Australian mum’s $10 grocery meal challenge amid cost of living crisis

An Aussie mum has revealed how her cheap eats series on a social media platform led to her gathering a following of more than half a million people.

Jen has a $10 meal challenge series. Picture: Instagram

An Aussie mum has revealed how her cheap eats series on a social media platform led to her gathering a following of more than half a million people.

Jen Hanlon, like many of us, downloaded TikTok during the first wave of the pandemic.

But, in May 2021 she uploaded a recipe using a BBQ chicken – and many asked her to make similar recipes.

Her $10 recipes were born, with Jen taking out the cash and shopping specials at the supermarket in order to create a well rounded meal on a budget.

@jennnnaaayy Replying to @Jess Storey818 so i added 1/2 tspn ginger powder & 1 tspn chilli flakes along with salt & pepper 🥰 If you don’t want it as thick, add an extra cup of stock (so 4 x cups) or thin out with some water or extra stock after blended 🥰 #soup#Under10dollarmeal#Under10dollarmealchallenge#Cooking#budgetcooking#Budgetmeals#spon♬ original sound - Jennnnaaayy | Jen Hanlon

In a subsequent video, she then shows followers how to use the ingredients in order to pull off the recipe.

She has made everything from sweet potato soup to prepare for the cooler seasons, baked chicken drum sticks with spinach and butter chickpeas and rice.

Jen makes five meals using the recipes she creates – one each to her family-of-three, and then leftovers for herself and her husband for work.

“In particular on my videos I have had comments from single parent families and uni students who do give me the most feedback,” Jen told news.com.au.

“Knowing it’s giving people ideas on being able to make a home cooked meal for themselves or their families is important, it helps with stability and with mental health knowing you can still put food on the table.

“It doesn’t need to be gourmet, we just need it to taste good and not cost a fortune.”

Jen Hanlon had 555K followers on TikTok. Picture: Instagram

But, Jen’s series, like many family’s grocery bills were impacted by the rising cost of living, in part to supply shortages, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the pandemic and rising interest rates.

“I actually increased the challenge amount to $20 last year as it was getting a bit harder to shop for $10,” she said.

“But this year with cost of living becoming incredibly harder, I’ve gone back to the $10 amount to try and give inspiration to help those with smaller shopping budgets.”

Grocery bills in Australia have hit a new high, with a recent Finder survey of more than 1000 households finding the cost of a weekly grocery shop had jumped 25 per cent over the past year.

The average household now spends $185 per week on groceries, up from $148 in February 2022.

Jen has a $10 meal challenge series. Picture: Instagram

Finder money expert Sarah Megginson says the increase adds up to an additional $1924 per year per household, or $18.8bn nationally.

“Households are facing some very tough times and escalating grocery costs are an extra burden,” she said.

“Aussies are having to change how and where they shop just to keep food on the table.”

Jen added the most difficult item to fit into her $10 budget was meat.

“The price of meat makes it hard, I’ve started using and learning more about vegetable

based proteins to help make sure people are getting appropriate nutrients in their food,” she said.

Jen uses the cash and shopping specials at the supermarket in order to create a well rounded meal on a budget. Picture: Instagram

“Keeping an eye on supermarket specials and in particular, the deli are also ways to find cheaper proteins. I always start with a protein and build my recipe and ingredients list from there.”

Jen said that staples like pasta, rice and canned food often got a bad wrap but it all came down to a balanced meal.

She also said her meals weren’t supposed to be followed to the letter – they were intended as inspiration that her followers could put their own spin on as cooking shouldn’t be stressful.

For those struggling thanks to the rising grocery costs, Jen reminds them they aren’t alone.

“Know that you’re not alone. There is nothing wrong with shopping on a budget, you’ll surprise yourself with what you can make with a few ingredients,” she said.

“(Being) fed is best, the more you can learn to make from simple ingredients the easier it will be to budget.

“Be kind to yourself and remember that you’re doing your best with what you have.”