Eating Well V's Eating Cheaply??

misskool

freyasmum wrote: »

Another thing, and it may be quite controversial But maybe people are eating noodles and hotdogs because they actually like them? Just because you see something on a meal planner doesn't mean that's all the person eats.

I agree. Why are people so judgemental on what people want to eat? If they know the nutritional value (or lack thereof) and still choose to eat it, let them.

And as mentioned, it may be one main meal out of 7 days, it's not going to kill you.

BizzyMummy

Hi

I don't often post am more of a lurker I;m afraid - but not for any other reason than time really..

This post has made me a little sad. One of the brilliant things about the past few years and my struggle with money is the wonderful people on these posts and how much love time and attention they put into feeding their family for as little money as they can, when that is needed in order that their loved ones are fed and looked after.

My husband is self employed which brings great things such as being flexible with time around my boys and their activities etc, him enjoying what he does but the difficulty of not knowing what cash flow is like. Sometimes we are cash rich but most of the time cash poor!! This has made me realize that as a part-time worker (to fit in around children as we have no family close by) one of the best things I can do is to throw myself into OS cooking etc to try and eek out money as best I can.

I cook mainly traditional foods - toad in the hole, caserole, roast, soups, plus am lucky the boys will eat curry and pulses so really cheap things like chilli beans in a rissotto! and have found that they (inc husband) just love the fact that the meal is thought about and cooked for them.

Fruit and veg used to be delivered in an organic box - yes that was the first to go (why is food always the first to go has been asked? well the mortgage comes every month on the same day and I don't have a choice in that ) but you know, when you have two boys who are always starving but who are happy to eat basics apples to keep them going until dinner well its not really a choice what I buy.

Please bear in mind that everyone who spends time either reading or posting here are trying to do the best that they can on the money that they can - some weeks are better than others, some seasons and availability are better than others - but they all care about what they are doing and who they are doing it for. If not they would be just putting a meal in the microwave or getting a take out (now thats a distant memory!!).

Please don't put people down, we all know our family the best. Just to end (sorry its so long) my boys always thank me for eggs, chips and beans as if I've just spent hours making the most complicated Jamie recipe! now what does that say about my meal plan?

Keep going please OSers you inspire more people thans you know.

BMx

Lois_and_CK

BizzyMummy wrote: »

Keep going please OSers you inspire more people thans you know.

What she says. I've had loads of inspiration from these boards.

juliapenguin

I think it's an excellent point made above by freyasmum, that people eat hot dogs, tinned toms and noodles because they LIKE them. Those same people may eat no chocolate, no MacD's, no other carp full of rubbish.

My menu makes me look like some sort of nutritional saint, but I'm constantly giving in to the temptation to eat chocolate and leave the fruit in the bowl. The menu plan isn't the full story!

I agree that we should be encouraging each other, not picking fault.

thriftlady_2

juliapenguin wrote: »

My menu makes me look like some sort of nutritional saint, but I'm constantly giving in to the temptation to eat chocolate and leave the fruit in the bowl. The menu plan isn't the full story!

.

Oh, how very true that is:D

I'd just like to agree with what Star2007 says about taking inspiration from the peasant cuisines of the world. I think that 'cheap food = rubbish food' is very much a British/American thing, it isn't so in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, India, China, North Africa and many other places around the world.

maltesers_2

I have just come across a draft document called Eating Well at School: Nutrional and practical guidelines which may be of interest to some people. It is in pdf format.

http://www.laca.co.uk/resourcepdfs/26_CWT-Guidelines-March.pdf

It is well written and very comprehensive and amongst other things includes a summary of the history of school food in the UK (p21)and provides samples of complete nutrionally balanced menus for primary and secondary children which includes breakfasts, lunch, after school snack and after school meal and alternative packed lunch. (p 98)

EssexHebridean

Penny-Pincher!! wrote: »

Could you give us some examples of mealplans you think arent very good?

I cant see personally how you are buying that much chicken/protein and all other food for just £50pw. Do you buy the really value chicken for that?

Can you give us a typical days food and costing from your mealplan? I would be very interested to see it if you dont mind.

Thanks PP
xx

Interesting point. In my world, eating cheap chicken which has been badly reared, and pumped full of additional water to increase its weight is NOT eating well.

tessie_bear

i think some of the value range is good value....particularly fruit and veg ...with diet though its all things in moderation and its diets that are bad not individual foods...sometimes we may have a few shall we say less nutritious meals but then we will have better ones....i dont think it is fair to judge someones diet from one weeks plan....oh and i quite like tinned hot dogs...we have x2 tins a year...one bonfire night and one halloween

nesssie1702

Holy Crow! Bit of a thread this, isn't it?

Surely it's a case of striking the balance between what you can afford and what's good for your family? That will vary according to circumstances, finances and the types of shops you've got in your vicinity.

I can appreciate that some people perhaps don't have a good grasp of nutrition, but there's lots of help and advice here on the OS threads.

I don't post my menu plans, but I tend to list what we have on a daily basis in the Daily Thread. Yes some days are nutritionally more sound than others, but that's my decision based on my knowledge and experience.

thriftlady_2

I've just fed my family spaghetti with butter, cheese and garlic -and nothing else and I don't care:D How does anyone know what else we have eaten today, or what we will eat tomorrow, or indeed through the week? You don't have to treat every single meal as a lesson in nutrition.