meals

Budget Meals for Five Hungry Kids (And One Mom Who’s Had Enough of Fussiness)

There comes a point in motherhood when you realise you’re not running a restaurant. I’ve reached that point. In this house, it’s “eat what I make or go pissing hungry.” End of.

And honestly? I don’t even feel bad about it. This mama ain’t sorry.

The kids are old enough now that I don’t have to puree, mash, or cut anything into “fun shapes” just to trick them into eating. We’re past the baby food years, hallelujah! Now it’s one meal, one pan, one slightly frazzled cook (hi, that’s me).

The only exception? My son who has coeliac disease. Gluten-free pasta is pricier, so he gets his own portion from his special bag while the rest of us smash through the 20p–50p stuff. Does it stop me cooking pasta three nights a week? Absolutely not. Pasta is life. Pasta is survival.

The 7-Day Budget Meal Plan (AKA Feeding 5 Kids Without Selling a Kidney)

Day 1 – Big Batch Bolognese

• 500g mince (or swap half for red lentils to stretch it).

• Tin of chopped tomatoes, onion, garlic, stock cube, grated carrot/courgette if you’re sneaky.

• Serve over pasta tonight, then save half for tomorrow.

Day 2 – Lentil Chilli With Rice

• Use the leftover Bolognese, add a tin of kidney beans, some chilli powder, cumin, and extra tinned tomatoes.

• Or go fully meat-free: cook red lentils in stock with the same spices, beans, and chopped peppers.

• Serve with rice and call it “Mexican night.” The kids don’t need to know Mexico had nothing to do with it.

Day 3 – Jacket Potato Buffet

• Big bag of spuds (cheap as chips… literally).

• Oven bake until fluffy, then lay out toppings: baked beans, tuna mayo, cheese, maybe leftover chilli if you’re on a roll.

• Let the kids build their own — less moaning, less work.

Day 4 – Curry & Homemade Naans

Naan recipe (budget queen edition):

• 200g plain flour

• 200g yoghurt (Greek or plain)

• 1 tsp baking powder

• Pinch of salt

Mix, knead for a minute, divide into balls, flatten, then fry in a dry pan for 2–3 minutes each side. Done.

For the curry: chickpeas or chicken thighs simmered in a tin of tomatoes, curry powder, onion, and garlic. Serve with rice and your proud, smug mom smile.

Day 5 – DIY Pizza Night

• Bases: pitta breads, wraps, or homemade dough if you’ve got energy. (Pizza dough mix Asda 92p)

• Sauce: tomato purée mixed with a bit of water and herbs.

• Toppings: whatever’s lurking in the fridge.

• Bake for 10 minutes. Kids think it’s fun, you secretly know it’s budget magic.

Day 6 – Big Veggie Soup & Bread

• Any veg that’s looking sad + stock cubes + lentils for bulk.

• Simmer, then blend if you want to hide the evidence.

• Serve with homemade naans or crusty bread. Call it “rustic” and feel like Nigella on 50p.

Day 7 – Cheesy Pasta Bake

• Cook pasta, mix with a quick cheese sauce (butter, flour, milk, cheese).

• Chuck in peas, sweetcorn, or broccoli if you’re feeling wholesome.

• Top with more cheese, bake until golden, and serve with garlic bread (budget hack: buttered bread sprinkled with garlic granules, shoved under the grill).

Snacks (Because Apparently They’re Starving Every Hour)

• Popcorn – 30p for a panful vs £2.50 for a bag.

• Flapjacks – oats, golden syrup, whatever add-ins you’ve got.

• Bananas – cheap, filling, portable. Also throwable when siblings fight.

• Carrot & cucumber sticks – make you feel like you’ve got it all together.

Final Mom Truth

Feeding five kids on a budget isn’t glamorous. It’s loud, messy, and usually someone sulks. But with a bit of pasta, rice, potatoes, and some flour magic, you can keep everyone fed without crying at the checkout.

And if they don’t eat it? You know the rule: “Eat what I make or go pissing hungry.”