For many, the cost of the food shop may be increasing but your pay check, not so much.
To keep costs down you may be cutting corners wherever you can to help see you and your family through each month.
As the average weekly food bill costs around £60, according to research by Nestlé Cereals, parents are looking for more value for their money.
As families are feeling the pinch, it seems parents are prioritising cost over nutrition when doing the weekly shop.
Home Economist Rob Morris says you can plan affordable meals without compromising on nutrition starting with the most important meal of the day - breakfast.
Home economist Rob Morris reveals his secrets to a nutritious food shop, whatever the budget.
1. Cheap and easy ways to offer variety - not everyone in the family wants to eat the same thing, but it can be expensive and time consuming to keep everyone happy. Breakfast is a great time to be able to give the kids choice because you can have two or three types of cereal in the cupboard and let them choose themselves. Nestlé Cereals with the green banner are a great option because you know whichever one they have it’s going to be made with whole grain and be a source of at least five vitamins and minerals
2. Become a late-night shopper – you can pick up some real bargains after 7 or 8pm when most supermarkets reduce food that’s nearing its sell by date, so it’s a great opportunity to stock up on food which you can freeze and use at a later date. Just make sure you don’t shop on an empty stomach - if you’re hungry you’ll be more tempted to buy things you wouldn’t normally!
3. Think ‘price per portion’ – Nestlé Cereals are a great option for breakfast or even snacks in between meals at a cost of just 24p per bowl including the milk. You can even encourage your kids to get creative and create their own flavours by mixing up the varieties
4. Plan ahead and write a list – planning meals for the week ahead, checking what you already have and writing a list of what you need will ensure you only buy the ingredients you need and prevent overspending or having run out to more expensive convenience shops when you’ve run out at the last minute
5. Start a recipe scrapbook – tear out and keep recipes to make at home. Simple recipes from your favourite weekly mag are a great way to save yourself a fortune in pre-made food and will help build your kitchen confidence so you can start to learn how to make a delicious and nutritious meal, however bare your cupboards look
Rob Morris said: “I speak to parents all the time and money is one of their top concerns. We all want to provide a nutritious meal for our family, but many people think healthy food has to be expensive. It doesn’t need to be that way though. If you can shop smarter you can make sure that every meal is packed with the nutrients the whole family needs without breaking the bank. Choosing the right breakfast is an important place to start. Although there are some cheap and quick options available, not all of them provide the nutrition you need so it’s important to look for one that contains whole grain and fortified with essential vitamins and minerals.”