Before heading to the shops, take a quick look in your fridge, freezer, and cupboards. (Bonus tip: look in your ‘Use me first’ box if you created this in week 1 of the challenge!)

1. What needs using up? Jot down a few meal ideas based on those ingredients
2. Think about the week ahead - who is out, and who is in? If you have evening plans, pick something quick and filling. Do your meal ideas from Step 1 work around that?
3. Fill in the gaps! Now that you’ve got a few meal ideas and a sense of what the week looks like, it’s time to fill in any gaps. What ingredients do you need to complete those meals? Write a quick shopping list based on what you’re missing—this helps avoid impulse buys and keeps your food budget on track. Bonus tip: group your list by sections of the shop (e.g. fresh, frozen, cupboard) to make your trip quicker and easier! 

You can find lots of great meal planner tools online, like this one from Tesco.

Cooking in batches is a great way to save time and energy. 

Make a big pot of something tasty and freeze portions for later. It’s perfect for busy weeks and helps avoid the temptation of takeaway when you're short on time – saving you even more money.

Search for easy batch recipes online for inspiration. The Batch Lady has lots of great ones!

Meal planning works best when the whole household is on board. Get family involved by letting them choose a meal or help to prep ingredients.

Share the plan on the fridge or in a group chat so everyone knows what’s coming up, and what’s for dinner!