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Wales Online
Wales Online
Emma Gill & Corrie David

The 'centuries-old tip' families have forgotten that makes meals cheaper

As the cost-of-living pressures continue, shoppers are being reminded of an age-old trick to make their family meals go further for less. The centuries-old trick has been rehashed by a budget meal planner, reminding families of the 'quick and easy way' to cut back.

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 more recent posts, a reminder of an older trick, has gone down a storm with followers who eat meat.

The majority of the time meat is the most expensive part of a meal, so she has reminded her followers that bulking out their recipes can help them use less. Just like Yorkshire puddings and dumplings are used to fill people up, she says the same can be done with lentils, chickpeas, beans, barley and oats, the MEN reports.

Read more: Cut your utility bills by £303 with bathroom expert's four water saving tips

"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 [this] is a very quick and easy way to do it." Do you have any cost-cutting tips you can share? Let us know in the comments.

Followers of the budget-savvy author praised her recommendation, with many finding it not only helpful but tastier. One follower wrote: "I've just halved the amount of meat we have in things with mince and chicken and make it up with lentils and pulses. It definitely helps save money and its not hurting the waistline either."

Another added: "Bulked my spaghetti bol with peppers and mushrooms, I actually preferred it." Get our stories sent straight to your inbox with our free newsletters. Sign up here.

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