ready to use for the kids’ lunch. This works for homemade muffins, too.
SNEAKY SAVINGS: Many parents on social media complain their kids are way too savvy when Mum and Dad try to cut costs by downgrading from big brands. But it can work if you are sneaky.
Instead of buying multi-packs of mini raisin boxes, keep the old boxes and refill from large bags of sultanas. You can also refill Fruit Shoot bottles with squash and hopefully the children won’t notice the difference.
PORTION CONTROL: Stop half-eaten apples returning home by slicing into two portions for different days.
Up the veg content by slicing multi-coloured portions of cucumber, pepper and carrots into pots with a spoonful of houmous. The 69p pot from Lidl should go far.
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SKIP SARNIES: Lunch doesn’t have to mean sarnies. Cook up some pasta and add a few chopped cherry tomatoes and a sprinkle of cheese to create your own snack pot.
Or grab an eight-pack of Aldi tortillas, 89p, and cut in half before making up some wraps, to stretch the spend.
- All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
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