Latest news with #familymeals
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Teen Is in Trouble for Wearing Noise-Canceling AirPods at Dinner — but She Thinks She Had a Valid Reason
A Reddit user vented about her family's loud chewing at the dinner table — and revealed her 'sneaky' solution 'I sneakily put my AirPods into my ears (no music playing of course) and I covered them with my hair. I set them on noise canceling,' the 14-year-old Redditor wrote Her mom caught her, got mad and told her it was 'immature' and 'disrespectful' to wear AirPods to the dining tableA 14-year-old girl discreetly tuned out her family until she got caught. The teen explained on Reddit's 'Am I the A------' forum that her mom is 'mad' at her for wearing AirPods to the dinner table at a relative's house to cancel out the noise of her family's loud chewing and talking. 'I have very good hearing. I would say it's better than average,' she wrote. 'Of course, better-than-average hearing can be great sometimes, but it can also be a pain — especially considering the fact that I am very VERY sensitive to chewing noises. They truly disgust me.' 'This problem has been a real touchy subject in my family,' she continued. 'I've told my parents about it before, but they write it off as me being extra sensitive because I haven't eaten enough that day or something.' The girl then described her summer visit to the relative's house. 'He, as well as most of my family, is a very loud talker and an especially loud chewer,' she said. 'The noises have been overwhelming and I am sitting with people on either side of me and across from me.' 'Sometimes it gets so irritating I feel I must excuse myself to the kitchen,' she wrote, before detailing her 'polite and sneaky solution' to the noises around her. 'I sneakily put my AirPods into my ears (no music playing of course) and I covered them with my hair. I set them on noise canceling.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Her solution worked 'pretty well' with the chewing and the talking still audible but not as unbearable to her. However, her mom got mad and told her it was 'immature' and 'disrespectful' to wear the AirPods to dinner. Wondering if her mom is right, the teen asked Redditors, 'Am I the a------ for wearing noise-canceling headphones at the dinner table?' One reader reassured her that she's 'not the a------' and encouraged the teen to 'get tested for things like misophonia [severe sensitivity to sounds] because what you're describing is not just sensitive hearing.' is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! As other people chimed in about misophonia — which the Cleveland Clinic describes as 'a disorder where you have a decreased tolerance to specific sounds' — the teen responded to their comments. 'Thank you! I told my mom about it and she looked into it,' the teen replied in an update in her Reddit thread. 'She is allowing me to wear headphones now and we will talk to my therapist about it too!' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aussie dad's Aldi shopping list to make 40 meals for $140: 'That's $3.48 a serving'
It's become a common complaint that you get less in your shopping trolley these days, even though you are probably spending more. There are so many household essentials that have soared in price while declining in quality, leaving shoppers disgruntled and, quite frankly, stressed out. For example, egg prices have risen by over 11 per cent, cooking oil is up seven per cent, fruit and vegetables cost six per cent more, and lamb has soared by a massive 17 per cent. Compare the Market research has found that the issue is so bad that groceries are now the most worrisome bill for most Aussie households. It's no wonder that shoppers are looking for ways to make their money go further while keeping their families fed. 