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

[sebastianw]

@maybrick same!

 

[revertinganglican]

We have taken a liking to aldis southern fried chicken goujons in a wrap with salad and onion rings. Healthy ish and dead easy just chuckin stuff in the oven

 

[amale]

One night a week is a crazy night for us so we ALWAYS have bagels that night. I just buy a load of bagels and a few things to go with, then everyone can have their choice of how many bagels and whatever they want on it. Not the best in terms of variety, but it solves a 'hot meal' problem for one of the nights in the week.

 

[perceptions]

We use slow cooker a lot for this. And also if we make something like shepherds pic (or lasagna etc) we make two and freeze one so it just needs to be chucked in the oven.

 

[bmscott85]

I’m with you there, so over cooking dinner!

 

[brakelite]

Could hubby make one meal a week by making a casserole in the mornings. Slow cooker meals in large quantities so it can do 2 meals.
Meal plan and sorry tough if then don’t want it.

 

[whydontwe]

I do a meal plan on a Sunday night for the week ahead. Make my shopping list. I save a fortune. My breakfasts, lunch, dinner, fruit and snacks for 2 come in at under £50 a week.

 

[xxsunlight]

Hubby could prepare in the morning before he starts and leave in the oven on timer for later?
Beef stew
Chicken casserole
Chilli
Chicken and bacon pie
Meatballs
Are just some.of what inprep and leave in

 

[sebastianw]

We have a 4 week rotation meal plan. Includes one takeaway night a month and once where we cook two meals on one night (one for 3 people and a different one for the other 3 people) but the rest of the time its the same meal for all 6 of us. It's worked well here and we use the slow cooker or batch cook so that the nights both adults have been at work there's something easier, otherwise whoever gets home first makes a start. I usually cook a bolognese or pie or whatever on Sunday for the Monday while the Sunday roast is cooking. Oh, will add that the meal plan is only weekdays, Sunday is nearly always a roast and Saturday night is by request - carbonara tomorrow

 

[mblayton]

Thermomix is your friend. I know yes they are crazy expensive but you can get finance for £20/month
I must admit I absolutely love cooking and I do batch cooking on sundays and don’t mind cooking during week but I am now having a horrible and painfuk pregnancy where my back and PGP is killing me and I was really struggling with cooking as after work I just wanted tk go to bed.
I had already had a thermomix and was a lofe saving but I sold it when moved to uk 5 years ago
My MIL just got me one for my birthday as we are having baby in 3 days and I am calling her each single day to thank her for it.
Today for example I had some chicken thight I would have done with honey and soja and rice (pan, pot and wok used) well I’ve just looked for some recipes and ended up doing almond chicken only using thermomix.
The fuss you avoid is massive, the tranquiloty that if you don’t fee well anyone can follow instructions from the machine…
I rarely follow recipes 100% but vary veggies or type of pasta etc etc
But really it is a life saver

 

[mblayton]

Burritos

 

[mblayton]

Creamy mushroom pasta

 

[mblayton]

Brocoli and stilton

 

[mblayton]

Chicken caneloni

 

[mblayton]

Tortellini sausage soup

 

[mblayton]

Chicken and spinach lasagna

 

[mblayton]

As they mentioned slow cooker is alsa very helpful. I make a pulled pork and use for different recipes at least 3 different dinners.

 

[j185]

Slow cooker - casserole, stew, jacket potatoes . Air fryers also reduce cooking time.
Bay Orzo with asparagus and garlic bread is a quick and easy one for the oven. There are loads of oven baked orzo recipes online.

 

[jakob2009]

You could batch cook bolognese/curry’s/fish/chicken etc and freeze in portion type bags and take out the night before or in the morning .
Only gave to make something to go with it like rice/pasta.
Or consider slow cooker meal options x

 

[nagra]

Slow cooker has been my saviour. Working tomorrow won't be in until 5pm. Leaving at 9am. Chicken Korma and pilau rice for dinner. I'll make the rice before I leave in the morning, then bung the chicken thighs and sauces in the slow cooker. Tea towel in the lid to absorb the condensation. Sunday we're at rugby. Roast gammon..in the slow cooker, will boil the spuds, and bung them in the air fryer when we get back. There's a @zekegb group..so many ideas. Right down to pasta. Hope this helps