Cheap snacks usually come from ordinary ingredients used in several meals: oats, seasonal fruit, plain yogurt, beans and wholegrain bread. Compare the cost of what you actually eat, including waste.
Five budget combinations
Try a banana with plain yogurt; wholegrain toast with peanut butter; apple slices with a small portion of unsalted peanuts; a small bowl of oats with milk; or mashed beans with lemon on toast. Adapt for allergies. Frozen fruit can replace fresh fruit when it is cheaper and you can use the whole pack.
Calculate a real portion price
As a hypothetical example, a 1 kg tub costing £2.40 provides five 200 g portions at £0.48 each. A £0.35 banana makes the snack £0.83. Include toppings before comparing it with a single-serving product. A larger pack is not a saving if half is discarded.
Shop from your week
Choose two snack combinations before buying. Use the same yogurt for breakfast or a sauce and the same bread for lunch. Freeze sliced bread and remove what you need. Compare salt and added sugar on similar products; a “protein” or “natural” label does not by itself justify a higher price.
