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Budget-Friendly Meal Prep Strategy for a Work Week
In an effort to manage expenses and save money, one individual successfully prepared a week’s worth of work lunches for just £3.72. Meal prepping is an effective method for budget-conscious individuals seeking to reduce their weekly food costs and it can be achieved without significant time investment. The rising cost of living has motivated many to seek economical food solutions, and preparing meals in advance can significantly decrease spending compared to daily purchases of lunches. The cumulative cost of buying lunch, even seemingly affordable supermarket meal deals, can negatively impact personal finances over time.
Achieving Affordable Meal Prep
Driven by the goal of minimizing meal prep expenses, a recent effort focused on creating budget meals to mitigate the impact of the current cost-of-living increases. The aim was to prepare a week’s worth of lunches at the lowest possible cost and meticulously track the total expenditure. The final calculation revealed that five complete meals were prepared for a total of £3.72, a result described as both surprising and highly satisfactory. This equates to an average cost of just 74p per meal, highlighting the potential for substantial savings through careful meal planning.
Weekly Meal Breakdown
The meal prep consisted of three portions of pasta and two sandwich meals, with side salads accompanying the sandwiches to enhance the nutritional value and satiety of those lunches.
Pasta Meal Prep Details
Pasta Ingredients and Costs:
- 170g Penne pasta (from a 500g bag) – 23p
- 1 tin plum tomatoes – 47p
- 1 white onion – 36p
- 160g frozen vegetables – 20p
Total cost for pasta: £1.26
Pasta Preparation Method:
The pasta sauce was prepared by frying diced onions for approximately five minutes, followed by the addition of frozen vegetables and then plum tomatoes shortly after. Seasoning, including salt, pepper, and chili powder, was added to enhance flavour, though these are optional additions depending on personal preference. Simultaneously, penne pasta was boiled for ten minutes. Once both the pasta and sauce were cooked, they were combined and divided into three equal portions for the week’s lunches.
Sandwich and Salad Meal Prep Details
Sandwich and Salad Ingredients and Costs (for two meals):
- 30ml soy sauce – 12p
- 100g couscous – 12p
- 1 tin sweetcorn – 85p
- 4 slices of bread (reduced section, frozen) – 2p
- 1 tin tuna – 80p
- 1 gem lettuce – 40p
- 80ml mayonnaise – 15p
Total cost for sandwiches and side salads: £2.55
Sandwich and Salad Preparation Method:
The couscous was prepared by adding boiling water to a bowl containing the couscous, ensuring the water just covered the surface, and then covering the bowl. After approximately five minutes of being covered, the couscous expands and becomes ready. The prepared couscous was then mixed with soy sauce and the remaining sweetcorn from the tin. The gem lettuce was divided between the two sandwiches and the two accompanying side salads.
Conclusion: Economical and Satisfying Meal Prep
In total, this meal prep strategy yielded five complete and satisfying lunch meals suitable for a work week. With each meal costing just 74p, the result was considered a highly successful and cost-effective approach to weekday lunches, demonstrating a significant saving compared to purchasing lunch daily.