A bodybuilding couple have revealed how they cooked up nutritional meals for as little as 58p a portion to hit fitness goals and cut their weekly food spend. Gemma Parry, 36, and their partner Mel, meal prep and monitors portion sizes to cut the costs of the family food shop and keep a healthy diet to help maintain their passion for bodybuilding.
After moving cities a few years ago and stopping training altogether, Gemma returned home to Wrexham and went back to the gym, where they met partner Mel and have since maintained their healthy lifestyle. Gemma quit drinking to make the most out of their training sessions, began working out regularly and now they’ve found easy ways to cut the weekly budget down to save money.
Gemma and Mel use a £55 MuscleFood hamper to cut back on costs, cooking up tasty family favourites for as little as 58p a portion. Among the healthy, nutritionally balanced meals the couple are able to dish up from the hamper are Sausage Pasta for just 58p per person, family favourite Lasagna at 97p each, a tasty Chicken Curry for 99p per portion and a Roast Chicken Dinner for £1.28 each.
Gemma, who lives with partner Mel and their two children, said: “We’ve noticed our food shop budget has increased regularly over recent months, especially when you look to buy small items such as yoghurts which were 95p and now have gone up to £1.20. It’s difficult to stick to a sensible budget not only as a family but especially for someone on a bodybuilding diet which is why we began buying our meat in bulk from MuscleFood.
“Our monthly food shops have gone down a lot since using the hamper, you can plan your meals around the contents and with some careful planning and keeping portion sizes under control, you can make a lot of meals”. One of the meals Gemma and Mel made out of the hamper ingredients was a sausage pasta dish for four, costing only 58p per person.
They said: "It's about making the meal simple and not overcomplicating it and finding a cheap and nutritional meal to feed everyone. Another family favourite is a Sunday Roast for the family costing £1.28 each. Once you have the meat, the rest of the ingredients aren’t overly expensive.”
Gemma and Mel also made changes to their snacking habits and started looking for cheaper ingredients when out shopping. Gemma continued: “We were spending £8 on steaks just because we thought it was the best meat out there, but there are so many cuts of meat with the same nutritional benefits and cost less to buy.
“We’ve also adapted our snacking habits, avoiding chocolate bars and crisps and opting for protein-rich alternatives.”
Gemma has been bodybuilding seriously for around two years and shares their fitness journey on Instagram with their partner Mel said: “We both work out as a couple and set out goals for the year, we’re currently looking to start up our own coaching business - Proud Strength, once we have completed our PT qualifications.
“Over the next couple of years, I’m looking to focus more on bodybuilding and potentially compete professionally. Eating the right protein-rich, nutritionally balanced diet is as important as training. Being able to make low-cost, balanced meals is essential for our budget and lifestyle.
Gemma concluded: “Fitness and keeping fit is an essential part of our routine, which is why it’s important to find meals which don’t cost a lot but are also balanced and delicious. Prices are only going to keep rising this year, so we’ve shared a few tips to follow to help people save money on their food shops and keep healthy without spending a fortune.”
Ashleigh Tosh, from MuscleFood said: “We’re really pleased that our food hampers are helping those like Gemma looking to eat healthily and save money. Our aim is to provide nutritious meals to people’s doorsteps without them needing to break the bank.”
Here are Gemma and Mel’s three essential tips:
- Ignore the first shelves in the supermarket - Don’t fall for the big price-slashing signs and immediately put the items in your trolley. While it may be appealing at first thinking you’ve secured a bargain, you’ll be left feeling different when it comes to the checkout.
- Plan your meals - Go into the food shop with the mindset of what you already have in the freezer and the cupboards so you’re not spending double on ingredients. If there are meats at home, keep in mind that you may only need a couple of quid to spend on mushrooms and peppers.
- Portion control - Sticking to sensible portion sizes is one of the biggest factors in keeping fit and healthy. Having larger meals can not only be unhealthy if it’s not balanced right, but it can lead to excess waste if you can’t finish the meal.