'Honestly, times are tough for a lot of Aussie families right now. Between rent, fuel, and groceries, it all adds up really quickly,' chef and dad Brodie Liam tells Yahoo Lifestyle. It's why Brodie, who shares approachable and delicious meal plans on TikTok via That Aussie Dad, decided to go on a cost-saving mission to find an affordable shopping list and menu. RELATED: Best meat to buy from Aldi Coles and Woolworths and what to get from the butcher Aussie mum saves $140 at Aldi on weekly shop using AI meal planning: 'A real winner' Aussie dad's 'amazing' slow cooker recipe using Aldi ingredients: 'Just $5.50 a serve' 'I wanted to show people that you can still eat good, fun, family-friendly meals without blowing your budget,' he tells us. 'I've got a young family myself, so I know how important it is to make food that's affordable, filling, and that the kids will actually eat," he adds. Brodie says the trick is shopping at ALDI, where you can feed a family of 4-5 for under $140, which, given that the average Aussie grocery bill is around $240, is an impressive saving. He also says he starts by writing a meal plan. 'I write out a meal plan, make a shopping list for my ALDI trip, and try to double up on ingredients where I can. For example, if I buy mince, I'll use it across three or so different meals.' 'I also make a lot of slow cooker and one-pan meals, [because] those save heaps of time.' Although the menus are cost-effective and double up on some ingredients, they still include variety, so you don't get bored. 'There's heaps of variety even on a tight budget," Brodie says. "I mix it up with slow cooker meals, pastas, meatball subs, schnitzels, curried sausages, wraps, fried rice, you name it. Some nights it's proper comfort food, other nights it's lighter or more veggie-packed." For those who love their meat, Brodie says that meals can also cater to that. 'You can do a good mix of meat-based meals using beef mince, chicken thighs, sausages or even schnitzels, and still throw in a few cheaper veggie or pantry meals to keep the cost down,' he tells us. He continues, 'Most meals serve 4–5 people easily, and I try to reuse ingredients across the week, so nothing goes to waste. The goal is to keep it simple, tasty, and something the whole family actually wants to eat.' Some of Brodie's go-to meals include: • Creamy chicken pasta – You just need chicken breast, pasta, garlic, cream, a bit of cheese and frozen broccoli. Costs around $20, serves 4–5. • Slow cooker beef and veg stew – Chuck beef, potatoes, carrots, onion, a tin of tomatoes, and stock cubes. Around $20 for a big batch that feeds 5–6. • Fried rice – Leftover rice, frozen veggies, a few eggs, soy sauce, and bacon or ham. $15 and you can make heaps. Chicken burrito bowls – Chicken thighs, rice, canned corn, black beans, salsa, and cheese. Around $15-$20, and you get 4 big bowls. • Spag bol with hidden veg – Beef mince, canned tomatoes, onion, carrots, zucchini, pasta, and Italian herbs. About $20 and serves 5. • Creamy tomato sausage bake – Cheap sausages, pasta, passata, cream, cheese, spinach. Around $20 and so easy. And if the feedback is anything to go by, not only will you save money but impress even the fussiest eaters. 'I've been making quite a lot of your meals, I might even go ahead and do your exact shopping haul!! I appreciate your content so much,' posted one of Brodie's followers. SHOP: 🦥 Boody's new range in sizes S to XL are 'the softest sets you'll ever wear': 'Comfy and chic' 💁♀️ Two-minute product that works wonder on brows in 28 days 🥛 $4.50 Woolies protein find gets a 10/10 from shopper: 'Noticed real changes' 'Your videos are fantastic! The breakdown on each meal is great, I always run out of ideas and the food you have made looks so good! Please keep sharing,' said another. Says Brodie, 'So many people message saying they've saved money, their kids are eating better, and they're actually excited to cook again. 'I've had parents say they've halved their takeaway receipts! Others have said they're finally sticking to a weekly budget for the first time in ages.'
