Greatest meal offers within the UK

Tesco meal deal

• Tesco meal deal worth – £3.40 with a Clubcard, or £3.90 with out
• Meal deal options – A predominant, a snack and a drink
• Greatest worth Tesco meal deal – £6.35: a hen membership sandwich (£2.80), a sausage roll (£1.15) and a 473ml can of Crimson Bull (£2.40).

Tesco and meal offers go collectively like… properly, a predominant, a snack and a drink.

However 2022 was an eventful yr for the Tesco meal deal. The primary shockwave got here when, after 10 years of charging £3 throughout the board, Tesco launched a brand new system. Immediately, solely Clubcard holders might get it on the standard worth – everybody else needed to pay £3.50.

And as if that wasn’t sufficient, in October 2022, Tesco hiked the value for everybody by 40p. Now, a meal deal will set you again £3.40 when you’ve got a Clubcard, or £3.90 in case you do not. Clearly, even the standard meal deal is not proof against the consequences of inflation.

Let’s not dwell on the unhealthy information, although, as Tesco’s meal deal choice is probably the most intensive on the market.

Relying on what your native department shares, your selection of mains might embrace sushi, Rustler burgers, microwavable toasties, and even heat pastries or bakes, like sausage rolls.

And, regardless of the value rise, you possibly can nonetheless get a great deal. On condition that a lot of the smoothies value north of £2, there are numerous mixtures that will in any other case value way over £3.40 – and even £3.90!

Go to Tesco »

Co-op meal deal

• Co-op meal deal worth – £3.50 for Co-op members, or £4 for non-members (plus 10% scholar low cost)
• Meal deal options – A predominant, a snack and a drink
• Greatest worth Co-op meal deal – £8.10: a mozzarella and tomato pasta (£3.45), a Ginsters Cornish pasty (£1.95) and a 330ml bottle of harmless Bolt From The Blue (£2.70).

Like Tesco, Co-op has a two-tier system for meal deal pricing. Co-op members pay £3.50, whereas non-members must stump up £4 – nearly as good a cause as any to join a loyalty card.

Co-op can be one of many few supermarkets to supply a scholar low cost – and the excellent news is that you would be able to stack it with the meal deal supply. Meaning you might save as a lot as an additional 40p on the price of your lunch.

Whereas it is not the most affordable for non-members, we’re large followers of the meal deal choice at Co-op. For starters, take a look at the gadgets in our best-value choose. Your eyes don’t deceive you – a cornish pasty actually does rely as a snack.

And the selection of mains is not unhealthy both. In addition to the standard meal deal contenders, like sandwiches, salads, pasta and sushi, you possibly can seize a soup or perhaps a stuffed naan. Effectively definitely worth the £3.50, we reckon.

Go to Co-op »

Sainsbury’s meal deal

• Sainsbury’s meal deal worth – £3.50 (£5 deal additionally obtainable)
• Meal deal options – A predominant, a snack and a drink
• Greatest worth Sainsbury’s meal deal – £7.20: a falafel and couscous salad (£3), a Nomadic yoghurt with chocolate and oat clusters (£1.55) and a 370ml carton of Emmi caffè latte (£2.65).

Whereas the meal deal at Sainsbury’s is marginally dearer than at Tesco, the value is similar for everybody. Meaning there is no should be a Nectar member, so you will pay £3.50 whether or not you’ve got a loyalty card or not (though we would suggest getting one anyway).

As you possibly can see, there’s enormous potential for financial savings right here too. We managed to discover a mixture that, outdoors of the supply, would have value over double the value of a meal deal. And there have been just a few different choices for the primary that additionally value £3, so you possibly can nonetheless get a whopper of a deal even in case you do not fancy a salad.

Wanting on the snacks, the choice would not disappoint both. The person items of recent fruit do not make for the savviest of economic decisions in a meal deal context, however they are a refreshingly wholesome different. Or, in case you’re after one thing candy, you are welcome to select from a spread of treats from the bakery as an alternative.

