I only spend 77 cents on my dinner every night and never even turn on the oven
KNOWING what to cook every night can be difficult, especially as the cost of most ingredients keeps increasing.
One woman has revealed she can make tasty air fryer meals for just 77 cents per serving – and they're healthy too!
3
Like many Londoners, Leah Hancox struggled to cook every night while juggling her hectic schedule as a PT intern.
Now the 27-year-old says she's been able to cook up a storm most nights and is already saving time afterwards to invest in an air fryer.
The London serves tasty weeknight meals and has created homemade chicken nuggets, chicken fajitas and even sweet potato steak.
In fact, these high-protein dinners aren't worth it either, as Leah often buys meat in bulk from MuscleFood – a healthy meal kit service.
In fact, MuscleFood's Ultimate Airfryer Collection has helped Leah keep costs down, with the young woman often paying less than £1 for a meal.
Instead of spending a small fortune at the supermarket, the personal trainer has made roast chicken with rice and peas for 91 cents per serving.
She even says she's had leftovers for days, which isn't a problem since the classic dish is a favorite of hers.
Breakfast is also served, with the PT making a bacon-avocado-egg bagel costing £1.08 per meal – thanks to her MuscleFood box which allows her to buy her meat in bulk.
Her cheapest meal is homemade chicken nuggets, which is a steal – at just 77 cents per serving!
Although she still can't avoid the weekly shop, Leah has revealed that she buys minimal ingredients at the supermarket and tops up at local shops when necessary.
The PT will even use her MuscleFood box as the base for most of her meals, saying, “The first thing I do when a basket arrives is look at what I have and divide it realistically. For me, a portion of chicken weighs about 150 grams and a pack of six sausages is enough for three meals.
“When I know how many portions I have, I plan what I'm going to cook. Favorites include jerk chicken, Cajun chicken fajitas, a tasty bagel burger, and sausage and sweet potato mash.
“Then I buy exactly what I need, which allows me to keep my costs low. I think I spend about $15 to $20 a week on food.”
Unsurprisingly, she says she's become a “convert” to food service and her air fryer, enjoying endless tasty meals.
“I'm just getting started with air fryers. I was always convinced that all I needed was an oven, but since I bought mine I rarely turn the oven on anymore,” she explained.
Leah continues: “They are incredibly versatile and you can do anything you cook in the oven – it just takes less time and uses less electricity.
“For me it's just leaving chicken behind to cookcontinue with some work and it will be ready in about 20 minutes, ideal.”
Lea's tips and tricks
When asked for her tips for keeping grocery costs low, Leah added the following advice:
- Portion sizes – Always serve the correct portion size to avoid overeating and to stretch the food as best as possible. Part of this is understanding when you are full.
- Own brand – Always buy your own brand to save money. They are just as good as the branded versions and are a lot cheaper.
- View the price per gram/kg – if you look at the prices on the supermarket shelves, they indicate the cost per gram or kg. This shows you exactly how much money you save when you buy in bulk. However, keep an eye out for promotions: sometimes buying multiples of a smaller option will be cheaper because there is a promotion.
3