feeding the kids during the school holidays

[NickInTheNorth]

I don't know about everyone else, but the thing I always find hardest about the school holidays is keeping the tribe fed with decent nutritious meals without destroying the budget. So I thought this time I would plan ahead and decide what we would eat for a few weeks and then repeat that.

Being an idle devil and not believing in re-inventing the wheel each time it's needed I thought I would see what the internet could offer and found this :

http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/266969/Credit-crunch-weekly-meal-planner

It gives three weeks of main meal recipes,shopping lists to make them and full nutrition information. I'm sure that I will finish up "tweaking" the recipes as I always do, but 7 main meals for under £40 based on a family of 4 is pretty good I think. So that's my meal planning sorted for at least the next 6 weeks :)

Anyone any other suggestions...

[Phill]

I was planning feeding the kids to the dog, save a few bob.

[Tilly Teckel]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Family-Healthy-Balanced-Little-Kitchen/dp/1905862156/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1309281254&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Family-Healthy-Balanced-Little-Kitchen/dp/1905862156/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1309281254&sr=8-1)

This is a really good book which also has weekly menu plans for around the same cost. It's full of down-to-earth advice on nutritious meals which are easy to prepare and don't use lots of fancy kitchen gadgets, or even lots of pans, so they save on the washing-up! I use my copy regularly :)

[lindsaymcc]

I did exactly the same the other night Nick! Got 2 weeks worth written down, and also came across that site!

Its going to be a long 7 weeks, and expensive on the food front, but the odd pizza night or hot dog night wont hurt!

[ShelleyCowie]

Thanks for that! Comes in handy! Sadly feeding these 5 gannets plus myself doesnt come cheap no matter how much i plan! So i would need to double most of that on the shopping list. Such as sausages and chicken breasts! But we do run out of meal ideas easily so its good to find something for a change!

[NickInTheNorth]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Family-Healthy-Balanced-Little-Kitchen/dp/1905862156/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1309281254&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Family-Healthy-Balanced-Little-Kitchen/dp/1905862156/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1309281254&sr=8-1)

This is a really good book which also has weekly menu plans for around the same cost. It's full of down-to-earth advice on nutritious meals which are easy to prepare and don't use lots of fancy kitchen gadgets, or even lots of pans, so they save on the washing-up! I use my copy regularly :)

Looks good, so I've ordered it from Amazon :)

[Walter Ego]

I remember that during the school holidays my mum would leave me in the house with a sandwich and say "Whatever you do, make sure you never open the cellar door".

I did as I was told for a long time but curiosity finally got the better of me....


..I opened the cellar door...



...it was wonderful, there were trees..and people...I could see the sun......

[kittycat]

Are you supposed to feed them?

[ShelleyCowie]

Are you supposed to feed them?

Apparently! :o/ lol

[gollach]

Surely it's cheaper to feed them at home than give them all money to get lunch at the chinese/chipper/Tesco?

If cash is tight this summer, why not let them have a long lie so it's lunchtime when they get up - saves you buying stuff for their breakfast. :D

[lindsaymcc]

Thanks for that link Tilly - I too have just ordered it! Nothing better than new inspiration for budget family meals.

[Tilly Teckel]

No bother! It's a fab book, even a novice housewifie such as myself could make all the recipes in it :lol: