Eat Clean, Health and Dream: The Freezer Food Challenge Begins!

There’s something strangely comforting about a well-stocked freezer… until it becomes a frosty black hole of forgotten food.

With food prices steadily climbing and weekly shops creeping higher than we’d like, I decided it was time to take control. Instead of adding more to the trolley, I’m starting something different — a Freezer Food Challenge.

The mission?

Cut household spending

Reduce food waste

Save time

Keep meals healthy, balanced and fun

Maintain variety (because food boredom is real!)

And most importantly… use what we already have

If you’re anything like me, you’ll know the scenario: rummaging in the freezer only to discover three bags of something you forgot you bought — while simultaneously buying more of it at the supermarket. Guilty.

The Freezer Situation

We actually have two freezers:

• Our main household freezer

• A chest freezer (mainly for home-grown veg & fruit, fish caught courtesy of Craig — and occasionally myself — plus raw dog food for our Aussie Shepherd)

At the moment, the chest freezer is fairly low on stock, which makes this challenge even more timely.

Before starting, I did a proper freezer audit. No guesswork — everything out, checked, listed and organised.

Here’s what we’re working with…

Meat

• Half a leg of lamb

• 2 bags of beef stewing steak

• 1 large tray of chicken breasts

Plenty of protein options for slow cooks, roasts, curries and lighter midweek meals.

Fish & Seafood

• 5 mackerel

• 4 halibut fillets

• 1 bag of prawns

• 2 cod fillets

Such a brilliant base for healthy, omega-rich meals. Fish can feel “expensive” — so using what’s already there is a big win.

Vegetables (Mostly Home Grown)

• Sweetcorn

• Peas

• Chopped red onion

• Lots of home-grown tomatoes

• Pumpkin & squash

• Courgettes

• Green beans

This is where the “Eat Clean” part really shines. These are nutrient-dense, colourful and perfect for building balanced meals around.

Fruit

• A large bag of rhubarb

• Sliced lemons & limes (2 bags)

• Half a bag of raspberries

Desserts, breakfast toppings, sauces, smoothies… so many possibilities without buying anything extra.

Other Finds

• 3 potato waffles

• Bag of onion rings

• 2 portions homemade lasagne

• 5 tubs homemade vegetable soup

• 1 tub chicken stock

These are brilliant “busy day” lifesavers.

The Rules of the Challenge

1. Only use what’s in the freezers

2. Combine with store cupboard staples (rice, pasta, lentils, spices, flour etc.)

3. Fresh basics allowed: potatoes, carrots, salad bits — but nothing bought specifically to “complete” a recipe

4. Cook for fluctuating numbers (2, 4 or 6 people!)

5. Keep it healthy, balanced and interesting

Why This Makes Sense

1️⃣ Budget Friendly

Reducing even one big weekly shop can make a noticeable difference.

2️⃣ Time Efficient

Meal planning becomes easier when your “ingredients list” is already decided.

3️⃣ Waste Reduction

Food sitting too long = money in the bin. This challenge flips that.

4️⃣ Creativity Boost

When options are limited, creativity grows. New flavour combos, new ideas, new family favourites.

Keeping It Balanced & Fun

Healthy doesn’t mean repetitive.

With this mix we can create so many amazingly flavoursome and varied meals, possibly including:

• Slow cooked lamb with roasted squash & greens

• Beef and tomato stew with beans

• Mackerel with lemon and courgette ribbons

• Prawn and sweetcorn stir fry

• Rhubarb & raspberry compote over porridge

• Pumpkin soups enriched with homemade stock

  
  

By rotating proteins, varying cuisines and using herbs & spices from the cupboard, we avoid “same meal syndrome.”

What I Learned From the Audit

• I buy chicken “just in case” far too often.

• I freeze more tomatoes than I think.

• Fish gets forgotten at the bottom.

• Batch cooking (like soups & lasagne) is a gift on chaotic days.

  
  

Most importantly — we have more than enough.

Your Turn?

Why not try your own Freezer Declutter Challenge?

• Do a full audit

• Write it down

• Plan 7–14 days of meals (whatever works best for you, depending on size of freezer too)

• See how little you actually need to buy

You might be surprised how much money — and food — you save.

Over the next few blogs for Eat Clean, Health and Dream, I’ll be sharing:

The weekly meal plan Budget breakdowns

Recipes created from this list

What worked (and what didn’t!

Tips for keeping variety high and waste low

If you fancy joining me, grab a pen, open that freezer… and let’s get cooking from what we already have.

Less waste. More creativity. Balanced plates. And a healthier bank balance.

See you in the next post!