Yes, absolutely. We did the shop between a major supermarket and an independent store, choosing the best prices between the two. We have provided a details shopping list and printed copies of our shopping dockets in the book. Prices obviously vary around the country but whether the supermarket in your area is slightly higher or lower the book will save you heaps. You'll have loads of money left over at the end of the week for some of those special treats.
Definitely! We were able to shave more than $5 off this price by hunting for specials and shopping at discount stores but we felt if fairer if we just walked into our local supermarket and independent fruit store and shopped off the shelf. Not everyone has time to shop around. It is definitely worth looking for specials and comparing shops in your area. The differences in prices can sometimes be quite substantial.
They have all been designed for a busy household. They are simple, wholesome, tasty and easy to prepare. Teenagers could easily manage to cook for the family if both Mum & Dad work.
Yes, all the meals are well balanced, breakfasts give a good energy hit for the day, lunches and dinners include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Each week includes meat, fish, and chicken.
The shopping list is in the book. It itemizes every ingredient and if you shop by that list you will have everything you need for the fortnight. The shopping lists are broken into Week 1 and Week 2.
The meals were tested on a lot of our friends, including manual workers with big appetites and office workers with not such veracious appetites. The menus in the book are about mid-range and because the recipes are well balanced and nutritious they are satisfying. You will not leave the table hungry.
Will the children like the food?
Children have a wonderful natural sense of what's good for them. They love home cooking, they also love to be involved in the process. There are many favourites in the planner and some that may be new and all the children we road-tested the recipes on gave them the thumbs up.
Not at all. The shopping lists will provide all the ingredients you need for the recipes in the book but that doesn't mean to need to stick to the planner exactly. Experiment, use it as a work book, draw over it, cross things out, add your favourites, get the children involved and create your own template for saving. But we suggest that you run through the first two weeks as it is, then branch out and have some fun with it.
Absolutely. This is the original book, published in 1992 and re-published in 2008. RRP is $24.95. It is a bigger book, more pages, mor recipes, more vegetarian meals (easily converted to meat), breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and dessert for four adults. Loads of food. Contact us and we'll arrange a special deal if you want to buy a copy of both books.
