NZ Mum creates 50 healthy school lunches for under $100

A thrifty mother-of-two has revealed how she made a remarkable 50 school lunches after spending less than NZ $100 at the supermarket.

Kathrine Lynch, from Hamilton, NZ, used a few simple recipes and a knack for shopping the bargains to create five different lunchbox recipes for her two daughters.

The blogger, who rose to fame for her $140 weekly shop, used New Zealand grocery company Pak’nSave to purchase $97.45 worth of ingredients for 50 individual lunches – making them only $1.95 per meal.

Kathrine Lynch (pictured) went to Pak’nSave and spent under $100 to make 50 school lunches

The blogger, who rose to fame for her $140 weekly shop purchased $97.45 worth of ingredients for 50 individual lunches - making them only $1.95 per meal

The blogger, who rose to fame for her $140 weekly shop purchased $97.45 worth of ingredients for 50 individual lunches – making them only $1.95 per meal

Each nutritious lunchbox incorporates a main, either a sandwich, pizza or frittata, carrot sticks and fruit, and smaller snacks, such as popcorn, yoghurt, cheese and crackers.

According to Kathrine, the most expensive item on her shopping list was 30 oranges for $10, followed by beef mince for $7.64 and chicken breast for $7.27. 

Her cheapest finds were dried coconut for 91 cents – used in her homemade boost balls –  a tin of spaghetti for 94 cents and three onions for 94 cents.

Other bargains found during her economic shopping trip included 20 bananas for $6.02 and a 12 pack of yogurts for $5. 

The mother-of-two stretched her $100 budget over 50 school lunches by making pizza (pictured) with the ingredients 

The mother-of-two stretched her $100 budget over 50 school lunches by making pizza (pictured) with the ingredients 

Her cheapest finds were dried coconut for 91 cents - used in her homemade boost balls (pictured) - a tin of spaghetti for 94 cents and three onions for 94 cents

Her cheapest finds were dried coconut for 91 cents – used in her homemade boost balls (pictured) – a tin of spaghetti for 94 cents and three onions for 94 cents

KATHRINE’S $100 SHOPPING LIST

 Huntly & Palmer ​crackers $2.59

Pams rice crackers x2 $2.38

Popping corn 300g $1.95

Maggi onion soup mix $1.35

Peanuts raw-blanched 300g $2.89

Pams cocoa powder 250g $3.39

Coconut 0.057g $0.91

Dates 122g $2.67

Pams mayonnaise $2.69

Morning Harvest eggs 12-pack $3.99

Yoplait yoghurts 12-pack $5

Rolling Meadows cheese 500g $5.29

Long rolls, 6 pack x2 $4

Gold Max white toast bread $2.85

Romanos pizza bases 3 pack $2

 Carrots 1.965kg $3.91

Tomatoes x2 $2.65

Potatoes x2 $1.39

Mushrooms, white button x4 $1.45

Pumpkin $1.42

Lettuce $2.89

Onions x3 $0.94

Bananas x20 $6.02

Oranges x30 $10

Chicken breast $7.27

Beef mince $7.64

Shaved leg ham, 500g $4.99

Pams diced tomatoes $0.99

Oak cream style corn $1

Oak spaghetti $0.94 

‘Kathrine’s goal is to inspire other busy parents to cook the most nutritious food they can for their children. She has proven that it is still possible to feed your family well on a tight budget – particularly if you plan your meals carefully,’ said Foodstuffs NZ Group General Manager Marketing Steve Bayliss

‘We asked Kathrine if she’d be up for another $100 challenge, and she suggested a kids’ lunchbox challenge because she knew families would be interested in it. She has blown us away with the results.’

Kathrine, who is a former PE teacher, was able to make healthy and delicious pizza, ham and vegetable frittatas and meatball subs from the $100 groceries found at Pak’nSave. 

The economic shopper also did a similar challenge where she made 62 nutritious dinners with only $100 of supermarket- bought products.

Kathrine (pictured with her daughter) rose to fame after sharing her incredibly economic $140 weekly shop

Kathrine (pictured with her daughter) rose to fame after sharing her incredibly economic $140 weekly shop

According to Kathrine, the most expensive item on her shopping list was 30 oranges for $10, followed by beef mince (used to make the meatballs pictured) for $7.64 and chicken breast for $7.27

According to Kathrine, the most expensive item on her shopping list was 30 oranges for $10, followed by beef mince (used to make the meatballs pictured) for $7.64 and chicken breast for $7.27

Other bargains found during her economic shopping trip included 20 bananas for $6.02 and a 12 pack of yogurts for $5

Other bargains found during her economic shopping trip included 20 bananas for $6.02 and a 12 pack of yogurts for $5

She shares tips on budgeting the weekly supermarket trip for other busy parents on her blog, Busy Happy Kids NZ.

Her suggestions include using eggs to bulk up meals and add in extra protein and only paying for groceries in cash so you don’t overspend.

‘Try and slowly reduce your grocery bill, for example aim to save $10 per week for a month and see how you get on and then see if you can reduce it a further $10 per week, a saving of $20 per week = $1000 for the year, that’s a very nice Christmas sorted!’ Kathrine said.

Kathrine is known for her blog where she revealed how to make 62 meals with only $100 worth of groceries

Kathrine is known for her blog where she revealed how to make 62 meals with only $100 worth of groceries

‘Aim to only go back to the supermarket one extra time per week and stick to a list, if you only need bread and milk then only buy bread and milk. Often we buy extras and it all adds up.’

After the challenge Kathrine donated her 50 lunches to the Salvation Army in New Zealand to be handed out to families in need.

Foodstuffs covered the bill for the groceries for the lunchbox challenge and also gave Kathrine Pak’nSave vouchers to give away to her thousands of Facebook followers.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk