Supersaver mum feeds a family of five for just £16.60 a WEEK – and here’s how you can make delicious meals for just 62p a portion
Bulk buying meat could be the solution to your budgeting woes
THE weekly family food shop can be a sizeable drain on your monthly budget - but savvy Lorna Cooper believes she's found the secret to feeding her household for just 62p per portion.
The shrewd mum doesn’t have to compromise on serving up family favourites including lasagne, delicious curry and warming stews.
By bulk buying her ingredients, Lorna is able to whip up the hearty meals on a budget of £16.60 for a family of five per week.
She spends £65 for a food box from online retailer , which lasts her family for six weeks.
To make the most out of her orders, she supplements the delivery with vegetables and store cupboard staples.
Lorna said: “I’ve always watched what I’ve spent when it comes to the grocery bill and over the years have learnt a lot of different ways to make meals stretch further.
“I’ve definitely learnt that bulk ordering wholesome and healthy ingredients instead of regular trips to the shop is a great way to prep ahead and make food last.”
These can also be purchased at bargain prices, as she makes the most of supermarket deals and is a regular at her local Sunday market, in Blocharin, Glasgow.
Thrifty Lorna avoids throwing away ingredients by re-using unwanted parts of meat and fish for stock.
Freezing leftover food also prevents wastage.
Lorna revealed: “Even I was surprised at how much I managed to produce out of the ingredients I had but with a few small additions and some clever planning, I came out with 32 meals.
“From 400g of pork mince, I cooked up three meals.
"Bearing in mind each meal feeds five, that’s 15 meals. After browning off the mince with onion and garlic, I added carrots, celery, peppers, fresh tomatoes and tinned tomatoes plus the usual seasonings.
“I then added 200g of lentils. The lentils made a massive difference to the quantity because of all the liquid and flavours they absorb.
“So out of that pot, I made two lasagne and a huge pasta bolognaise. I thought the lentils might take away from the meaty taste – they didn’t. The mix was delicious."
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As well as making her food stretch as far as possible, Lorna has come up with a handy tip to prevent sacrificing the taste of your food.
She added: “It’s all about bulking the meals up without losing the flavour or the meatiness of the dish.
“Vegetables are the obvious choice. Cauliflower, potatoes, carrots and celery are all perfect for bulking out a curry.
“By adding the extras, buying quality products and being creative with menus, you can certainly make meals stretch and without breaking the bank.”
, which promises families that they can feed their family for £20 a week.
This winter, the mum revealed how she HALVED her Christmas food bill.