Emma Lee-Potter

Food shopping has never been my favourite pastime but the news that I’d been chosen to be a #MorrisonsMum made a bank holiday trip to the supermarket infinitely more pleasurable.

Morrisons has slashed the price of 1,200 everyday food essentials by up to 60 per cent and as part of the store’s campaign they sent a host of lucky BritMums bloggers £80 worth of vouchers to spend.

Since we moved to Dorset I’ve mainly done my shopping online but this time round I jumped in the car and drove to my nearest Morrisons – a huge store in Weymouth.

My foodie teenage son agreed to come with me (no arm twisting, I promise) and as we drove along the country lanes it seemed appropriate that the landscape was decked out in Morrisons’ jaunty colours – bright yellow fields of oilseed rape and lush green hedgerows.

When we arrived at Morrisons we had a real treat in store – mainly because the supermarket prides itself on its fruit and vegetables and displays its huge range brilliantly.

My son has turned vegetarian for the cycling season and wanted to make a batch of smoothies for himself. We were astonished by the prices – a pineapple for 69p, a grapefruit for 40p, a huge bag of bananas for £1.50, raspberries for £1.69, and so it went on.

So what else did we buy?

Our haul included five croissants for £1 (perfect for a bank holiday breakfast and way better than our local café), a stylish white casserole dish for £4, frozen spinach for £1.25, a pack of strawberries for 99p and a tub of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream for £2.49.

A few treats were essential too – so my son got a copy of his favourite cycling magazine (Cyclist) and I bought my daughter a bottle of Pinot Grigio.

I don’t usually buy alcohol for my children but L finishes her university exams next week and I reckon a celebration will be in order.

Maybe it was the prospect of the three-day weekend, maybe it was the prices, but the Weymouth store was packed with shoppers and everyone was in a smiley, holiday mood.

The staff were ultra-helpful and all in all the trip (unlike so many shopping forays) was hassle-free and fun.

The final bill was £80.77 for 44 items – a bargain in my book.

That night, tasked with the challenge of cooking a wholesome vegetarian supper for all of us, I rustled up a vegetarian lasagne and green salad – served in my smart new  casserole dish.

The verdict?

Clean plates all round…

PS: Most important of all, a big thank you to Morrisons and BritMums for the chance to take part.