Tesco Emergency Food Shop Challenge – How much emergency food supplies can you buy for £10? Shopping list of budget-friendly cupboard foods, with prices and ideas for building an emergency food supply.
£10 Tesco Emergency Food Shop Challenge | How Much Food Can You Buy?
I headed to Tesco to see how much emergency food I could buy for less than £10. With the UK government encouraging households to prepare for emergencies by keeping essential supplies at home, I wanted to see how far a small budget could stretch when shopping for affordable, mostly shelf-stable foods.
For this challenge, I focused on foods that can be stored in the cupboard and combined together to create simple meals and snacks. The aim was to keep the total under £10 while choosing a variety of foods that could be useful to have on hand.
I managed to buy 13 items for a total of just £9.88!
My £10 Tesco Emergency Food Shopping List
Here is everything I bought for my Tesco emergency food shop, along with the price of each item.
| Food item | Price |
|---|---|
| Choco hoops cereal | £0.85 |
| Tortilla chips | £0.78 |
| UHT milk | £0.65 |
| Sweetcorn | £0.53 |
| Sultanas | £1.49 |
| Apple sauce | £0.75 |
| Tuna in brine | £0.63 |
| Rice cakes | £0.79 |
| Canned fruit in juice | £1.15 |
| Mixed beans | £0.69 |
| Beef paste | £0.47 |
| Fruit and nut mix | £0.65 |
| Spaghetti rings | £0.45 |
| Total | £9.88 |
That left me with 12p from my £10 budget. Prices can vary between stores and over time, so your own shopping total may be slightly different.
What Can You Buy for £10 at Tesco?
I was pleased to come away with 13 different items for under £10. Below is everything I got and how I would make use the foods in this shop.
1. Choco Hoops Cereal – 85p
Cereal is a straightforward breakfast or snack option that requires very little preparation. Choco hoops can be eaten with UHT milk, making this a convenient combination to keep in the cupboard.
2. Tortilla Chips – 78p
Tortilla chips are an easy snack that can be eaten straight from the packet. They could also be served alongside tinned beans or sweetcorn for a simple cupboard meal.
3. UHT Milk – 65p
UHT milk is particularly useful in an emergency food cupboard because unopened cartons can be stored without refrigeration, according to the storage instructions on the packaging.
It can be used with cereal, added to hot drinks or used in recipes where milk is needed. Once opened, it will need to be refrigerated and used according to the label.
My family of 4 (including 2 teenage sons) can easily get through a carton of milk with cereal in one meal, if your family can’t and you don’t have refrigeration then accumulate smaller cartons that you know you will be able to get through in one sitting.
4. Sweetcorn – 53p
Sweetcorn is a versatile cupboard ingredient. It can be added to rice, pasta, salads or other simple meals.
If you buy tinned sweetcorn, check whether it can be eaten straight from the tin. Any leftovers will need to be refrigerated in a suitable container and used promptly.
5. Sultanas – £1.49
Sultanas are useful for quick snacks and can be eaten straight from the packet. They are also easy to add to cereal or combine with nuts and seeds.
They are a convenient way to keep dried fruit in your cupboard without needing fresh fruit that may spoil more quickly.
6. Apple Sauce – 75p
Apple sauce can be served as a snack or used as an ingredient in baking. Depending on the product, it may also be useful alongside other foods.
Check the packaging for storage instructions, particularly once the container has been opened.
7. Tuna in Brine – 63p
Tinned tuna is a useful source of protein and can be eaten without cooking when the tin is ready to eat and opened safely.
It can be served with rice cakes, mixed with beans or combined with sweetcorn to make a simple tuna mixture.
8. Rice Cakes – 79p
Rice cakes are a handy cupboard snack. They can be eaten plain or topped with tuna, beef paste, peanut butter and jam or another spread.
They are lightweight and easy to store, although they can become stale if the packaging is left open.
9. Canned Fruit in Juice – £1.15
Canned fruit provides an alternative to fresh fruit and can be kept in the cupboard until needed.
Fruit packed in juice can be eaten on its own or served alongside cereal. It is another option for adding variety to an emergency food supply.
10. Mixed Beans – 69p
Mixed beans are a useful ingredient to have available because they can provide fibre and plant-based protein.
I was particularly interested to try these mixed beans in a vinaigrette, which provides and opportunity to easily create a meal when mixed with other pantry staples such as tuna to create a flavorful tuna and bean salad.
11. Beef Paste – 47p
Beef paste is an inexpensive spread that can be used on rice cakes or other crackers and bread products.
It is a convenient option for a quick snack without cooking. As with other packaged foods, follow the storage instructions once opened.
12. Fruit and Nut Mix – 65p
A fruit and nut mix is a convenient snack that combines dried fruit and nuts. It can be eaten straight from the packet and requires no preparation.
Be sure to check the ingredients for allergens if you are buying food for a household with allergies.
