After 25 years in the kitchen and now as a new dad, I’m refining a system to cook less and eat better, making fresh, high-quality meals with minimal effort. This series will show you how to make ingredients go further, reduce waste, and eat delicious, sustainable food—all while staying within the UK’s average household food budget.

Whether you’re a home cook, a restaurant chef, or just looking for ways to eat better, this series is designed for you. I’ll show you how to cook smarter, stretch high-quality ingredients, and make every meal cost-effective, nourishing, and full of flavour. No matter your budget, these tips will help you get the best out of the food you buy—whether that means shopping at your local greengrocer, cooking more from scratch, or choosing organic when you can.

Each batch-cook recipe is costed based on supermarket prices at the time of writing, with a focus on seasonal, local, and organic ingredients wherever possible. I shop at my local farmers’ market first, stocking up on affordable fresh produce, then bulk-buy whole foods online, and finally top up with essentials from the supermarket.

First Up: Braised Pork with Roasted Apples, Butter Beans & Cabbage

A slow-cooked, comforting dish that makes high-quality ingredients go further. Warming, hearty, and full of rich, deep flavours, it’s built around simple, affordable techniques that help you cook smarter and waste less.

 5 Simple Strategies to Eat Better on a Budget

1. Batch Cook & Stretch Your Food 🥘
Cooking in bulk saves time, money and energy. This braised pork dish feeds my family five times over. Portion it up and freeze meals for later—so you always have a home-cooked meal ready with no extra effort.

2. Root to Fruit Cooking 🍃
Using the whole ingredient—stalks, leaves, and everything in between—not only saves money but maximises nutrition and flavour. Here, I’m using the whole cabbage, ensuring nothing goes to waste.

3. Flip the Plate: More Plants, Less Meat 🫘
Meat is expensive, so I’m making it go further by bulking this dish out with fibre and protein-rich beans. This cuts costs while making meals more nourishing and climate-friendly.

4. Use Vinegar Instead of Expensive Alcohol 🍾 ➡️ 🍏
Vinegar adds the depth and complexity of alcohol at a fraction of the cost. A splash of cider vinegar in this dish balances the richness of the pork, enhances flavour, and may even have added health benefits.

5. Focus on Quality, Not Quantity 🥩
Instead of buying large, pricey cuts of low-welfare meat, I spend an equivalent amount or less when I choose affordable but high-quality cuts like pork shoulder. Even in smaller amounts, high-welfare meat delivers better flavour and nutrition while supporting sustainable farming.

 Try the Recipe: Braised Pork with Roasted Apples, Butter Beans & Cabbage
Slow-cooked pork shoulder melts into a rich braise with roasted apples, butter beans, and cabbage. A little crème fraîche at the end makes it extra luxurious but isn’t essential. Serve it as is, with crusty bread, or over mashed potatoes.

Watch the full recipe video below! If you’re enjoying this series, don’t forget to subscribe to my Youtube Channel for more batch-cooking tips and seasonal recipes. Let me know in the comments how you make this dish your own!