Sainsbury’s £5 meal deal

It is hardly a discount, but it surely’s price understanding that Sainsbury’s affords a £5 meal deal too.

The £5 format is strictly the identical (i.e. a predominant, a snack and a drink), and the drinks and snacks included within the deal are similar too.

The one distinction is that, with the £5 meal deal, the choice of mains is changed with a complete host of dearer choices. These are principally from Sainsbury’s Style the Distinction vary, so we’re speaking premium salads, sandwiches and wraps.

A few of these mains value as a lot as £4.50. So, mixed with the costliest drink and snack (which we picked above), you might get £8.70’s price of meals for simply £5. Removed from low-cost, however a formidable saving nonetheless.

Go to Sainsbury’s »

Morrisons meal deal

• Morrisons meal deal worth – £3.50
• Meal deal options – A predominant, a snack and a drink
• Greatest worth Morrisons meal deal – £7.05: a hen caesar wrap (£2.85), hen tikka kebabs (£1.75) and a 500ml Vita Coco coconut water (£2.45).

It might not have the largest or boldest meal deal choice however, at £3.50, Morrisons’ supply nonetheless represents a strong choice in case you’re ever close to certainly one of its shops.

The selection of snacks particularly is pretty restricted. However, like Co-op, there is a rogue merchandise in there that you just’d often anticipate finding within the mains: a decent-sized portion of sushi.

Costing simply £1.50, the sushi did not make it into our best-value choose because it’s cheaper than the kebabs. Nonetheless, by way of the quantity of meals, and the pure feeling of getting a great deal, it is a winner.

In any other case, it is just about enterprise as standard at Morrisons. The mains encompass wraps, sandwiches and pasta, whereas the drinks choice options smoothies, juice, and a few Costa Espresso cans. Nothing exceptional, however a meal deal nonetheless.

Go to Morrisons »

ASDA meal deal

• ASDA meal deal worth – Varies (choose three gadgets and the most affordable is free)
• Meal deal options – Any three eligible gadgets
• Greatest worth ASDA meal deal – Varies.

ASDA’s meal deal is a bit of completely different to your conventional setup.

Relatively than getting a predominant, a snack and a drink for a set worth, ASDA permits you to choose any three eligible gadgets and offers you the most affordable one at no cost. And with it, this distinctive supply brings some professionals and cons.

On the plus facet, you actually can choose any three gadgets – so if you would like three sandwiches, you possibly can have them.

Nonetheless, it might probably make ASDA’s meal deal a bit of dearer than others.

Let’s use the costliest meal mixture for instance. If you happen to went for the costliest sandwich (there are just a few for £3), the costliest snack (two eggs for £1.25) and the costliest drink (Bare Blue Machine smoothie for £2.36), you’d get the eggs at no cost. However, you’d nonetheless be spending £5.36.

Examine that to each different meal deal, the place the associated fee is capped it doesn’t matter what you choose, and it is hardly one of the best supply.

Plus, as a result of there is no set value, you possibly can’t get the smug sense of satisfaction of understanding you’ve got maxed out the deal and obtained the easiest worth.

Go to ASDA »

Greggs meal deal

• Greggs meal deal worth – £3.60
• Meal deal options – A salad/sandwich and a drink
• Greatest worth Greggs meal deal – £5.15: a roast hen and bacon membership baguette (£3.25) and a daily flat white (£1.90).

To not be outdone by its grocery store rivals, Greggs additionally affords a meal deal. In reality, Greggs truly affords meal offers, plural.

Along with the sandwich and salad offers, there are 4 different affords for bakes, savoury rolls, candy treats and pizza, all of which include a drink. However, as they’re probably the most ‘meal deal’ of all of the choices, we’ll stick to only reviewing the salad and sandwich combos right here.

