Quick, Healthy, and Budget-Friendly Meal Ideas for Busy Family of 5

[prairierose]

Help!!
I seem to have fallen down a rabbit hole in terms of making meals!
I get home from work at around 5pm, and then have to cook for 5 (3 adults & 2 teenagers). I get I am not the only one, so looking for some advice/suggestions for quick meals that are both as healthy as possible and as cheap as possible.
Having to think about what to cook everyday is the Bain of my life. I have tried meal plans so everyone can participate, but then I find we don’t particularly want what’s ‘set’.
My teens also have after school clubs, and play/ have training for football and rugby, sometimes I literally have to pick up and go so it’s 7:30 sometimes before I get chance to prepare a meal, by which time I can’t be bothered, and we end up with takeaway, which isn’t cheap.
Just looking for some ideas from like minded people/people in same situation!
Just for context, hubby works an afternoon shift & eldest son is at work until 6pm, so they can’t really help with meal times much, and teenagers seem to have so much homework they can’t really afford time either (older one Y10, younger Y7).
Any advice welcomed!

 

[kevonfor]

I get some good ideas off reals and life hacks, also BBC good food xx

 

[niguellox]

We batch cook on a 4 week plan. I basically cook and freeze everything in advance or prepare and freeze dump bags for the slow cooker. We have it set so we know where we are but sometimes swap something if I dont fancy it that week. Cheaper and takes about 3 hours once every 4 weeks to cook everything to put in freezer.

 

[bumbandit]

Maybe slow cooker meals. Chilli curry stews/casserole fajitas pie fillings
Put it in the morning ready for tea time and you can always leave it in to keep warm if your eating at different time. Or maybe when your off work meal prep a couple of meals for later evenings

 

[ilyich]

I use my slow cooker loads for, chilli, curries, stews, soups, sweet and sour the lot, put it in and on in the morning and it's ready when you come home. X

 

[libra925]

I got an airfryer its a game changer as I no longer have to stand by the hob cooking I can chuck in and leave x

 

[truthseeker2]

@libra925 my daughters gave me one for Xmas and I live it for that reason too.

 

[libra925]

@truthseeker2 it's fab I love it . That was my most hated part just standing over the stove

 

[truthseeker2]

I absolutely agree.! I use it most nights, chuck in and walk away haha

 

[donaldwickham]

Meals can be made in the morning and reheated when necessary if hubby fancies cooking!!

 

[getsickk]

Feel your pain! The worst part of being an adult is thinking what’s for tea every night!
Could you possibly on a day off or at a weeken plan your week ahead then batch cook so it’s just a case of getting something out the freezer that you can heat up.
Soups
Stews
Currys
Chilli
Lasagne
Bolognaise
Pastas
Even mashed potatoes and jackets.
Would save you a lot of prep time after work.x

 

[berner27]

Slow cooker is your new best friend. Dump all raw ingredients into in the morning and get home and it's straight to plate. Buy "bored of lunch - slow cooker" recipe book. It's a game changer

 

[broox]

What about some sort of pasta bake, lasagne, cottage pie that can be prepared in advance & then just bung in the oven when you get home? Could your husband sometimes prep in the morning for you to put in the oven? Have you got a slow cooker? X

 

[hideaway70]

Slow cooker. I'm working full time. Sometimes 12.00-20.00, sometimes 14.00-22.30 and some days 4am- 1 pm. When I'm working we have slow cooker meal. I just add everything in, set low and when my husband comes home with our son, dinner is ready. We using air fryer often - sausages, chicken wings, chicken drumsticks, fish etc etc

 

[marrahgrace]

Spaghetti bolognaise is 30m cook, you can add fresh or blended veg 2. I started adding mushrooms took mine a month 2 notice lol. Its getting warmer now so u could get away with salads and chicken wraps. Mine like xhicken n broccoli wraps with rice of fries (I prefer sweet potato ) xx home made pasta bakes 2 filling and easynxx

 

[elishadaniel]

If you have a slow cooker prepare meal night before then put slow cooker on before going to work all cooked when you get in I do stewing beef put carrots onions mushrooms peppers in it slice potatoes up put everything in meal done that’s one night taken care of. Spaghetti bol prepare night before put on when get home to warm through

 

[wifekd]

Do you cook Sunday dinner? I make sure there’s enough for left overs for either Monday or Tuesday so that’s one less meal to have to think about. Pasta is always a good one it’s easy and not expensive to buy. Sainsbury’s and Morrisons have it on offer sometimes ( the tortellini and fresh sauce, usually tomato and mascarpone) it takes 3 minutes in boiling water and then just add the sauce. My kids love it. We have a chest freezer and I often put things in plastic takeaway containers ( that I’ve saved over the years) like bolognaise them that way you can defrost it and either have it with spaghetti or a jacket spud,which could be cooking while you go to pick the kids up from their after school activities.
It’s so hard juggling, work, shopping, kids and life in general. X

 

[libbi]

Air fryer. Everything takes 10 minutes get the double ninja one.

 

[dundermifflinfarmer]

Could hubby prepare in a morning so just need to heat up or could he bung stuff in a slow cooker so it's ready for when you get back.
Batch cooking or making extra portions when you cook and then freeze so on those late nights just need to heat up (if you remember to take out of freezer in morning).
If kids have school dinners then a quick snack tea a few times a week is OK (sandwiches, something on toast, soup, toasted sandwich)

 

[vanesyu]

Take in turns with husband. On his day he can chuck whatever he fancies in slowcooker and its ready at teatime. Get some decent cook books for ideas. Bored of lunch... slowcooker is mentioned above.
Or note down ideas from Insta xx