Assessment of Meal Planning and Budgeting Practices of Low-Income Households in Ilorin, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria

Effective meal planning and household food budgeting are core competencies of home management that directly influence dietary quality and family food security. In low-income households, these skills become especially critical for maximising nutritional outcomes within constrained financial resources. This study assessed meal planning and budgeting practices among low-income households in Ilorin, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was used, with 220 homemakers selected from three low-income residential communities through purposive sampling. Structured questionnaires assessing meal planning habits, budgeting practices, and food expenditure patterns were administered. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Results revealed that formal meal planning was practiced by fewer than 30 percent of respondents, with most households making food purchase decisions daily based on available cash. Protein-rich foods and fruits were frequently omitted from meals as cost-saving measures. A positive association was found between meal planning practice and household food security status. Respondents who had received Home Economics instruction were more likely to demonstrate structured meal planning behaviours. The study recommends that government social welfare programmes incorporate practical nutrition and home management modules, and that community women's associations receive targeted training on budget-conscious meal planning. Keywords: meal planning, budgeting, low-income households, Ilorin, food security