Woman, 25, reveals she saves up to £80 a month by meal prepping

A woman who started batch cooking when her husband was deployed to Afghanistan has revealed how prepping one-portion meals has helped her save up to £80 a month. 

Shannon Bannon, 25, from Catterick, North Yorkshire, whose husband is in the Armed Forces, bulk buys ingredients and then spends hours prepping meals for several days, with favourites including fajitas, bolognese and cottage pie.

The meals are then placed in the freezer – ready for Shannon to defrost and enjoy. 

Speaking to money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk, Shannon, a housewife, told how it helped her save money and made it easier to eat healthier meals at home. 

Shannon Bannon, 25, from Catterick, North Yorkshire, started batch cooking when her husband was deployed to Afghanistan. Pictured, with her husband, whom she did not name

She said: ‘I have been meal prepping for two months now. I started when my husband was deployed to Afghanistan. 

‘I wanted to make sure I had homemade meals in portions for just myself. I hate cooking meals for just myself so I thought this would be a great way to make sure I was eating a nice home cooked meal every day with little effort.’ 

Shannon, who did not want to share her husband’s name, explained the approach involves meticulous planning and being organised in the kitchen. 

‘When I meal prep I write a list of all the meals I’m going to make that day,’ she said. I make sure I have all my containers ready at hand alongside all my spices and ingredients. 

Shannon bulk buys ingredients and then spends hours prepping meals that will last her from several days, with favourites including bangers and mash (pictured)

Shannon bulk buys ingredients and then spends hours prepping meals that will last her from several days, with favourites including bangers and mash (pictured)

Shannon starts the process by making a list of the meals she's going to make, getting containers ready and then gathering all the ingredients and spices. Pictured, cottage pie

Shannon starts the process by making a list of the meals she’s going to make, getting containers ready and then gathering all the ingredients and spices. Pictured, cottage pie

‘I then go through my list and make each meal. I usually make two at a time as most dishes have the same basic ingredients. I then portion out my meals and leave to cook before putting them into the freezer.’ 

SHANNON’S TOP BATCH COOKING TIPS 

  1. Start by making a list of all the ingredients you have in your kitchen. 
  2. Write a list of meals that can be made from these ingredients. It’s surprising how many meals can be made from what you already have. 
  3. When shopping, make sure to write a list of meals you’re going to batch cook and only buy the items you need for these. This stops you spending money on items you don’t need. 

She continued: ‘I make all sorts of meals when I prep, from the staples of cottage pie and bolognese to pasties and fajita wraps. I’ve also started making my own oat pancakes and cutting them up for snacks through the week.’

Shannon said the process of batch cooking doesn’t just save her money, but also saves her the stress of deciding what to cook every night. 

‘I would recommend meal prepping as it takes out a lot of the stress and time of having to cook a meal every night,’ she added. 

‘You know what meals you have in your freezer after meal prepping and can work out what you are going to eat each day. 

‘Batch cooking for one day a week frees up a lot of time for the rest of the week. I’m saving around £60 to £80 a month on meal prepping and I’m not wasting food as I’m making sure everything is used up.  

The 25-year-old who claims meal prepping takes the stress out of deciding what to cook, revealed she often makes two dishes at a time. Pictured, a batch chilli dish

The 25-year-old who claims meal prepping takes the stress out of deciding what to cook, revealed she often makes two dishes at a time. Pictured, a batch chilli dish

Shannon who only has to buy perishables once she's batch cooked, believes the method stops her from splurging on fast food. Pictured, her fajita packs prepped and ready to go

Shannon who only has to buy perishables once she’s batch cooked, believes the method stops her from splurging on fast food. Pictured, her fajita packs prepped and ready to go

‘I batch cook enough meals to last me the month, so all that I have to buy is perishables. This means I know how much I’m spending and stops me ordering fast food.’

Shannon Bannon, 25, (pictured) aid prepping has helped her to save up to £80 each month

Shannon Bannon, 25, (pictured) aid prepping has helped her to save up to £80 each month 

Shannon claims the key to making meal prepping as efficient as possible is to be super-organised from the get-go. 

She said: ‘My tips would be to make a list of all the ingredients you have in your kitchen. 

‘From there, write a list of meals that can be made from these ingredients. It’s surprising how many meals can be made from what you already have. 

‘If you’re going shopping, make sure to write a list of meals you’re going to batch cook and only buy the items you need for these. 

‘This stops you spending money on items you don’t need. 

‘It’s really rewarding seeing how just a day of batch cooking can feed you for the whole month. 

‘There’s nothing better than seeing a freezer full of home cooked meals. My favourite recipe would have to be my mince fajitas. I love anything with wraps!’ 

Tom Church, co-founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, commented: ‘If something can save you money, time and stress, then it’s probably a good idea! 

‘Batch cooking is a fantastic way to use up everything in your freezer, ensure you’ve got healthy meals for the whole week – and also, to make sure your food shop is as efficient as possible, and that you don’t reach for a takeaway menu whenever you’re feeling tired and hungry!’ 

The 25-year-old reveled the key to succeeding with meal prepping is to be as efficient as possible. Pictured, her homemade pasties ready to be frozen

The 25-year-old reveled the key to succeeding with meal prepping is to be as efficient as possible. Pictured, her homemade pasties ready to be frozen

The thrifty 25-year-old has also started making her own oat pancakes, pictured, and cutting them up for snacks through the week

The thrifty 25-year-old has also started making her own oat pancakes, pictured, and cutting them up for snacks through the week 

https://www.latestdeals.co.uk/news/woman-saves-80-month-batch-cooking-meals-advance – LatestDeals.co.uk is a money saving community with 850,000+ members 

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