The Sun
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Future of Joe Swash's Channel 4 show revealed after his reality series with Stacey Solomon came under fire
JOE Swash's Channel 4 future confirmed - after backlash over reality show with Stacey Solomon. Joe Swash's TV fate has been revealed as Channel 4 decide to commissioned a second series of Batch From Scratch: Cooking For Less. 6 6 Presenting alongside batch-cooking guru Suzanne Mulholland, the duo help families slash food bills and kitchen stress to rescue cash-strapped families struggling to feed the fam without blowing the budget. The Channel 4 series sees the pair meet households across the UK in need of serious help when it comes to mealtimes - from bloated food bills to chaotic dinner routines. The plan? Cut meal prep down to just one hour a week by cooking smart, freezing in bulk and making food stretch further. With over half a million online followers and a string of Sunday Times bestsellers, Suzanne has become the queen of time-saving meal hacks - and now she's bringing her no-fuss food magic to the telly. With help from Joe, Suzanne will whip up bespoke menus tailored to each family's favourite dishes, showing them how to save time, cash and kitchen stress. The show is produced in partnership with Lidl, and comes as more and more Brits look for ways to make their weekly shop go the distance. Meanwhile on BBC One, Joe's reality show with his wife Stacey Soloman has also been renewed for a second series. The couple opened the doors to their home for the cameras, for a fly-on-the-wall look into their family life with their five kids. It shows her balancing a booming career, including a new perfume range, alongside the couple raising Rex, five, Rose, three, and Belle, two, plus her sons Zachary, 17, and Leighton, 12, from previous relationships, and Joe's son Harry, 16. Cameras are believed to be returning to their famous Pickle Cottage home later this year, to film what the family get up to. Watch the moment Stacey and Joe have furious row over their kids as he hangs up on her after she criticises his parenting Stacey and Joe say: 'The biggest thank you to every single person who watched the first series of Stacey & Joe... "We've been so grateful for all the lovely messages and we're so excited to bring out another series with the BBC.' The recommission may come as a surprise as they risked their reality show being axed after being accused of breaking strict BBC rules. They risked the wrath of Corporation bosses, by plugging their products while on the show. Stacey Solomon's career so far Stacey Solomon has been a familiar face on viewers' screens for over a decade. Let's take a look back at her career. The X Factor (2009): Stacey competed in series six of long-running ITV singing competition The X Factor. During her time in the show, she was mentored by Danni Minogue in the 'Girls' category. The star finished in third place, behind Joe McElderry and Olly Murs. I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here (2010); In late 2010, Stacey headed to the infamous I'm A Celeb Aussie jungle. After 21 days, she triumphed to win the tenth series. It was through I'm A Celeb that she met future husband Joe Swash - who'd won two years earlier and was hosting the ITV2 spinoff. Celebrity Juice (2011―2013, 2016―2019): The star appeared as a panellist on 21 episodes of the comedy panel game show hosted by Keith Lemon. Stacey was a regular in the 21st series, broadcast in 2019. Loose Women (2016 - present): Stacey has been a permanent panel member of the daytime show since 2016. She previously made guest appearances in 2011 and 2012. Sort Your Life Out (2022 -present): This BBC show sees Stacey, with the help of an expert team, transform participants' living spaces after removing clutter. In one scene, Stacey told the cameras: 'I'm going to be trying on my last summer collection. I have brand partnerships and design different things for those brands. Anything from homeware to clothing lines.' And she also teased plans for her own perfume brand, telling viewers: 'I've wanted to do this for so long now. Creating a perfume. I would love to sort of create scents from Pickle Cottage that really make me happy.' Stacey has also namechecked her haircare brand and homeware range, and hubby Joe has cooking account and family coffee company. This all breaks editorial rules to plug commercial deals on air, as they clearly state: 'No on-air talent should promote products, goods, services or clothing they use on air.' The rules go on to say that this includes anything they have 'agreed, or been contracted, to promote or in which they have financial interest.' A BBC spokesperson said: 'Stacey & Joe is a reality series following the daily lives of the couple which includes their work. "All commercial relationships featured are made clear to the audience and only included where editorially justified.' 6 6 6
The Sun
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Mess is the reason a quarter of UK parents struggle with kids in the kitchen – as TV chef reveals how to embrace chaos
