It can seem like an uphill struggle injecting some variety into your diet without spending a fortune. Here are some hearty, filling recipes that will hit the spot -not your wallet!

Pasta Bolognaise: this old classic never goes out of style!
Heat 2 tsp olive/vegetable oil in a large frying pan over a low heat.
Add a diced carrot and onion and cook for 5mins, to soften.
Increase the heat and add 500g of minced beef/pork, stirring for 3 mins until it begins to brown.
Stir in a tin of chopped tomatoes and a little water and bring to the boil. Lower the heat and simmer gently for 5 mins. For extra flavour, try adding a stock cube and/or a little red wine instead of the water.
Meanwhile, cook 450g pasta in a pan of salted boiling water. Drain and return to the pan.
Stir in the Bolognese sauce and serve, sprinkled with a little grated cheese.
(For a vegetarian alternative, try substituting chopped button mushrooms and courgettes instead of the meat.)

Total cost per serving: approx £2

Chunky Casserole: a great one-pot meal to keep you warm through the winter (or the great British summer!)

Fry two finely chopped onions or leeks and a few sausages in a little oil until brown and thoroughly cooked.
Then add about 500g mixed beans (ie, tinned or dried kidney, mung, aduki, black eye beans and chick peas (if dry when bought, these should be soaked in water overnight before use) and stir until coated with the oil.
Add two tins of chopped tomatoes, ¼ pint of stock, two teaspoons of black pepper and the same amount of mixed herbs and bring the whole lot to the boil. Simmer gently for about 20 minutes and serve.
(The sausages are optional, feel free to simply leave them out if you prefer)

Total cost per serving: approx £2

Easy Jambalaya: a spicy Cajun treat straight from New Orleans!

In a large saucepan, fry 2-3 cloves of garlic, a small diced onion, two roughly chopped sticks of celery and a green bell pepper until soft.
Add to this a bay leaf, a tin of drained kidney beans, a chopped smoked sausage (you could use Chorizo or Andouille (available from most supermarkets) as a treat!), 150-200g white long grain rice, salt, a lot of black pepper and about ¾ pint of water.
Simmer for about an hour or until the rice is tender. That’s it, enjoy!

Total cost per serving: approx £3

Hearty Vegetable Soup: another one-pot warmer to help with your ‘five-a-day’!
Finely dice a large onion and two cloves of garlic and fry until soft in a little oil.
Roughly chop three parsnips, two sweet potatoes and four carrots and add to the pan with a tin of chopped tomatoes, dissolve two stock cubes in enough water to cover all veggies and simmer for 20-30 mins.
Serve with crusty bread and friends!

Total cost per serving: approx 50p

Here are just a few of our suggestions, if you have any cheap & cheerful recipes of your own that you’d like to share please feel free to post them on our message board. Bon appétit!