As the cost of living continues to rise, many families are feeling the pinch. But one budget meal planner has shared a 'quick and easy' way to cut down on your costs.
Now shoppers are being reminded of the 'centuries old' tip on saving money. Lorna Cooper is an expert in affordable cooking and the brains behind the popular Facebook page Feed your family for about £20 a week.
One of her latest tips about meat has gone down particularly well with readers, reports the Manchester Evening News. With meat often being the most expensive part of a meal, she's been telling people how to bulk out their meals to use less of the stuff.
While many of us use Yorkshire puddings and dumplings to fill up, Lorna says we can use other ingredients to pad out meals. She suggests lentils, chickpeas, beans, barley and oats.
We often tell people to bulk out meat meals," she said in her post. "The reasons for this is that meat is often the most expensive aspect of the meal. Another is that we don't actually need the huge portions of meat that many of us enjoy and by reducing the portion we reduce the price.
"It isn't a new phenomena. Yorkshire puddings are used to fill up people so they eat less meat, same with dumplings and stuffing. Breadcrumbs are used in sausages, meat balls and meat loaf to reduce the meat content. Lentils, chickpeas, beans, barley and oats are used for the same reasons.
"It is a tip that has been used for centuries. If you don't want to do it we won't force you. But if you are meat eaters who want to reduce the cost of your weekly shop then is a very quick and easy way to do it."
Followers of savvy Lorna, who has also published books about budget cooking, praised the idea, with many saying they had given it a whirl. "Bulked my spaghetti Bolognese with peppers and mushrooms, I I actually preferred it," said one.
"I've just halved the amount of meat we have in things with mince and chicken and make it up up lentils and pulses," said another. "It definitely helps save money and its not hurting the waistline either."
One follower asked whether the family would notice a difference in taste from adding a tin of lentils to cottage pie or spaghetti Bolognese. While some said it made no difference, others offered their own tips.
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