/ck/ - Food & Cooking

https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/mum-saves-120-month-food-21441640

>Andrea, a beautician and sports therapist from Plymouth, decided 2020 was the year she would meal her meals - and cook them - in advance wherever possible.

>"I started doing these meals as my partner and I both work full time so it can be tricky eating healthy meals with limited time."

>And to get her started, she headed online for inspiration.

>"I used to just buy veg and chop and freeze to make things easier, but I started following loads of food pages on Instagram and Facebook and came across lots of different ideas.

>“I came across a page for batch cooking and I was inspired as a lot of people actually do it.”

>"I started making things like stew (without the potatoes and gravy, I add that once it’s defrosted), lasagne, spaghetti bolognese and pasta dishes, and I have also been cooking jacket potatoes and freezing them along with mash - this way I can come home and just reheat a nice meal that I have taken out in the morning to defrost."

>“When cooking, I started adding a lot more veg like grated courgettes, carrots and lentils to bulk up my meals," Andrea said.

>"Lentils are really good to bulk up meals as they absorb the taste of the food you're adding them to.

>“Also, when I’m cooking a meal I try to cook more than one to save on gas, so while my lasagne is cooking, I’ll add in some jacket potatoes to save on time and money.

>"I started shopping online instead of going in store to buy as I won’t be tempted to buy things I don’t need or want just because they are on offer.

>"I have saved about £30 a week and can feed all three of us for less than £30 a week on a food shop all because I have planned my meals and only buy the essentials."