Eating Well V's Eating Cheaply??

Ada_Doom

I think maybe the op was naive to think she could question the way people feed their families and not expect the reaction she has got.

We are all trying our hardest to cope in differing situtions, and whilst there are people who os because they love the slower, more mindfull way of life there are others who like to save money and live on a tight budget even though there finances would allow them to live in a much more "luxiourous" if they wished.

Others, like Heidiboo above and myself os becuase we have no choice and we do not have a large income. In fact our income is frighteningly small, and to have such a daunting budget to bring children up on is scary and at times guilt inducing.

What i LOVE about this board is that i come on here and my lack of funds, which make me feel self consious and carp in the real world, is ok becuase we are all like minded. Ilove the fact that people with so little seem determined to wring the last drop of pleasure from life, and be responsible and face up to the challange of bringing up kids in a world where material wealth is all and try and show them that there is another way!

And if that means eating hot dogs and beans on toast...so be it!

(Sorry for the rant)

EssexHebridean

HeidiBoo - you're doing marvellously all things considered. Things like lentils, beans etc are going to be a godsend for you until things get sorted out a bit - you can either use them to bulk out a small amount of meat in a dish or indeed as a meat substitute if that's what's needed. Porridge makes a good cheap breakfast, and basics veggies from the supermarket are a good base for soups and stews. It's worth using sites like MySupermarket to do your research ahead of actually hitting the shops too. Also remember if you're a Tesco shopper to scour the vouchers sites for printable vouchers that you can use to take money off your shopping.....I'm currently ploughing my way through a load of coupons I got given at the Good Food show in december - by the time I'm done they will have saved us more than £40! :rotfl:

I have immense sympathy for your situation as I've been there myself - one thing I will say is that if you can get through this you can get through anything - there is a lot of truth in the saying that what doesn;t break you makes you stronger. I wish you all the luck in the world.

marri_lou

CFC wrote: »

Well well there does seem to be a bit of an ethos in this thread about having a pop at leila which is rather ugly to see. If you think that everyone who posts in OS is a food saint you're sadly mistaken. Why should those on the OS board on a money saving site always be nutritionally sound? If you're talking about not judging others, then don't judge her either when she expresses an opinion, hey?

I'll be honest, its not what she said its the way she's said it. If I came into your house, went through your fridge and decried all your food as fit for slop, because its not balanced.

Me: "I mean I can "easily manage on £50 a week, fitting in the equivalent of 14 chicken breasts a day for pure protein, plus all my fruits and veg, and feed 2 kids. Oh and not bulk up on cheap carbs. You CFC should be ashamed of yourself and your rubbish meal plans"

"Oh really Marri_lou? You can so all that for £50 a week and "comfortably do it for less"? Tell me how!"
"Actually CFC, No. But all your meals are still really bad nutrition wise"
"Well yours sound balanced, tell me how you do it! Show me"
"Nah. I just do. And stuff. Ok?"

I can see you throwing an epic wobbly and telling me to either put up or shut up, which is what's happened here. Its not an opinion that's triggered the "board war" its the judgmental tone of the whole original post, with a blatant refusal to illustrate just how well she manages on her budget whilst telling other people that their managing on their budget is...well.. crap really

Weezl posted her cheap and nutritious (as she could manage) and I don't think there was quite the back lash that this OP has experienced. Perhaps something phrased a bit better wouldn't have raised so many hackles?

Edit: Actually having went and had a look at her blog - I see she's eating high protein mostly in the form of Whey/Protein shakes (following Atkins I think from the look of it) which would account for the cheap high grams of protein. And no I'm not criticising her diet choice, however had she explained this in the initial posts I think people might have been a bit more understanding of how she's managing to rack up large amounts of "pure protein" on such a tight budget. Note not bashing but imagine how much differently the thread flow could have gone if there was a bit more open communication?

leiela

Ok i understand there has been a miscomunitation here, and i have repeatedly said that i appologise for any misunderstanding.

