It's no secret it can be hard work keeping the kids entertained during term times, but what may be even harder is finding affordable meals that all the family can enjoy. And with soaring inflation putting a squeeze on households across the country, many parents will be looking for ways to cut down on costs.
Thankfully, several supermarkets, cafes and restaurants have launched a number of money-saving initiatives this October half term to ensure children can eat out at affordable prices. Better still, some are offering kids meals completely free.
Some of the biggest supermarkets in the UK have launched 'Kids Eat For Free' deals - including the likes of ASDA, Morrisons and, most recently, Marks and Spencer, which brought back its popular deal across its cafes in time for half term.
READ MORE: You could cut your heating bills by £112 with this simple combi boiler trick shared by Martin Lewis
To save you trawling through the internet, we've compiled a list of all the places offering 'kids eat for free' (or for cheap) deals that parents can make use of this October half term.
Marks and Spencer:
Marks and Spencer's deal sees kids get a free main, snack and drink, worth £3.95, when an adult spends £5 in an M&S cafe, as reported by the Mirror.
They’re also entitled to a free piece of fruit with any cafe transaction. The free food is from the Kids’ Munch Menu. Hot mains include pancakes, jacket potato, pizza, cheese and tomato pasta and toasties.
M&S customers will find the deal in over 340 of the posh supermarket's cafes. “Kids eat for free” will run from October 17 until October 28.
ASDA:
The supermarket's Kids Eat for £1 initiative is available all day, every day until the end of the year, as long as the café is open. Dependent on the store, a hot meal or cold meal, or both, will be on offer for children aged 16 and under.
No minimum adult spend is required. Baby food is also available as part of the initiative, with little ones able to enjoy a free 70g pouch of Ella’s Kitchen baby food in their local Asda Café.
Tesco:
Parents can spend as little as 60p (on a piece of fresh fruit) to claim one free child’s meal worth up to £3.25 when showing their Clubcard at checkout. The scheme will run on weekdays from October 17-28 in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It will be available in 311 cafes across the UK.
Morrisons:
The Kids Eat For Free offer only applies when you purchase an adult meal with a value of £4.99 or over. Extra portions or trade ups are not included in the £4.99 minimum value. The offer excludes all Café specials and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer except Teatime Meal Deal. The kids meal includes piece of fruit and a Tropicana Kids Orange or Apple drink or a bottle of water.
The child must be under 16 years of age and present at the time of purchase. The free meal must be a kids meal purchased from the customer Café kids menu or chilled kids snack pack.
Pizza Hut:
O2 customers only – from 3-31 October, kids can eat free at Pizza Hut. Valid for children aged 12 and under. No adult meal purchase necessary. Find more information on the O2 priority app.
Harvester:
O2 customers only – Kids eat free every Sunday at Harvester. Valid for up to four adults and four children on dine-in visits only. The offer is suitable for children 10 years and under and runs from 11 September 2022 to 23 October and then 30 October to 27 November 2022. Check the O2 priority app for more details.
Bills:
From Monday October 24 - Friday October 28, diners at Bill’s can feed the family for less with the return of Kids Eat Free. During the week of half term, up to two children can eat a meal for free all day, if one adult orders any main dish (breakfast, lunch or dinner).
YO! Sushi:
With October half-term approaching, YO! is offering kids a free meal with any £10 spend. Running from Monday 17 – Friday 28 October, simply pick a delicious bento box for your kiddo and enjoy.
Pausa Cafes at Dunelm:
Children can currently get one mini main, two snacks and a drink free with every £4 adult spend at Dunelm's Pausa Cafes. Available Monday to Friday after 3pm.
Whitbread Inns:
Two kids under 16 can eat free when adults purchase one £9.50 breakfast at any Whitbread Inns pub or restaurant.
Preto:
Kids eat free all day, every day with paying adults at Preto during half term. The offer is open to children up to 10 years old.
Table Table:
Two children aged under 16 can get a free breakfast every day when accompanied with one paying adult.
Beefeater:
Two children can get free breakfast when accompanied with one paying adult. Money Saving Central also suggested that those who sign up to the Beefeater newsletter can get a code for kids to eat for free.
Brewers Fayre:
Brewers Fayre is running a deal where two children can get free breakfast with one paying adult.
Angus Steakhouse:
Kids aged under 10 can eat free from the children's menu when adults order main meals from the main menu. The offer is available every day from 12pm until 5pm.
Hungry Horse:
Children can eat breakfast free when accompanied by a paying adult, every day during the school holidays from 9am until 12pm.
Bella Italia:
Kids eat for £1 with the purchase of every adult main course from 9 May 2022. Available between 4-6pm Monday to Thursday.
Sizzling Pubs:
A kids main meal costs £1 with the purchase of an adult meal every Monday to Friday between 3pm and 7pm.
READ NEXT:
- Martin Lewis calls on 'somebody to get a grip on the economy' during National Television Awards win
- Close to 70 percent of 18-34-year-olds forced to borrow money for fuel
- TikTok user who lived without heating for four years shares bizarre brick trick to help keep warm
- Netflix confirms new £4.99 package with adverts will launch next month
- Royal British Legion announces new grants to help pay energy bills