Your entire favorite Greggs sandwiches are included within the meal deal, as are the salads (if certainly anybody truly will get a salad from Greggs). As for the drinks, you’ve got your selection of a bottled chilly drink or a regular-sized cup of any of the new drinks.

Now, you could be considering that, at £3.60 for simply a predominant and a drink, Greggs’ meal deal is poor worth in comparison with the opposite choices on this record. And that is presumably a good argument – except you are a scholar.

Why? As a result of Greggs’ scholar low cost will get you a free sausage roll, vegan roll or candy deal with everytime you purchase a chilly sandwich meal deal.

Issue that in, and also you’re getting the total main-snack-drink expertise, with added Greggs high quality, for simply £3.60. Simple to see why it is certainly one of our favorite Greggs hacks, is not it?

Go to Greggs »

Observe our meal plan

If you happen to thought £3.50 was good worth for lunch, assume once more. Our scholar meal plan will get you your breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for lower than £3 a day.

Among the many lunches within the plan are recipes for a bean salad, cheese and onion rosti and even a pasta dish. Nearly all of them are cheaper than £1 a portion, with most costing far much less. And, you get two different tasty, nutritious meals every single day (plus snacks), all for lower than a meal deal.

However what in case you’re completely determined for a sandwich? Effectively, even then, a meal deal can nonetheless be crushed…

Make your individual low-cost sandwich

Credit score: VelP – Shutterstock

We get it: a home made sandwich can appear a bit of bland in comparison with the choice within the outlets. But it surely would not should be this manner.

Our record of low-cost however tasty sandwich fillers is packed filled with concepts that’ll provide the mouth-watering lunch you’ve got been craving. And, extra importantly, they need to all value much less per portion than what you’d get in a meal deal.

If none of our concepts fairly tickle your fancy, that is okay too. The principle takeaway right here is to assume past ‘ham and cheese’ and check out making some extra thrilling sandwiches at residence.

Attempt making your individual soup

One or two supermarkets supply soups as a part of their meal offers, which may be an absolute godsend in case you’re after a winter hotter.

That stated, irrespective of how low-cost the meal deal is, it will nonetheless be dearer than making your individual soup at residence.

We have now a handful of easy soup recipes that even probably the most unaccomplished chef can knock collectively. All of them value properly underneath £1 a portion, and our blended vegetable soup recipe particularly is tremendous low-cost and simple to make.

Get low-cost meals from TooGoodToGo

Credit score: WAYHOME studio – Shutterstock

We have been large followers of anti-food waste apps for some time now, and TooGoodToGo is without doubt one of the greatest for a lunchtime haul.

This app permits outlets, eating places and cafes to promote extra inventory at a lowered worth. Join, and you’ll see all of the locations in your native space that use it, together with what they usually promote and for a way a lot.

Loads of large chains use TooGoodToGo, together with Greggs, Pret and Costa. With regards to a lot of these locations, you will often be capable of purchase a thriller bag of things with a choice of sandwiches, truffles and different freshly ready meals.

The precise contents will range relying on what’s left over on the finish of the day, however you will virtually actually find yourself with lunch for at the least a few days, sometimes for lower than £5.

Simply observe that, as you are shopping for inventory that is left over on the finish of the day, most pickup instances are lengthy after lunchtime. So, you will should be considering forward to the remainder of the week while you’re utilizing this tip.

Try the lowered part

Once more, this trick is greatest used on the finish of the day, as that is when supermarkets actually begin to fill their lowered sections.

As you will know, the inventory will range every day relying on what occurs to be going old-fashioned. However as we clarify in our information to holding meals recent for longer, best-before dates are actually only a guideline. Most meals must be advantageous to eat for a few days afterwards!

Whereas there are sometimes just a few prepared meals to be discovered, the actual lunchtime win comes if any of the meal deal mains have discovered their manner into the yellow sticker realm.

You will not get a snack and a drink to your troubles, but when the primary is lowered by sufficient, you possibly can all the time use the financial savings to purchase them individually.