TV Cook and Presenter Briony May Williams has revealed how to get kids involved in the kitchen – and why embracing the mess is vital. The baker, who reached the semi-finals of The Great British Bake Off spoke about the importance of getting children invested in each step of making – and eating – a meal, including giving them the title of head chef to feel trusted. 3 3 Top tips include giving little ones - and yourselves - regular breaks to keep them stimulated, compiling a playlist for fun background noise and focusing on a theme. But it's important to embrace the mess when cooking with kids, the sooner this happens the more relaxed adults will be, and everyone will enjoy the event more. It comes after a poll of 1,000 parents with kids aged 2-10, found 42 per cent struggle to get their children involved in cooking. And 23 per cent attempt to make dinner times more fun by creating artwork out of foods. Briony teamed up with Herta, which commissioned the study, to create a hot dog inspired meal featuring hidden veg ' ketchup ' and crispy carrot toppings. Cooking alongside her daughter, Nora aged nine, she said: 'Cooking with kids doesn't have to be as stressful as it might seem, encourage them to get involved. 'Let them get stuck in and if you're worried about mess, set up a specific place in the kitchen which children associate with making meals, a sturdy tablecloth will speed up the tidying at the end. 'While social media makes parents feel pressured to make Instagram-able food art, don't feel every meal has to be like this, a firm family favourite like hot dogs or pizza is a great starting point.' Other ways parents try and get kids to be more involved in the meal-prep process included letting them help choose what's for dinner (51 per cent) or turning the kitchen into a disco (32 per cent). While 32 per cent will try out new and unusual foods together, and 24 per cent swear by turning mealtimes into themed nights – like Taco Tuesdays, or ' Breakfast for Dinner'. But one of the key struggles parents experience when trying to get their child involved in cooking is a lack of time (25 per cent). However, 57 per cent of those polled, via OnePoll, consider cooking with their children enjoyable because of the time spent together. While 46 per cent believe it teaches them valuable life skills, and 40 per cent feel it encourages creativity and independence. Nearly nine in 10 (87 per cent) also think getting their little ones involved with cooking helps broaden the foods they're aware of. As many as 84 per cent believe allowing children to be creative in the kitchen helps them become more confident. The study went on to find families polled eat their meals together five times per week, with 38 per cent saying 'a lot' of conversation happens at this time. Child clinical psychologist, Dr Angharad Rudkin, said: 'Our relationship with food is a crucial foundation for our well-being throughout life. 'Giving our children the opportunity to get involved with cooking from a young age will help them feel grown up and capable. 'Although cooking together can take a bit of time and planning, the proof is, literally, in the pudding. ' Gemma Serdet, senior brand manager, for Herta which is offering a Try Me for Free offer until 4th August, said: "It's not only fun to encourage children to get involved with cooking in the kitchen but clearly beneficial too.' 'When it comes to helping kids develop confidence and curiosity, a little mess can go a long way.' 'Letting children get hands-on with food isn't just about fun, it's a great way for them to explore textures, tastes and ingredients in a way that's engaging and memorable.' TOP 10 REASONS PARENTS STRUGGLE TO GET KIDS INVOLVED IN COOKING: 1. Safety concerns 2. Difficulty keeping children engaged or focused during cooking 3. Lack of time to cook together 4. A struggle with balancing cooking and other responsibilities 5. Children prefer to eat prepared food rather than cook 6. They feel children are too young to help with cooking 7. Frustration with a child's reluctance to try new things 8. It's hard to find easy recipes that children can participate in 9. They prefer to cook alone or with less distraction 10. Children are not interested in food preparation BRIONY'S TOP 10 TIPS TO GET KIDS INVOLVED IN THE KITCHEN: 1. Make them Head Chef Involving kids in what you are making and giving them the chef hat really helps with engagement, you could even create a cute menu with them in breaks. 2. Expect mess The sooner you understand that when in the kitchen with little ones that it will be MESSY, the more you'll relax and enjoy. 3. Prep, prep, prep Pre-weigh ingredients, set them all out in front of the kids so they get excited about what you're doing. Kids can then just pick them up and pour them in - less food waste too. 4. Break time Taking time in the kitchen is brilliant, but when cooking with little ones have regular breaks to keep them stimulated. 5. Find a theme Get the kids to come up with a theme they want to explore when cooking, whether Mexican or Italian, to influence the dress code and decor as well as the food. 6. Create a playlist Compile a cooking playlist with your child, fun upbeat songs which will make being in the kitchen even more fun. 7. Cooking corner Set up a specific place in the kitchen for your cooking with the kids, if they're too small to reach the worktops, move all the utensils and bowls to the dining table. 8. Food art Don't feel pressured to make every meal a piece of 'art' like you see on social media, but an easy option if you want to give it a go is a pizza face. 9. Keep it simple Kids can't concentrate on one thing for too long, to avoid them losing interest choose straightforward recipes. 10. Kid's kit Get them their own set of safe and easy to use utensils so they can really get involved in chopping and prepping. 3
