February Food Challenge 2011

£100 budget for food for one month for a family of 4.....

Yesterday, whilst preparing a whole chicken for roasting, I boasted to Nick that I reckon I could feed us all for a week from one chicken....I was actually completely exaggerating somewhat, but he somehow turned that into a challenge and told me to see if I could feed us all for a month on a measly budget of £100.  Well, I like a good challenge me, so despite reservations as to the actual probability of being able to stick to such a minute budget (especially with food prices rising as quickly as they are), I have been mulling it over ever since.  And I must say, I am quite intrigued to find out if I could really do it.  Technically I could just feed us all beans and rice, rice and beans for the next month and stay well within budget, but that's not any fun.  I want to see if I can do it bearing in mind the following:

• the food has to be balanced (in terms of healthy/some treats)
• the budget has to include ALL meals, drinks and snacks
• the food has to be able to satisfy two hungry, growing children (who eat most things, but are suspicious of others), a permanently hungry, lactating mum and a dad who works out 5 days a week and walks/cycles to and from work every day.
• the food must be interesting and varied, drawing influences from various types of cuisine - as this is how we like to eat normally

So, my budgeting and cooking skills are going to be tested to the absolute limit with this one I think!  Though my recently restocked storecupboard will undoubtedly help.....

For the sake of ease, the challenge will run from one pay day to the next, therefore it will begin Saturday 29th January and end Friday 25th February. Each week I will post my menu, shopping list and total spent - along with some recipes and reports on how we are doing.

First post will be coming up soon......