Weekly Menu Ideas: 17-03

The cost of living

People usually ask what are the biggest things that changes when you move abroad. One of the things that has changed for me since moving abroad is my diet. I don’t mean this like I am eating significantly different, I weigh exactly the same but I eat completely different. This will differ place by place based on the foods that are readily available to you, as well as other factors such as:

• Convenience of stores which are accessible to you

• The cost of food

• The quantity of food available

• The ease at which you can get the food you enjoy.

In South Africa, my staples included a significant amount of meat, I had a large freezer and therefore a lot of space to buy meat and store it for when I needed it. People often ask about the cost of living abroad, of course you cannot compare it based on salaries earned in places naturally allow for the higher cost of living.

When we initially moved abroad, we spent €80-€100 per week on meat. On average now, we spend €50 a week on meat, for four people. In rands and euros I think this is quite a lot, so I have come up with menus and meals that naturally incorporate less meat and more vegetables and grains as these are much cheaper than in South Africa.

So naturally because of this, my diet has changed. Before we ate mostly traditionally Indian meals when I cooked, but now I have changed the menu to include food from different cultures and countries so we never get bored of eating the same thing over and over.

You will be amazed how much food you can make with vegetables rather than just meat. These changes have moved my husband from a meat eater to the person who now recommends vegan Turkish food for dinner. 

Weekly Menu - 17 March

Monday

School Lunch: Chicken Tenders/ Lentil Tenders

Dinner: Sticky Thai Peanut Butter Chicken with Rice and Brocolli

Tips for this idea:

Thai Food is amazing and easy to make, I usually fry the chicken in a peanut butter and soy sauce, but you can also bake it if you wish to do so. The best alternative for chicken in Thai recipes are usually tofu or tempeh but you can always add chickpeas to this as vegan recipe.

Tuesday:

School Lunch: Lettuce & Tomato Subs

Dinner: Battered Fish & Chips

Tips for this idea:

For the lunch, subs are great, they are essentially a baked roll filled with toppings. I usually add fried salami or macon to the roll to give it some extra crisp. For supper, I am a huge fan of traditional fish and chips with some sauce.

Wednesday:

School Lunch: Nutella Bread Swiss Roll

Dinner: Mushroom Risotto

Tips for this idea:

Mushroom Risotto is an easier meal to make than I initally anticpated, it is a staple for me, although I need to admit that my kids are not huge fans. Mushrooms are a great ingredient to add to your meals as they are filled with great benefits.

Thursday:

School Lunch: Big Mac Spring Rolls

Dinner: Chicken Pot Pie

Tips for this idea:

Pot Pie is quite easy to make, my rendition of it is basically a vegetable based stew covered with puff pastry. The pastry then is baked and the result is amazing, you can make this meal vegan or vegetarian by only using vegetables in the pie base.

Friday:

School Lunch: Toasted Cheese

Dinner: Family Pizza Night

Tips for this idea:

We all need a night off, every two weeks I recommend a family pizza night one time a week. This is the greatest reward, order in or make your own.

Saturday:

Lunch: Hot Dogs

Dinner: Smash Burgers

Tips for this idea:

Over the past weeks, I have seen amazing recipes for brown lentils as a substitute for mince meat in various foods. For those looking for a sustainable solution to the burger without the monotonous taste of the grilled mushroom.

Sunday:

Supper: Red Lentil Curry with Fried Potato Slices and Chicken

Tips for this idea:

This is a household favorite and makes a great vegan or vegetarian meal. You can always add some grilled chicken or protein to the meal as an addition. It also goes well with Roti, Naan or even rice.

I hope this makes this week easier for you. If you feel like you this is something you need for the weeks ahead, please subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas for next week. ♥️