Downshifting bad for your health ?

deanos

The latest buzz seems to be downshifting, yes you can save hundreds of pounds per year, but no one seems to mention the health implications.

Ive noticed especially the cheaper cereals contain more salt and sugar compaped to the branded items.

Does this apply across the board in value items ?

MrsE_2

deanos wrote: »

The latest buzz seems to be downshifting, yes you can save hundreds of pounds per year, but no one seems to mention the health implications.

Ive noticed especially the cheaper cereals contain more salt and sugar compaped to the branded items.

Does this apply across the board in value items ?

Much of the low fat/salt/sugar stuff is the most expensive.

I read the lables on many things & try to buy the lowest fat/cal version, bonus if its organic too.

If I bought cheaper it would probably be higher fat.

savemoney

That is a good point. And one that has been mentioned before on tv often these cheaper products although not all contain more fat/sugar

Also I noticed on program on tv that just ended with ML on tonight

They mention about buying supermarket own brands. One guy mentioned that if every one switched, prices of budget goods would go up as they are loss leaders.

One thing if anyone did this, ITV would go bust as companies wouldn't advertise as much

deanos wrote: »

The latest buzz seems to be downshifting, yes you can save hundreds of pounds per year, but no one seems to mention the health implications.

Ive noticed especially the cheaper cereals contain more salt and sugar compaped to the branded items.

Does this apply across the board in value items ?

Fire_Fox

It's not a problem if you buy foods that are healthy or natural anyway - e.g. chicken breasts, fruit and veg ... If you eat Basics/ Value pies then, yes, you will end up with less meat and more rubbish but I'd argue a ready made pie has zero nutritional value anyway.

Tesco corn flakes contain a lot less salt than Kelloggs if memory serves me correctly, but there's no added rubbish in a bag of plain porridge oats. I think all shoppers should be reading labels - do it for a couple of weeks and you'll know which own brands are worth buying and which not.

Swans1912

Picked up some frozen oven chips today from Asda. I went for the Asda own brand straight cut chips and the partner picked up the McCains straight cut ones. We actually compared the 'Per 100g' on the back of the pack and from memory the McCains had 60 (approx) less calories.

deanos

Fire_Fox wrote: »

. I think all shoppers should be reading labels - do it for a couple of weeks and you'll know which own brands are worth buying and which not.

Trouble is if you go to places like Aldi or Lidl they sell one brand so you cant compare with other products

Nigella_2

I try to buy saver / value uncomplicated stuff

Fruit / veg /salad, tin tomatoes / tuna, Skimmed Milk, Oats, some jars i.e. pickled onions,

Fire_Fox

iKennett wrote: »

Picked up some frozen oven chips today from Asda. I went for the Asda own brand straight cut chips and the partner picked up the McCains straight cut ones. We actually compared the 'Per 100g' on the back of the pack and from memory the McCains had 60 (approx) less calories.

Oven chips are empty calories, full stop. Virtually no vitamins or minerals, high glycaemic index. Calories are only an issue if you are actively trying to lose weight, for health you should be looking at the fibre content, the saturated/ trans fat and the sodium content. It would be healthier and cheaper to make your own wedges from Smartprice potatoes or sweet potatoes.

MrsE_2

Fire_Fox wrote: »

It's not a problem if you buy foods that are healthy or natural anyway - e.g. chicken breasts, fruit and veg ... If you eat Basics/ Value pies then, yes, you will end up with less meat and more rubbish but I'd argue a ready made pie has zero nutritional value anyway.

Tesco corn flakes contain a lot less salt than Kelloggs if memory serves me correctly, but there's no added rubbish in a bag of plain porridge oats. I think all shoppers should be reading labels - do it for a couple of weeks and you'll know which own brands are worth buying and which not.

What about mince?

The lean stuff is the most expensive, the value stuff is terrible.

Sausages, the cheap ones are full of :eek:

Happier chickens & eggs are more expensive, who knows if the cheap ones are bad for you.

Organic stuff the most expensive of all, but the least messed about with/added too.

James_N

deanos wrote: »

The latest buzz seems to be downshifting, yes you can save hundreds of pounds per year, but no one seems to mention the health implications.

Ive noticed especially the cheaper cereals contain more salt and sugar compaped to the branded items.

Does this apply across the board in value items ?

That's a very good point. Well done to the OP for raising this. Some of the cheaper items are simply not worth eating, but that's not always the case.

Fire_Fox

MrsE wrote: »

What about mince?

The lean stuff is the most expensive, the value stuff is terrible.

Sausages, the cheap ones are full of :eek:

Happier chickens & eggs are more expensive, who knows if the cheap ones are bad for you.

Organic stuff the most expensive of all, but the least messed about with/added too.

Pork or turkey mince is generally cheaper and leaner than beef mince. Tesco do an own brand half fat beef mince that is reasonably priced - even healthier and cheaper if you do as the Old Stylers suggest and bulk with lentils, oats or even Quorn mince (£1 at Iceland?). :j

Sausages are processed rubbish, even the expensive ones, unless you make them yourselves or are on very good terms with a proper butcher. Even then they are often loaded with fat and salt. I much prefer to eat organic meat, but simply can't afford to so I compromise with local/ free range etc. where possible.

Eggs I choose corn-fed or omega-enriched as I know the birds are not fed dead animal. :eek: Or keep your own chickens - when I was a child my parents had them in the back garden of a semi, as did my grandparents before them. Chemicals fed to animals concentrate in the fatty tissue if the liver is overloaded, so it's critical to eat organic butter (in moderation!) and cheese and to remove the fat from meat (as you should anyway).

As a nation we eat far more meat than is necessary for good health (no I am not a veggie); in excess it can overload the kidneys, liver, heart and even contribute to some forms of cancer. We don't eat anywhere near enough pulses, nuts/ seeds or wholegrains which are generally reasonably priced. :T