I'm a mum-of-six - here's how I feed my kids their 5-a-day daily for £1 per meal (2024)

IT'S not every day kids sit down for a meal and happily chow down on the healthy food in front of them.

But it's easier than you think according to mum Claire Cerikci whose six kids help themselves to handfuls of olives, punnets of tomatoes and fresh carrots from the fridge daily.

In fact, the 43-year-old from Chelmsford, Essex, who runs the Instagram page The_Piplets, says she doesn't struggle to feed her kids their five-a-day because they "love fruit and vegetables" so much.

The best part is, she's still able to whip up affordable meals for her family-of-seven without going broke, spending a little as £1 per meal.

"My kids love fruit and veg. They’ll go and take raw carrots, peppers, they fight over olives as if they were sweets," she tells Fabulous.

"If I was to put down a bowl of olives they’d be gone in seconds, literally. If I’m cooking and put a punnet of tomatoes in front of them they’ll be gone before I get to cook with them."

According to the NHS, there are significant health benefits to getting at least five portions of a variety offruit and vegetables every day.

That's five portions of fruit and veg in total, not five portions of each, with a portion of fruit or vegetables being 80g.

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In the UK, the 5 A Daycampaign is basedon advice from theWorld Health Organization (WHO) and recommends eating a minimum of 400g of fruit and vegetables a day.

This is mainly to help lower the risk of serious health problems, such asheart disease,strokeand some types ofcancer, the NHS reports.

Healthy and cheap meal ideas

To ensure they're getting their 5-a-day, the mum-of-six will chuck in a load of fresh veg and add a little seasoning - which is something she says many parents fail to do.

Another firm favourite is veggie meatballs and spaghetti, which will feature a bountiful selection of vegetables too.

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Lasagna, Chinese-style rice and chicken wings are often on the menu, accompanied by a homemade sauce and side of salad or vegetables - all of which the kids devour in minutes.

Things like mushrooms, asparagus, green beans and onion are great in pasta dishes, Claire explains, and can often be picked up for cheap.

The most expensive meal Claire will feed for her family is a roast dinner, with a full chicken and vegetables costing her roughly £10 for the family of seven.

When the kids get home from school they’ll raid the fridge. It could be anything, apples, carrots you name it.
Claire Cerikci

While the kids do enjoy some crisps every once in a while, as well as sweets, a rare treat in their home, their go-to after school snack is always fruit.

"When the kids get home from school they’ll raid the fridge. It could be anything, apples, carrots you name it," she admits.

"We’ve got two big drawers at the bottom of the fridge which is always stacked with fruit. When they come in they’re crazy-hungry."

Claire insists that "if it's not there they can't eat it" referring to junk food and unhealthy snacks which are tempting for her too.

Claire details life as a mum of triplets on Instagram where her 31,000 followers often comment on the kids' healthy appetite.

She says: "On Instagram, we get loads of messages just saying how all the boys eat and how adventurous they are. They have really good appetites as well, my boys do eat a lot."

Supermarket tips to keep the cost down

The savvy mum will scan for discounts while doing her weekly shop with supermarkets like Morrisons often offering veg bundles.

This means she can add a variety of healthy items to her trolley without spending a fortune - and the kids get a wide range of tasty treats to choose from.

Another way she keeps the cost low is by choosing the "wonky" or "odd" varieties with Claire saying "I’m not bothered by what they look like, as long as they’re not mouldy."

Throughout the week, Claire will often pop into the local garage for bread or milk but won't walk out without checking the reduced section first.

She explains: "If we go in the early evening, say around five or six, a lot of their reduced stuff is already out so we’d buy bread or milk but I’ll also look to see what fruit and veg are discounted."

Just because it said to use by today, fruit and veg can quite easily go at least a week over, not all of them, and still be perfectly fine.
Claire Cerikci

"Whether they have a date on them or not, you can look at them and tell whether or not you can still use them."

This is often when she'll stock up on more expensive vegetables, like asparagus, and says even if it's a week out of date "it's still perfectly fine."

She explains: "It's just common sense really. Just because it said to use by today, fruit and veg can quite easily go at least a week over, not all of them, and still be perfectly fine.

"We often pick up broccoli and tomatoes discounted too. My boys like the vine tomatoes, they can be expensive, so if I walk in there and the vine tomatoes have been reduced, I’ll pick up two or three packets."

Claire, who is a vegetarian herself, says she'll regularly choose cheaper fruits such as apples, bananas and oranges which are "in the trolley every single week."

The same goes for vegetables like green beans, baby corn, potatoes and cauliflower which she reckons can be picked up for less than other types, particularly when part of a bundle.

She also suggests grabbing varieties that are currently in season which will certainly keep the cost down and avoid those which are out of season as they tend to cost way more.

Claire's tips for other parents

The mum-of-six says a great way to get the kids eating more fruit and veg is to get them involved in the cooking.

"If you get the kids to help make things they’re far more likely to try stuff they’ve helped prepare," she reveals.

"If you get the kids involved in chopping stuff up, seasoning things, even just helping to stir things, if they feel like they’ve helped make it they’re far more willing to try it."

If you're willing to go the extra mile you can try growing your own at home, with Claire saying it's another great way to get the kids excited about healthy food.

She reveals: "I used to run an after school club and we planted our own veggies from seeds. The kids helped me grow them, water them and they saw the whole process from the beginning.

"The kids helped look after them and when those veggies were ready to harvest, they used to go out and pick them, wash them, prepare them and you’d be surprised by the number of children who’d want to try because they’ve grown them - it makes a big difference."

If you get the kids to help make things, they’re far more likely to try stuff they’ve helped prepare.
Claire Cerikci

Another tip is to eat all meals sitting down together, particularly with other kid if you can.

Often, Claire says, kids will eat away without even realising it and before they know it all their veggies are gone.

This happens in Claire's house when her best friend Kerry pops over with her four daughters who are similar in age to Claire's triplets - and the neighbours' kids too.

"Where I live there are about 20 children that play together, and because my boys aren't fussy eaters, quite often my neighbours will put their kids with mine at dinner time and because my kids just eat and their kids tend to follow.

"If the neighbours' kids are with my boys, they’ll be far more willing to try things or will eat them just because my boys don’t flinch at it," she explains.

Claire reckons parents are too quick to give up on feeding their kids healthy food.

She says: "Parents are like ‘try it and if you don’t like it you can spit it out’ but you’ve already given them the key that all they only need to put it in their mouth and spit it out.

"I also think many vegetables are too bland for children, they need a bit of flavour, like a bit of garlic or something. That helps as well.

"Also, try not to overcook veggies. If it's all soft and mushy it’s not particularly pleasant."

Typical day of eating for Claire's kids:

Breakfast: Cereal, toast or a bowl of yoghurt with fruit and honey

Lunch: A sandwich or a veggie wrap or a cooked meal at school

Dinner: Pasta or another hot meal packed with vegetables

Snacks: Fresh vegetables including olives, carrots, tomato or cut up fruit including oranges, apples, bananas and kiwi

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