Im at the point now where i don't feel i can add any more to the disscussion
i do not nor have ever thought of myself as a saint, nor have i ever intended to critize those who for what ever reason eat what they eat, i thought i could start a discussion about how cheaply people could feed thier family While keeping things healthy however it sort of got turned into something else.

sometimes it is very hard to read peoples inflections and true meaning in someones written words im not a "writer" and i appear to have come across badly and dispite efforts on my part to straighten out the situation i keep somehow making it worse.

i'm really not sure how many times i can appologise, so i figure by now people have already made up thier mind about me and meaning so i don't see the point in adding anything further other than to say im very sorry to anyone who was offended it REALLY wasn't my intention im not that sort of person.

marri_lou

I get where you are coming from. I'm not a "writer" either and have to re-word things several times to make sure I'm not misunderstood as best I can.

However, I think its obvious that this in now going round in circles, admittedly myself included, but hopefully in future this will lead to a bit more explanation/better wording (from everyone, and yes I'm including me).

At the end of the day there's nothing wrong with debate.

HeidiBoo_2

**deleted**

ceridwen

CFC wrote: »

You're entitled to your opinion. So am I. Mine is that there's a bashing ethos here in this thread.

QUITE!

- and it seems to include some very surprising people......

<cough> now can we all just get back to normal O.S. ways and try and help each other out here in a constructive way...

As a little practical suggestion - perhaps people who list their menuplans on that thread in future could list EVERYTHING they eat - including fruit/veg, snacks between meals, etc - as otherwise the "true picture" is missing.

Penelope_Penguin

ceridwen wrote: »

As a little practical suggestion - perhaps people who list their menuplans on that thread in future could list EVERYTHING they eat - including fruit/veg, snacks between meals, etc - as otherwise the "true picture" is missing.

I said I wasn;t going to post on here anymore - but that comment can't go So to satisfy everyone, I must check in advance, what my children and husband will be having for their canteen lunches, so that I can let you know, and then plan evening meals accordingly I must also, in advance, plan what we're going to have for breakfast each day And all the snacks and fruit

I'm going to carry on posting on the Mealplans exactly as I always have done I've not been doing this for very long, and it's a great way for me to plan a week's meals, endeavouring to eat some meat, some fish, some veggie, and use what I have in my stores. Lunches and breakfasts are a mixture of fruit, toast and leftovers, which I'm simply unable to predict.

And if anyone thinks that I've been "bashing" anyone, they can be assured that I haven't. If anyone has any problems with any of my posts, please report them to abuse in the usual way - their address is in my signature.

Penny. x

Penny-Pincher!!

ceridwen wrote: »

As a little practical suggestion - perhaps people who list their menuplans on that thread in future could list EVERYTHING they eat - including fruit/veg, snacks between meals, etc - as otherwise the "true picture" is missing.

I know where your coming from ceridwen, but bandroi was making a personal dig at MY mealplan! They could have looked through my last 2-3years of mealplans and see that I dont normally eat this.

I dont see why I should post and explain why I am having Egg & Chips tonight and Beans On Toast tomorrow

On my mealplan I always state the veg I am having or I put "veg" which can cover up to 4 different veggies.

The idea of the mealplan thread was to help organise peoples life and make sure they are buying only the food they need for the meals they have planned. It was NOT started to scrutinise (sp) other people and what they eat! I cant ever remember a negative post about someone elses mealplan on the thread

If you look at this weeks thread, most have specified sides, veggies etc.

PP
xx

Penny-Pincher!!

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

I said I wasn;t going to post on here anymore - but that comment can't go So to satisfy everyone, I must check in advance, what my children and husband will be having for their canteen lunches, so that I can let you know, and then plan evening meals accordingly I must also, in advance, plan what we're going to have for breakfast each day And all the snacks and fruit

I'm going to carry on posting on the Mealplans exactly as I always have done I've not been doing this for very long, and it's a great way for me to plan a week's meals, endeavouring to eat some meat, some fish, some veggie, and use what I have in my stores.

Thanks PP. You said it alot better than me!

I wouldnt mind, but most of the negative posts about the mealplan thread are from posters that dont even post on there

I think we have done well over the past 3 years.....havent we???

Thanks

PP
xx