A thrifty mum says she can make recipes that feed a family, for as little as 22p per person.
Grace Mortimer is sharing recipes online to help families with the cost of living crisis and claims she can feed her own for just £10 per week.
The 29-year-old cook and author, from Gloucester, shares different recipes, ingredients and the cost over on her Instagram (@_MyFirstMeals) – in the hope it will help others.
This idea first came to her earlier this year, as she worried about how rising costs would affect her family.
She explains: ‘I’m very worried about the cost of living crisis for my own family, it’s terrifying.
‘Thankfully, we can heat our home and eat but I know many people are having to make a choice between the two. That’s just awful.
‘It’s very depressing, and isn’t getting any better as it gets colder. I just want to help people who are on a really tight budget.
‘I love cooking so it felt like a good way to help. People just can’t believe how much food you can make for just £10.’
Originally, Grace and her partner Tom, used to budget £50 a week to feed themselves and their six-year-old son.
But the mum has since realised she can make breakfast, lunch and dinner for a week for a lot less.
Her meals contain a small number of ingredients and are simple to cook.
She posts five meals a week which feed a family of four, with leftovers for lunch to get them through the working/school week. For example, from September 27 to October 1, she posted five meals – which come to a total of just £8.89.
These were a Bolognese Bake (£2.57), Cajun Rice (£1.69), Veggie Pie (£1.75), Chilli Con Carne (£1.66) and Veggie Pizzas (£1.22).
Grace adds that prices are all based on Aldi – because other supermarket basic ranges are all price-matched with the store.
She said: ‘£10 is the lowest limit I think, or you start having to cut out important food groups like protein, or eating less, neither of which is a good idea,.
‘I just wanted to encourage people on the lowest budgets.
‘And it’s simple, not too wordy and few steps, so people can do it and don’t worry about making mistakes and wasting ingredients.’
The mum first started her Instagram to share meal ideas for babies and toddlers in April 2020, when she realised parents would be missing out on groups to meet and share information because of lockdown.
But it’s since evolved to help those on a strict budget.
An example of one of her recipe’s is below.
Bolognese Bake (Eight portions)
Ingredients – from Aldi
- Half a packet of celery 14p
- Tin of chopped tomatoes 28p
- 500g packet of pasta 65p
- Half a packet of mince (250g) 90p
- 100g of grated cheese 60p
Total cost = £2.57 (makes 8 portions at 32p per head)
Method
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