22 April 2020

| | 2 min read

Lifestyle

Top tips to help families manage meals on a budget

Families facing rising food bills and, in lots of cases, lower incomes, are being offered top tips and advice on how to manage mealtimes on a budget.

Illustration of banner sign hanging beneath a helicopter.

Newcastle City Council’s public health team has produced an online information guide, including a video packed with tips, to help people plan meals.

As well as ideas for easy-to-make, low-cost meal options, the information also includes price comparisons of shop-bought products compared to home-cooked food, information about foods that can be frozen to avoid waste and tips for getting children involved in preparing family meals.

Cllr John Paul Stephenson, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and public health at Newcastle City Council, said: “We know that lots of families are facing higher food bills during the ongoing restrictions that are in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

“In many households, with people not going out to work or to school, more meals are having to be provided at home which has had a big impact on the weekly shop.

“And some families, particularly those whose household income has gone down or whose children who would normally get free school meals, are really feeling the pinch.

“We’ve pulled together lots of information and advice that will hopefully help and inspire people to plan healthy and nutritious meals that won’t break the budget.”

Feeding your children on a low budget, top tips for parents or carers.

Top tips for feeding your child on a low budget

People can get tips on how to make their budget go further, ideas for breakfast and lunch – meals which many families may not normally eat at home - and has links to different websites and apps that offer simple, healthy recipes.

The information also includes advice on how to get help if you are self-isolating or shielding and are struggling to get hold of food supplies – including details of how to contact Newcastle’s Citylife Line support service.

Families who have experienced a change in their financial situation because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on their jobs and income may become eligible for free school meals. Anyone who would like further information is advised to contact their child’s school.

People can further information and advice at https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/services/public-health-wellbeing-and-leisure/public-health-services/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-support-for-people 

In many households, with people not going out to work or to school, more meals are having to be provided at home which has had a big impact on the weekly shop.

Cllr John Paul Stephenson

Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and public health