…By Judah Olanisebee for TDPel Media.
Thrifty Cooking: Budget-Friendly and Delicious Meals by Jo Drinkwater
Tips and Recipes for Healthy Eating on a Shoestring
Jo Drinkwater, a money-saving mum, has found her passion for budget cooking through starting a home food bank during lockdown.
Now, she is sharing her invaluable tips and tricks for creating healthy and tasty meals for just 83p per portion.
Teaming up with online healthy food retailer MuscleFood.com, Jo has curated easy and flavorful recipes that families can enjoy without compromising on taste or nutrition.
From Childhood Experiments to Family Favorites
A Culinary Journey
Jo’s love for cooking started at a young age, where she spent time in the kitchen experimenting with cupboard essentials and preparing meals for her family.
Now, as a mother of two, she continues to whip up family favorites like homemade pizzas, burgers, and saag paneer, often with the assistance of her children.
Her passion for budget cooking stems from a desire to keep food costs down while maintaining delicious and nutritious meals.
Meal Planning and Kitchen Essentials
The Key to Smart Savings
Jo rises to the challenge of creating budget-friendly meals by carefully planning her monthly menu.
With a big blackboard in her kitchen, she fills it with meal ideas and ensures that most of her dishes share common base ingredients.
By keeping track of her freezer contents and utilizing pantry staples, Jo maximizes her resources and creates flavorful meals without breaking the bank.
Some of the budget-friendly meals Jo has prepared include chicken and leek lattice at 85p per portion, meatball madras at 93p per portion, and cream cheese and bacon spaghetti at 83p per portion.
Her Instagram page, Jos_kitchen_menu, has been a platform for sharing her culinary experiments since May 2022.
Mastering the Art of Budget Cooking
Tips and Tricks for Success
Jo’s key to success lies in her ability to plan ahead.
By mapping out her meals for the entire month, she ensures that she has all the necessary ingredients on hand.
She also emphasizes the importance of utilizing the freezer and stocking up on essentials like frozen meat and vegetables.
Recognizing the versatility of pantry staples such as tomato puree, tinned vegetables, tinned tomatoes, curry powder, and herbs, Jo can create a variety of dishes without constantly buying new ingredients.
One of Jo’s money-saving hacks is keeping a detailed inventory of her freezer contents, including the quantity of each item.
This approach not only helps her save money in the long run but also ensures that she always has nutritious food available, even when supplies are running low.
MuscleFood Hamper and Family Treats
Delicious Savings
Jo’s budget cooking skills were further enhanced by the MuscleFood hamper.
With its pre-portioned meats and high-quality ingredients, she was able to create a week’s worth of family dinners for under £30.
The convenience of having ingredients ready to defrost as needed was especially helpful for this busy mother.
The hamper also provided the opportunity to enjoy premium items like chicken breasts, which are typically considered a treat due to their cost.
While Jo keeps costs low on weekdays, she enjoys occasional treat days on the weekends.
Instead of frequent takeaways, she opts for delicious “fakeaway” recipes that not only cost less but also allow her to have complete control over the ingredients her children consume.
Even when there are leftovers from takeaways, Jo ensures nothing goes to waste by freezing them for future use.
The Birth of a Foodie Mission
Helping Others through Food
Jo’s journey of helping others cook budget-friendly meals began during the lockdown, prompted by the inadequate food parcels provided to families in need.
Determined to make a difference, she started a food bank from her own home, providing basic ingredients for tasty and healthy kids’ lunches.
The initiative quickly gained momentum as the local community rallied behind Jo’s efforts, donating food to fill her kitchen and living room.
Even the local taxi company joined in by assisting with the delivery of goods to families in need.
Witnessing the impact of her food bank, Jo realized the importance of not only providing ingredients but also teaching the skill of cooking affordable and hearty meals.
This realization led her to start her Instagram page, where she shares her budget cooking techniques and inspires others to cook in the same cost-effective and flavorful way.
Tips for Budget Cooking Success
Wise Strategies for Every Home Cook
Jo Drinkwater generously shares her top tips for budget cooking, empowering others to save money without compromising on taste or nutrition:
1. Cook Once, Do Four:
When preparing a meal, maximize your efforts by making extra portions and freezing them for future meals.
This ensures that nothing goes to waste and saves time and money in the long run.
2. Today’s Leftovers, Tomorrow’s Lunch:
Even small portions of leftovers can be repurposed to enhance another meal.
Use them to add flavor and substance to soups, stews, or stir-fries.
3. Shop Smart:
Be mindful of which aisles you visit when grocery shopping.
Explore the World Food aisle, where you can find affordable seasonings in larger quantities, allowing you to get more for your money.
MuscleFood.com’s Support
Collaborating for Nutritious and Affordable Cooking
Ashleigh Tosh from MuscleFood.com commends Jo Drinkwater’s culinary skills and the nutritious yet affordable meals she has created using their hampers.
MuscleFood.com supports Jo’s mission to help people save money on their food bills by making simple changes in their shopping habits.
Making one small change, such as utilizing frozen meat and vegetables and pairing them with herbs, spices, and pantry staples, can lead to substantial savings on grocery shopping.
By following Jo’s advice and implementing her budget cooking strategies, individuals and families can make significant strides in managing their food budget while still enjoying delicious and nutritious meals.