Thrifty mother cooks up 38 meals in just TWO hours

Trying to find time to cook up nutritious, healthy meals for the family while working and raising young can be a challenge.

But one Sydney mother-of-two recently managed to cook up 38 family meals in just two hours – and the grocery shop cost her only $80.

Sascha Farley, who lost 34 kilograms in just nine months by prepping healthy meals every week, regularly shares snaps of her perfectly organised cooks and saves more than $100 each week by following a few simple rules.

Sascha Farley, a Sydney mother-of-two, recently managed to cook up 38 family meals in just two hours – and the grocery shop cost her just $80

Sascha lost 34 kilograms in just nine months by prepping healthy meals every week (pictured before and after)

Sascha lost 34 kilograms in just nine months by prepping healthy meals every week (pictured before and after)

Sascha, who follows the Healthy Mummy program, decided what she was going to cook for the week based on what ingredients she already had to save money and prevent wasting anything. 

‘Two years ago I’d go grocery shopping a few times a week, spend upwards of $150 and food would always go to waste,’ the savvy mum said.

‘I now plan on Friday, shop on Saturday and cook on Sunday.’

In her big cook up Sascha made nine lots of fried rice, nine tuna vegetable bakes, seven healthy servings of spaghetti bolognese, four servings of of Asian chicken and green beans, six frittatas and four nutritious pizzas. 

Sascha made nine lots of fried rice, nine tuna vegetable bakes, seven healthy servings of spaghetti bolognese, four servings of of Asian chicken and green beans, six frittatas and four nutritious pizzas

Sascha made nine lots of fried rice, nine tuna vegetable bakes, seven healthy servings of spaghetti bolognese, four servings of of Asian chicken and green beans, six frittatas and four nutritious pizzas

Sascha never used to prep and credits the budget trick for her impressive weight loss

Sascha never used to prep and credits the budget trick for her impressive weight loss

What are Sascha’s top tips for meal prepping? 

* Write a list and plan out the full week of food before getting started 

* Plan on Friday, shop on Saturday and cook on Sunday 

* Replace meals that require pork, beef or chicken fillets with mince instead as it saves money 

* Buy in bulk and freeze what you don’t use 

* Buy anything on sale that can be frozen – like shallots 

* Incorporate mason jars and lay out all of the containers before the cooking process begins  

‘Multitask – by keeping it simple this is achievable. Use similar ingredients and double dinner for lunch the next day,’ Sascha said. 

‘I also customise my meal plans to suit time frame and budget and ensure I’m using different cooking methods so everything can be going at once!’

Sascha said everyone who wishes to prep their meals should always plan for the week by writing a list, cook double of everything (where possible) and pick meals that freeze well as they can be ‘stashed’ for busy days. 

She also recommends getting the family involved as much as possible – especially young kids. 

‘Ask the family for their input when planning and get them involved in the cooking too – it will be more enjoyable for everyone and they are more likely to eat the food, especially the kids,’ she told Femail.

The organised mother also advised people to use simple recipes with five or less steps, look for short cuts to make recipes a little easier and buy the right tools

The organised mother also advised people to use simple recipes with five or less steps, look for short cuts to make recipes a little easier and buy the right tools

'I had never prepped before, before I started doing this and focusing on my health I was the absolute opposite and was shopping every single day to buy things for dinner,' Sascha said

‘I had never prepped before, before I started doing this and focusing on my health I was the absolute opposite and was shopping every single day to buy things for dinner,’ Sascha said

The organised mother also advised people to use simple recipes with five or less steps, look for short cuts to make recipes a little easier and buy the right tools. 

Three tools Sascha swears by are a kitchen aid/blender, a big pot and, of course, containers. 

One of the key steps is using a variety of cooking methods at once to save time, with Sascha regularly using a stove top, oven, thermomix and blender all at once. 

For snacks, she suggests picking three or four snacks to pre-make. 

Sascha also said it's fine to repeat meals as she is 'proof that repeating meals doesn't hinder your results' (pictured is her meal plan for the week)

Sascha also said it’s fine to repeat meals as she is ‘proof that repeating meals doesn’t hinder your results’ (pictured is her meal plan for the week)

'I found Healthy Mummy after the birth of my daughter last year in August and decided to give it a go because I wanted to lose weight the right way,' she said 

‘I found Healthy Mummy after the birth of my daughter last year in August and decided to give it a go because I wanted to lose weight the right way,’ she said 

‘Things like bliss balls, slices and muffins and then make the rest of your snack throw together ones like yoghurt and fruit, crackers and dip. That way your not spending too much time in the kitchen,’ she said. 

She also likes to repeat meals in creative ways – for example using a tasty mince in bolognese, san choy bow and burgers – and setting out all the containers needed before beginning the cooking process. 

Sascha never used to prep and credits the budget trick for her impressive weight loss. 

Since starting the program, Sascha has doubled her calorie intake and looks better than ever

Since starting the program, Sascha has doubled her calorie intake and looks better than ever

'Eating healthy is NOT expensive. I have done my weight loss journey on a budget and I continue to do so!! $80-$150 on food shopping per week for a family of four,' she said  previously

‘Eating healthy is NOT expensive. I have done my weight loss journey on a budget and I continue to do so!! $80-$150 on food shopping per week for a family of four,’ she said  previously

‘I had never prepped before, before I started doing this and focusing on my health I was the absolute opposite and was shopping every single day to buy things for dinner,’ Sascha said.  

‘I found Healthy Mummy after the birth of my daughter last year in August and decided to give it a go because I wanted to lose weight the right way.’ 

Since starting the program, Sascha has doubled her calorie intake and lost 34 kilograms.

‘Knowing I am making the right choices, especially when it comes to treats has been the biggest learning curve for me,’ she said.      



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