13. Spaghetti Rings – 45p
Tinned spaghetti rings are an inexpensive option for a quick meal. If the product is ready to eat, it can be eaten cold or heated if you have access to suitable cooking facilities.
It is worth checking the label for storage and preparation instructions before adding it to your emergency food cupboard.
Can You Eat These Foods Without Cooking?
One thing I considered when putting together this shopping list was how many of the items could be eaten without cooking.
Several are straightforward no-cook options, including the tortilla chips, sultanas, rice cakes, fruit and nut mix, beef paste and ready-to-eat tinned foods.
The cereal can be eaten with the UHT milk, while the tuna, mixed beans, sweetcorn and canned fruit offer additional options for simple meals and snacks.
This is useful if you are planning for an emergency where cooking facilities may be unavailable. However, remember that food preparation still depends on having safe drinking water, a tin opener where needed, and suitable ways to store any opened products.
How to Build an Emergency Food Cupboard on a Budget
You do not need to buy everything at once to begin building an emergency food supply. A small weekly budget can help you gradually add useful items to your cupboard.
Here are a few things to consider when shopping:
- Choose a variety of foods. Include carbohydrates, protein sources, fruit and other foods your household enjoys.
- Look for foods with a long shelf life. Check the packaging and choose items that can be stored safely at room temperature while unopened.
- Include foods that need little or no preparation. These can be especially useful if you cannot use your usual cooking facilities.
- Remember drinking water. Water is an essential part of emergency preparedness and should be planned for separately from your food budget.
- Buy foods your family will actually eat. Rotate your supplies and use items before their best-before dates where appropriate.
- Check dietary requirements. Choose foods that suit the people in your household, including any allergies or special dietary needs.
An emergency food cupboard does not have to consist entirely of foods bought specifically for emergencies. Everyday cupboard staples can form part of your supplies, provided they are stored correctly and are suitable for the circumstances you are preparing for.
Watch My £10 Tesco Emergency Food Shop Challenge
I filmed my Tesco shopping trip to show exactly what I bought and how much each item cost.
Watch the video to see the full £10 Tesco Emergency Food Shop Challenge and find out how I managed to keep the total under budget.
Hit play below or click here to watch on YouTube.
Frequently Asked Questions – Tesco Emergency Food Shop
What foods should you buy for an emergency food supply?
A good emergency food supply should include a variety of long-life foods that provide energy, protein and other nutrients. Tinned fish, beans, vegetables, fruit, cereal, crackers, dried fruit and UHT milk are all useful options. Choose foods your household enjoys and check that they can be stored safely without refrigeration while unopened.
Can you build an emergency food supply for £10?
Yes! You can start building an emergency food supply with a small budget by choosing affordable cupboard staples. In this Tesco £10 Emergency Food Shop Challenge, I managed to buy 13 different items for just £9.88. Although this is not enough to provide a complete emergency food supply for a household, it is a useful starting point.
What foods can you eat without cooking in an emergency?
There are plenty of foods that can be eaten without cooking, including tinned tuna, ready-to-eat beans, crackers, rice cakes, dried fruit, nuts and canned fruit. UHT milk can also be served with cereal. Always check the packaging to make sure products are ready to eat without heating.
How long do emergency food supplies last?
The shelf life of emergency foods depends on the individual product, packaging and storage conditions. Many unopened tins, dried foods and UHT products can be stored for months or longer. Check best-before and use-by dates, follow the manufacturer’s storage instructions and rotate your supplies regularly.
Do you need a tin opener for emergency food supplies?
It is useful to keep a manual tin opener with your emergency supplies, particularly if you have tinned fish, beans, vegetables or fruit. Choose easy-open tins where possible, but having a manual tin opener means you are not relying on electricity or a powered appliance.
What is the best way to store emergency food at home?
Keep emergency food supplies in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Store unopened products according to their packaging instructions and organise them so that older items are used first. Remember to check your supplies regularly and replace anything that has been used or is approaching its expiry date.
What should you include in a no-cook emergency food cupboard?
A useful no-cook emergency food cupboard could include tinned tuna, ready-to-eat beans, crackers, rice cakes, peanut butter, nuts, dried fruit, canned fruit, UHT milk and cereal. Also remember to plan for drinking water, as well as a manual tin opener and any other essentials your household may need.
Tesco Emergency Food Shop – Final Thoughts
My Tesco emergency food shop came to just £9.88 for 13 items, leaving me with 12p from the £10 budget.
The shopping list includes breakfast cereal, snacks, tinned foods, dried fruit, nuts, UHT milk and ingredients that can be combined into simple meals. While this is only a small contribution towards a household emergency supply, it shows that you can start building a cupboard of useful foods without spending a lot of money in one go.
I will be continuing this series with more supermarket challenges to see what can be bought for £10 at different shops and which items offer the most variety for the money.
More Emergency Food Resources
10 Emergency Foods To Keep At Home
