Is it possible to feed a family of 4 for a week for #UnderR200 per day? Yes, yes it absolutely is! As the general cost of living increases, there really is no doubt that everyone is feeling the pinch. The trick is finding the right meals that will be soft on the budget and leave even the kiddos satisfied. When we set out to create a nutritious family meal plan for a week, we wanted to impress the whole family.
So here goes, our budget for the week, Monday to Sunday was R1 400, which gives us R200 a day to produce three balanced meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner. We took a look at what we already had in our pantry and we started from there. Below is a list of the items we bought for this meal plan. The total cost of the groceries was R1 315.18, which is #Under200 a day. We also took advantage of the weekly specials at Karaglen SuperSpar to make the best of our budget.
Don’t forget to check out the amazing recipes for each day.
Here’s what we bought:
- Oats – One Box
- Apples – One Bag
- Bananas – Roughly a Kg
- Carrots – One bag
- Potatoes – About 3 kg’s
- Onion – 1kg
- Butternut (whole) – 4
- Chicken – About 2 kg’s
- Mince – About 2 kg’s
- Spaghetti – One packet
- Eggs – 24
- Pilchards – Two Tins
- Rice – About 2 kg’s
- Sliced Bread – Two Loaves
- Rolls – 6
- Mealie pap – 1kg
- Lettuce – 1
- Tomatoes – 1 Packet
- Tuna – 4 Tins
- Boere Wors – 1kg
- Pork Chops – 6 Medium to Large
- Milk – 6l
- Cheddar Cheese – 500g
- Feta Cheese – 500g
- Cream Cheese – 1 Packet
- Celery – 1 Bunch
- Tomato puree – 1 Can
- Cucumber – 1
- Kidney Beans – 2 Cans
- Chicken Stock – 8 Cubes
- Packet of Bacon – 250g
- Tomato and Onion Mix – 3 cans
- Spring Onion – One Bunch
- Green Pepper – 2
- Roast Veggie Mix – 1 Packet
- Mushrooms – Two Punnets
Here’s what we already had in the #Under200 pantry:
- Flour
- Seasoning
- Chillies
- Frozen mixed veg
- Peanut butter
- Cinnamon
- Brown Sugar
- Vanilla Essence
- Sunflower Oil
- Olive Oil
- Butter
- Sundried tomatoes
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Fresh Garlic
- Worcestershire sauce
- Knorr Beef Stock Pot
- Paprika
- Tomato Paste
- Allspice
- Raisins
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Thyme
- Parsley
ALERT – Busy Parent Hack!
You don’t need to get up super early in the morning to make oats. Simply soak it overnight. This reduces your cooking time. And, it also makes the oats creamier.
Monday
Breakfast – Easy Oats with Apple and Banana
This breakie is not only healthy, but it is also super filling. Feel free to substitute apples and banana with any seasonal fruits.
Lunch – Potato and Onion Mini Quiches
Super easy to make and healthy. These also make a great breakfast treat.
Dinner – Pilchard Fish Cakes and Rice
Quick dinners are what we’re all about. Check out these amazing fish cakes. They’re perfect for our #UnderR200 menu.
Tuesday
Breakfast – French Toast
This is the ultimate easy breakfast for the family. And, a great way to use leftover slices of bread.
Lunch – Stuffed Butternut
Healthy and wholesome, this earthy lunch is perfect for school and work lunches. As a bonus, butternut will leave feeling more full for longer.
Dinner – Cottage Pie and Veggies
Quick and easy, just the way we like Tuesday dinners. Team this one with some quick frozen veg and you have a super filling dinner the family will love.
Wednesday
Breakfast – Peanut Butter Mielie Pap
Filling and satisfying, South Africans have trusted Mealie pap for generations. For this delightful breakfast alternative, simply add two tablespoons of peanut butter to your pap.
Lunch – Easy Chicken Salad in a Jar
Nothing beats an easy #Under200 lunch. Simply pour the dressing over the top, close the jar and give it a shake to enjoy a full-flavour healthy lunch.
Dinner – Chilli Con-Carne
An absolute must-try for those who like things a little spicy. For those with a more delicate constitution, simple leave out the chillies and substitute with chutney.
Thursday
Breakfast – Banana Flapjacks
Morning breakfast doesn’t need to be difficult. Give these amazing two-ingredient banana flapjacks a go. They’re the perfect #UnderR200 addition.
Lunch – Tuna Quiches
These quick quiches are so easy to make, you can get the kiddos involved.
Dinner – Super Spuds
Chicken-Stuffed Spuds with chicken, green chilies, corn, and cheddar cheese make a one-dish meal good to eat now or freeze for later.
Friday
Breakfast – Cinnamon Mielie Pap
Give mielie pap a new flavourful twist by adding a little cinnamon.
Lunch – Chicken Burritos
This mouth-watering chicken burrito recipe makes enough for two casseroles, so you can enjoy one today and freeze the other for a busy weeknight. Time to hop onto the #UnderR200 band-wagon
Dinner – Spaghetti Bolognese
This is a budget-friendly Friday night must. Keep the family happy with a quick and easy Spaghetti Bolognese.
Saturday
Breakfast – Carrot Cake Oats
This carrot cake overnight oats will give you just that plus all of the delicious flavours of carrot cake.
Lunch – Chicken Bacon Subs
Could Saturday lunch be any easier? It becomes even more effortless when you use last night’s leftover shredded chicken.
Dinner – Boerie Rolls
What would a weekend be without Boerie? Either braai or oven bake your Karaglen Boerie for the BEST tasting Boerie ever.
Sunday
Breakfast – Eggs and Toast
This tasty twist on traditional eggs and toast is sure to get the family up in the morning.
Lunch – Sunday Meat and Veg
Gather the family around for a deliciously easy Sunday meal fit for a king.
Dinner – Savoury Pancakes
End Sunday off on a light note with these delectable pancakes.
And there you have it! You can actually feed a family of 4, three meals a day, for #UnderR200 a day.
