Family budget meal plan
Make your food go further with seven days of family-focussed dishes that will keep your meals interesting, even on a budget.
Exclusively developed by chef, mum of three and @5oclockapron meal planning expert Claire Thomson, this budget family meal plan brings you seven days of family-focussed main meals. We’ve also included three crowd-pleasing puddings to spur on the more sceptical eaters.
All the recipes in this plan feeds a family of four, and have been designed so that if you're feeding a very young family, any leftovers can be eaten the following day. Considering the weekly dietary needs of you and your family, the recipes in this plan have been developed alongside a nutritionist. The balanced recipes meet protein requirements and many of them are high in fibre.
Our new meal plan hub has all our meal plans in one place.
About the plan
Many of us are having to think extra carefully about how to get the most out of our shopping and fuel budgets. Smart planning and cooking will help you make nutritious meals that taste great. We calculate a budget meal at a cost of approximately £1.50 per serving for ingredients used, however the price of many ingredients is constantly fluctuating. (You may have to spend a little more if you need to replenish staples such as a full bottle of cooking oil or a bag of flour or buy a pot of spices, but you will use these up over time and we will give you ideas for how to do this.) You may also have access to markets and local shops that offer savings. With energy costs in mind, we’ve favoured the more energy-efficient hob cooking method, alongside using a grill and/or toaster.
Budget family meal plan recipes
Monday: Tuna, spring onion & sweetcorn fritters
Tuesday: Sausage & broccoli pasta with cheese
Wednesday: Chickpea & courgette pilaf
Thursday: Turbo beans & cheese on toast
Friday: Coconut fish curry with rice
Saturday: Spiced chicken kebabs with chopped salad & flatbreads
Sunday: Stir-fried beef with ginger
Desserts:
Easy crêpes with seasonal fruit
Frozen banana lollies
Vanilla, apple & ginger biscuit fool
Shopping list
View the shopping list here (dessert ingredients not included)
For more budget recipe inspiration, money-saving tips and useful guides, take a look at our vegetarian budget meal plan and budget recipe hub. We'd love to hear how this meal plan goes for you and, if we were to repeat it, what you'd like to see more of, or done differently. Please use the comment box below to let us know, or tag us on social using #gfcooksmart.
Find out which supermarkets and types of food and drink have the fastest rising prices – see the free supermarket price tracker on Which.co.uk.
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