A Foodie Mum On a Budget

A Foodie Mum On a Budget I’m a single mum to two boys, we love food and adventures, on a limited budget. All 3 of us are neuro divergent. My name is Mette - Im a Danish Expat
Mr.
(4)

Big - 11 years old
Mr. Small - 8 years old

There is also the boys dad, who I co-parent with

17/06/2026

Back to work today, and I definitely underestimated how tired I’d be! 😴

By the time Mr. Big had finished piano and we got home, we were all exhausted, so dinner needed to be quick and easy.

The boys had tortellini with tomato and mascarpone sauce, while I enjoyed some leftover chicken and salad. 🥗

The best part? Dinner cost just £1.75 for all of us! 🙌

Afterwards, the boys enjoyed hot chocolates with marshmallows outside in the evening sunshine. ☀️

Some days, an easy dinner is exactly what’s needed. ❤️

Back to work today, and I had totally underestimated how tired I would be.Then Mr. Big had piano, and by the time we got...
17/06/2026

Back to work today, and I had totally underestimated how tired I would be.

Then Mr. Big had piano, and by the time we got home, we were all exhausted! So dinner needed to be quick and easy.

The boys had some frozen tortellini that we picked up from the food pantry a few weeks ago, served with a tomato and mascarpone sauce that I got free from Olio and froze for a day like today.

I’m still not overly hungry at the moment, so I had some leftover salad and chicken from yesterday instead. It definitely hit the spot.

Costings:

* Tortellini – £0.50
* Tomato and mascarpone sauce – £0.00 (Olio)
* Cheese (£0.99 / 8)= £0.12 (Farmfoods)
* Salad – £0.50
* Egg (£1.99 / 15) = £0.13 (Farmfoods)
* Chicken (£1.18 /8)× 2 = £0.30
* Olives – £0.20

Total: £1.75

The boys really enjoyed their dinner. Afterwards, they had hot chocolates with marshmallows, which we all enjoyed outside in the evening sunshine. ☀️

Sometimes you just need an easy dinner, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that!

What’s your go-to dinner when you’re exhausted and just can’t face cooking?

Finally starting to feel some improvement!I managed to play a board game with Mr. Big, and we even had a small, simple B...
16/06/2026

Finally starting to feel some improvement!

I managed to play a board game with Mr. Big, and we even had a small, simple BBQ this evening. It completely exhausted me, but I had two very happy boys, which made it worth it. 😊

No costings tonight as I’m absolutely exhausted and it’s definitely time for bed!

Fingers crossed the improvement continues tomorrow. 🤞

Goodnight everyone! 😴

Sorry still suffering from vertigo. No cooking going on at all, as the world is still spinning! Though wanted to show a ...
14/06/2026

Sorry still suffering from vertigo. No cooking going on at all, as the world is still spinning!

Though wanted to show a picture of mr. Small watching tv.. He find this unusual position to sit most comfortably 🤣🤣

Well is he sitting/laying? I’m not quite sure!

Struck down with Vertigo, so I’m afraid I won’t be much online for a few days 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫Feels like I have a horrendous ha...
12/06/2026

Struck down with Vertigo, so I’m afraid I won’t be much online for a few days 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

Feels like I have a horrendous hangover 😬😬

Picture was my leftover dinner the other night

Cheat’s dinner for the boys today!Plans changed, and I completely ran out of energy, so dinner needed to be quick and ea...
10/06/2026

Cheat’s dinner for the boys today!

Plans changed, and I completely ran out of energy, so dinner needed to be quick and easy. Mr. Big had a burger and chips from the freezer, while Mr. Small had pizza and chips. They both had fruit afterwards.

The pizza wasn’t even reduced to clear… 😵‍💫

Mr. Big had piano this afternoon, and while he was there, Mr. Small and I helped out a friend. We also picked up a free second-hand freezer from them. By the time we got home, I realised my dinner plans had to change. It was supposed to be Thai green curry, but that was going to take far too long!

