A frugal meal plan and a bit of batch cooking

This week I went to Aldi for my groceries. Lidl is closer to me, but Archie the fussy cockerpoo likes the Aldi dog food, so every now and again I switch it up to make sure we have some. Actually, as I said in this post, I prefer Aldi, but Lidl is more convenient currently.

As ever, before I wrote down my meal plan, I did a quick stock check of the larder cupboard, the fridge and the freezer to see what we already had that I could use in this week’s meals. I then made a shopping list based on that, along with my running shopping list from the blackboard in the kitchen, which we write on when something is running low, such as washing up liquid, tinned tomatoes, herbs, etc.

I had a think about what was happening this week. For example, we are eating with friends on Friday, so I don’t need to plan dinner that night.

I filmed my Aldi haul for my YouTube channel, so please pop by and have a look if you are interested in that type of video. It would be great if you would subscribe! I am trying to produce two videos showing how I live frugally each week.

Anyway, here is this week’s frugal meal plan and my batch cooking plans too.

Sunday

Chicken and mushroom casserole. I bought two packs of chicken thighs so that I could do a bit of batch cooking for the freezer so I will make a job lot. We will have broccoli, carrots and mashed potato with this.

Monday

Mushroom omelette with home made chips and sweetcorn. I make these in my air fryer and I always enjoy them cooked this way.

Tuesday

Chick pea curry and rice, with added mushrooms. I bought a huge pack as they were reduced, so I will add a few to this dish, and maybe finish them up in the beef stew tomorrow.

Wednesday

Slow cooker beef stew with mushrooms. Again, I bought a large pack of stewing beef with the idea of doing some batch cooking, so I will make some for tonight, some for the freezer and save a portion for tomorrow evening, when it is just me eating. Creamy mustard mash and peas with this.

Thursday

As it is just me for dinner tonight, a portion of leftover beef stew will go down a treat.

Friday

Eating out tonight – hurrah!

Saturday

More batch cooking! This time I will double up and we will have the same tomorrow, but there should still be a portion or two for the freezer. I am making bangers braised in cider from  Delia’s Frugal Food*. This is quite an old book, but still a good one! You can pick it up second hand on Amazon and elsewhere.

For this kind of meal, you can get away with cheapish sausages. I bought the Aldi Butcher’s Select pork sausages, which are £1.29 for a pack of eight. Having said that, I would rather go without sausages than buy the ones that are so cheap they are mushy in the middle!

Other meals

Lunches will be leftovers, sardines or eggs on toast, cheese and bacon toasties or maybe sandwiches. Breakfasts are usually porridge or Greek yogurt with berries from the freezer, although we will sometimes have toast with Marmite or marmalade.

I also built in snacks this week – I always swear I won’t snack, but I invariably do! If I buy my snacks with my main shop, there is less temptation to go and spend a lot more on a whim in our local convenience stores when I get a burning desire for chocolate!

What are you eating this week and do you like to do batch cooking? Are you trying to keep your grocery bill as low as possible whilst still eating healthy food? Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to come join my Facebook group, My Second Hand & Frugal Life, if you like to chat with other like-minded frugalistas.

I am joining in with Katy Kicker’s meal planning linky. Check out her meal plan this week too. You can see more of my favourite food ideas and recipes here.