Back to School Meal Planning

The new school year is underway already so Hannah has listed some of our favourite Back to School meal plans that the whole family will love.

Stir-fried Pork Balls

One of our delicious family recipes. This Shepard's Pie & Peas is part of our Back to School 2 meal plan for four.


School's back and the new term is already underway. Sudenly, thanks to the school run, life needs to start running like clockwork again. It sounds boring, but for a lot of families, sticking to a routine, being organised and planning are suddenly more important if you want to get everything done and still have quality time to spend with the kids.

“We can make your life easier with our family meal plans.”Here at the Resourceful Cook, we can help make your life easier with our family meal plans. We have three ‘Back to School’ themed meal plans that are delicious and easy to prepare. The menu in each meal plan is varied and interesting. They range from the old favourites like toad in the hole to dishes that are a little more adventurous, like chicken tagine.


We know that feeding a family can be expensive and if you don’t meal plan it can be extortionate! With inflation increasing to 4.5% this month and a recent survey by IFS (Institute of Fiscal Studies) suggesting that our household budgets will be squeezed for the next 10 years, careful spending suddenly becomes even more important. If your weekly grocery budget is feeling the pinch then why not try our ‘cheap eats’ and ‘less than a fiver’ meal plans? They are great, economical recipes that are nutritious and tasty.


Don’t forget, shopping online could save you loads more time too. Once you’ve selected your meal plan you can shop online with Asda or Tesco, which only takes 10 minutes - by filling your shopping basket with our online tool. If you haven’t tried it yet, give it a go.

Back to school meal plans:

Here’s a selection of back to school themed meal plans. View all our meal plans for families.


Serves 4

Back to School 1 - £59 shop for 7 nights.

7 delicious dinners - from Chicken Kiev to Toad in the Hole - that will keep your family full and happy.

Recipes: Toad in the Hole, Mustard Pork Stroganoff, Chicken Kiev, Spaghetti Carbonara, Beef Chilli Pasta Bake, Fisherman's Pie, Spicy Peanut Noodles. You'll need a cook's store cupboard.

Serves 4

Back to School 2 - £58 shop for 7 nights.

Seven delicious dinners, perfect for easing the family back into the school routine.

Recipes: Crusted Cod with Bacon Greens, Chicken & Mushroom Casserole, Stir-fried Pork Balls & Rice, Chicken Tagine with Couscous, Courgette & Pea Risotto, Spaghetti Bolognese, Pasta Caponata. You'll need a cook's store cupboard.

Serves 4

Back to School 3 - £41 shop for 7 nights.

More delicious dinners, perfect for easing the family back into the school routine.

Recipes: Shepherd's Pie, Black Bean Stir-Fry, Sausages with Bubble & Squeak, Cheat's Bacon Carbonara, Gnocchi Pasta Grill, Honey Glazed Pork, Mediterranean Tartlets. You'll need a typical store cupboard.


Great value family meal plans:

Here’s a selection of our cheap but delicious meal plans for families. View all our meal plans for families.


Serves 4

Super Cheap Eats - £26 shop for 7 nights.

Seven delicious dinners perfect for anyone struggling to stick to a budget - happy food for tricky times.

Recipes: Creamy Pork Pasta, Corned Beef Cottage Pie, Chilli Con Carne, Zesty Vegetable Stir-fry, Spaghetti & Meatballs, Bacon & Broccoli Pasta Grill, Bangers & Mash. You'll need a basic store cupboard.

Serves 4

Dinners for a Fiver 1 - £29 shop for 7 nights.

Feed your family for a fiver with seven family favourites for an average of £5 or less per meal.

Recipes: Spaghetti & Meatballs, Turkey Meatloaf & Mash, Bacon & Broccoli Pasta Grill, Bangers & Mash, Lemon Roast Chicken & Veg, Braised Chicken & Beans, Corned Beef Cottage Pie. You'll need a basic store cupboard.

Serves 4

Dinner for a Fiver 2 - £34 shop for 7 nights.

More tasty and filling family meals for an average of £5 or less per night.

Recipes: Cheesy Broccoli Pasta Grill, Spicy Sausage Meat Pasta, Easy Chicken Couscous, Spaghetti Bolognese, Vegetable Frittata, Tartiflette, Chilli Con Carne. You'll need a basic store cupboard.


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