I did eat some of the leftover chicken myself, so at least it didn’t go to waste! 🤣

Costings:

* Pizza (£5.00 ÷ 2) = £2.50 (definitely not cheap!)
* Chips – £0.25 (from the freezer and food pantry, about half a portion)
* Burger patty (£2.39 ÷ 6) = £0.40
* Cheese (£0.99 ÷ 10) = £0.10
* Bread roll – free
* Strawberries – free
* Apple (£1.59 ÷ 6) = £0.27

Total: £3.52

I still ended up with two very happy boys, and the lunch boxes were made for tomorrow as well, so I’ll call that a win! 🤣

09/06/2026

🦷 Dentist check-up for both boys this evening!

Neither of them likes the lights, noises, or sensations, but they both did brilliantly. Best of all… no decay and no problems! 🎉

Afterwards, we picked strawberries at their dad’s allotment 🍓 and Mr. Small insisted on watering the plants, despite them not needing it 🤣

Dinner was a quick gnocchi dish using up bits from the fridge, costing just £2.43 for 1 adult, 2 children, and leftovers for tomorrow.

Now it’s definitely bedtime! 😴

The boys had a dentist appointment this evening. Neither of them likes the bright light, the sounds, or the feeling of b...
09/06/2026

The boys had a dentist appointment this evening. Neither of them likes the bright light, the sounds, or the feeling of being at the dentist, but they both did really well. Best of all, neither had any decay or other problems, so it was a successful visit! 🦷😊

Afterwards, we went to their dad’s allotment to pick strawberries. With permission, of course! 🍓 Mr. Small insisted on watering the plants. They didn’t really need it, but he had fun, and that’s what matters. 🤣

When we got home, dinner needed to be quick and easy. I had some pre-made gnocchi and a jar of mild red pepper sauce that needed using up, so dinner practically made itself.

Costings:

* Chicken – £0.00 (full cost included in a previous meal)
* Ajvar, Lidl (£1.99 ÷ 3) = £0.66
* Peas (£1.15 ÷ 900g) × 150g = £0.19
* Spinach – £0.00 (from One Stop after 20:15)
* Garlic – £0.09
* Gnocchi – £0.99
* Bread rolls, made using leftover puff pastry – £0.00
* Salad – £0.50

Total: £2.43

This fed 1 adult and 2 children, with leftovers for mummy as well!

Now it is definitely bedtime. 😴

Night night!

08/06/2026

Come on everybody!! If you do t already follow the amazing Mad's Arabian bites then start now. She was one of the lovely people who inspired me to do my own posts x

I have been resting for most of today and doing as little as possible. Not that it seems to make a difference to my fibr...
08/06/2026

I have been resting for most of today and doing as little as possible. Not that it seems to make a difference to my fibro.. … the one thing I did do, was to make sure today’s dinner was ready!

Today’s dinner was roasted spatchcock chicken with new potatoes, Padrón peppers, and chimichurri sauce.

It was a hit with the boys and so simple to make. The best part is that the chicken will stretch much further than just one meal. The bones have already been turned into a lovely broth, and there’s still plenty of meat left for another dinner.

Costings:

* Whole chicken – £2.80 (reduced to clear)
* Potatoes, Aldi 50% off (£1.29 ÷ 2) = £0.65
* Padrón peppers – £0.50 (from the food pantry, frozen for later use)
* Garlic – £0.15
* Chimichurri sauce – £0.50 (the olive oil was definitely the most expensive ingredient!)
* Lemon – free

Total: £4.60

Not bad considering we’ll get at least one more meal, plus a homemade broth, from the chicken.

Now I’m going to continue resting before work tomorrow. Mr. Big has already done his piano practice and has just asked if he can have a snack box packed for school tomorrow… apparently he’s always hungry! 😬🤣

Does anyone else have children who seem to have bottomless stomachs, or is it just my two? 😂

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