The Sun
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
I'm a mum-of-5 but feed the whole family for just 68p per meal – we never scrimp on our snacks & still enjoy takeaways
A SAVVY mum-of-five has revealed how she keeps her food costs down to just £100 a week without compromising on the food they love. Danni Calvey is able to feed her entire family of seven for just 68p per meal and has now shared her tips and tricks. 3 3 3 Danni and her partner Stephen, 32, have five kids; Chloe, eight, Ethan, seven, Joshua, four, Reece, three, and 10-month-old Mia. With such a large brood, the 28-year-old – who recently went viral in a TikTok that has over 1.1m views – has been forced to find savvy ways to budget when it comes to the food shop. 'Financially, as a large family we just work within our means,' the mum told What's The Jam. 'We meal plan and budget for bills throughout the month. Food shopping averages somewhere around £100 a week," which equates to around 68p per meal. 'We do days out and takeaways when we can afford it," Danni added. 'I feel it's very important to make memories, regardless of the money you've got to spend. 'Yes we are a large family but our house is always busy, which I love – and the children are never lonely. 'Unexpected bills or buys can really throw a spanner in the works – but we just make do.' From meal planning to digging out yellow sticker deals, here's how Danni, from Lincolnshire, scores a cheap meal. I made a weeks worth of sandwiches for just 30p - my hack means I have my lunch sorted whenever I need it, people think it's revolting but it saves me money YELLOW STICKER BARGAINS The mum says to always grab yellow sticker items, even if you don't think you'll need them. She said: 'Buy those yellow sticker bargains. 'Even if you're not going to use it straight away, there's not much that can't go into the freezer for another day. 'Buy it, save it.' SHOP AROUND Don't be too loyal to your local supermarket – visit different shops to save on pennies. She said: 'I tend to shop at Asda, simply because of the convenience. '[But] I use Aldi for nappies and wipes. 'And will go to farm foods every two months to do a big restock of fizzy drinks.' How to save money on your food shop Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year: Odd boxes - plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price. Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30. Sainsbury's also sells £2 "Taste Me, Don't Waste Me" fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash. Food waste apps - food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public. Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio. Too Good to Go's app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount. Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses. Yellow sticker bargains - yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap. But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here. Super cheap bargains - sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they've found on the cheap, including food finds. "Downshift" - you will almost always save money going for a supermarket's own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands. The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as "downshifting" and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop. PRACTICE SELF-CONTROL Stop yourself from buying unnecessary items. She said: 'As soon as I have spare money, I want to treat the kids. 'So if I know I need to save the money, it is sheer willpower to not go and spend it on something the kids definitely don't need. 'Other than that, I use a savings account that I transfer odd amounts of money over to. 'Or put change into a money tin.' PLAN AHEAD She said: 'To keep costs low in a food shop I always use a shopping list. 'I meal plan breakfasts, lunches and dinners and work around that. 'I prioritise making sure we have big evening meals and all of the stuff for that. 'And it definitely works, it's very easy to go off track and spend more than you intend to without [one]. KEEP SUMMER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES CHEAP The mum even manages to stick to budgets during the summer holidays. She said: 'Keeping the children entertained during school breaks can be a challenge, especially with their ages being so different. 'I like to keep the cost as minimal as I can. 'Our 'go to' activities are the library, local churches and nature hunts. 'I buy £1 brown party bags and write five items on each bag – then we go hunt for them in the park. 'We also go to Asda who have the 'Feed Kids for £1' [offer] so the children feel like they've been out for dinner – but it's only cost me £5. 'Feeding the ducks and going for walks are also things we do every holidays. 'When the budget allows we like to go on days out, to the farm and the seaside. 'I feel it's very important to make memories, regardless of the money you've got to spend. 'Yes we are a large family but our house is always busy, which I love – and the children are never lonely. 'Unexpected bills or buys can really throw a spanner in the works. 'But we just make do. 'We make changes and we adapt.'
