Mum of two shares hacks to make meals for as little as 65p per portion

A money-saving mum of two has revealed her savvy methods for dishing up family meals for just 65p per person.

Lauren Jessie Williams has shared how she can cook family favourites without splashing out on ingredients.

The 34-year-old from Essex loves to cook and makes mealtimes fun and budget-friendly for her two young children George, four years old and Paisley, two years old.

The mum of two proudly describes herself as a “bargain hunter” and has doubled down on her efforts to save money on her food bill with rising prices in the supermarket.

Lauren used a hamper from MuscleFood.com to help with her meals and found it to be a “game-changer” in helping her cut back on food costs.

Lauren who shares her food hacks on her Instagram page laurenjessiewilliams_was able to cook homemade chicken nuggets for the kids at just 65p per portion by using the MuscleFood hamper.

Other family favourites made from the hamper include mini burgers with homemade sweet potato fries for £1.57 a portion and chicken satay noodles at £1.93 a portion.

Lauren said: “Since I’ve become a Mum I love to cook and find tasty new recipes to make for my family.

“However, since prices have gone up in supermarkets I’ve had to be more mindful than usual of what I’m spending on food.

“I’ve always been a bargain hunter who questions the price of food, but since they’ve soared in the last year and a half I’ve had to be even more savvy in how I shop.

“My costs in the supermarket have gone up an extra £20 a week compared to last year and I’ve even had to cancel streaming subscriptions to help with the rise in everyday costs.

“Meat has been the main cause of the food bill raking up as the prices are becoming ridiculous. But the MuscleFood hamper has been a game-changer in allowing us to get enough meat without having to spend as much money.

“The kids and I loved making food out of the hamper, like mini burgers along with some homemade sweet potato fries which worked out to £1.57 each. They of course also enjoyed the treat of homemade chicken nuggets which only cost 65p a portion.

“It’s especially useful for a family like ours who has chicken at least four out of seven nights in the week – as we love our protein!”

To make the most of her meals throughout the week, Lauren uses her freezer to store pre-portioned meals to help with her family’s busy schedule.

Lauren continued: “With my husband working away and my youngest starting school, I’ve had to be mindful about the meals we have as a family so I’m not left rushing around at the last minute in the evening.

“I put most of my meats in the freezer on a Sunday night and take them out to defrost in the morning.

“It works great when we have a busy day out so everything is planned and ready to make quickly when we get home.”

Lauren is passionate about reducing food waste and always makes sure the dishes at the table are meals that the family will enjoy.

She explained: “I cannot stand food waste. It’s not only a waste of money, but it’s incredibly bad for the environment.

“We used to struggle to find meals we all liked, especially with the kids. But now I try a new recipe myself, offer the children a spoonful and if they like it, then I add it to the list of meals we can have together.

“This is just one of the food hacks I’ve shared on Instagram over the last five years. Now more than ever it’s important we share tips and help each other cut back and save money.”

Here are Lauren’s three top tips for families looking to save on their weekly food costs:

Buy chicken in bulk – Separate the meat into freezer bags and defrost them in the morning so they’re ready to be used in the evening.

Use social media for recipe ideas – Social media sites are one of the best ways to get meal inspiration. Search for “family meal ideas” “healthy recipes” or “meal ideas for kids” and you’ll find tons of ideas.

Cook a big soup on the weekend – I’m a big soup lover – make a batch with loads of veg to get plenty of nutrients. Keep it in the fridge or freezer so there’s always a big, hearty option available for lunch.

Ashleigh Tosh, from MuscleFood.com, said: “Our mission is to help families to make affordable, delicious meals for everyone to enjoy.

“It’s fantastic to hear how the hamper has helped Lauren with her food costs to make tasty, delicious meals at a lower cost.”

To find out more about the ingredients Lauren used to save money on her food shop, please visit https://www.healthyshop.com/products/buy-one-hamper-get-two-hampers-for-1p