Food shopping on a budget while trying to diet

TottalyLost

Tried to search the thread and could not find a topic like this - apologies if I have missed it?

In attempt number 7618761365581 to diet I have recently became a proud owner of a food steamer - that is after trying every diet under the sun, including WW, Slimfast, Slimming World, Lighterlife, Lipotrim etc etc.. and failing misearably.

So will try to do it solo - with my steamer.

But have you noticed how all that is "healthy" is expensive?

Fresh fish, free range chicken, fresh fruits and vegetables are a small fortune.

I work full time and have to rush home to my dog (yes, I know.... sad... but hey this is my life) so do not really have the time (or energy) to cruise around various places to pick bits here and bits there. Also I have no shop or market anywhere within walking distance so any shopping involves but trips and a lot of time which I rather spend walking the dog 9and loosing calories this way ) Tend to do all my shopping at Asda.

Anyone on a budget and trying to diet? Any suggestions?

Daughter is going away for summer for 2 months so will be just one fat me at home and won't have to cook twice so hoping to use that time and oportunity to get rid of some fallby bits.

Any receipes? For a steamer or not, for cheap low calorie meals?

Thanks a lot.

OrkneyStar

Not really on a food front, but if you are trying to loose weight what sort of exercise do you do ? ....... other than dog walking lol!
Regarding the food well the usual suggestions would be:
1. try butcher for meat (often cheaper and more helpful staff).
2. reduced section (try it every time you are in- you might be surprised!)
3. pulses/beans etc- can be low fat and also a lot cheaper than meat every meal
4. buy veg in season and eat that
5. grow your own (even small scale on a window sill, eg tomato plants, lettuce, peppers, chillis)
6. freeze any leftovers and then have a freezer surprise day!
7. quorn products are a good meat substitute, healthier, cheaper and often on offer.
8. buy frozen veggies- just as good as fresh and a good stand by!
Okay, thats all for now, not sure if it helps or not but I thought I'd at least reply!

knithappens

Lidl is brill at the moment for fruits and vegetables.

Also the free range/organic stuff is expensive, i only buy this if in the reduced section.

TottalyLost

OrkneyStar and Lilmrsmullen thanks for your posts.

You mean any exercise other then 3 hours dog walking per day with a pedometer? LOL Got a stepper too, you think I should use that too?

;-)

Have no decent butcher or fishmonger or veg/fruit market anywhere near by - or a supermarket for that matter so really order my shopping online which does not have reduced section

Have nowhere to grow anything - if I try indoors cat or dog will have it....

Always freeze things.

Have to try that quorn one day....

Beans are good idea, love beans

Got 2 stone to loose - I guess it is the 40th birthday approaching fast (late August) that got me in that mode LOL

OrkneyStar

OrkneyStar and Lilmrsmullen thanks for your posts.

You mean any exercise other then 3 hours dog walking per day with a pedometer? LOL Got a stepper too, you think I should use that too? Well walking is great and 3 hours/day is a lot, but perhaps some more intensive exercise a couple of times a week. (Not that I am a shining example of course ). Just a thought!

;-)

Have no decent butcher or fishmonger or veg/fruit market anywhere near by - or a supermarket for that matter so really order my shopping online which does not have reduced section Oh well, thats those ideas capoot then!

Have nowhere to grow anything - if I try indoors cat or dog will have it....
and tha idea!

Always freeze things.

Have to try that quorn one day.... the mince is nice...if you make it into chilli or maybe a lasagne (make own white sauce with skimmed milk, use strong cheese so you don't need much, and low fat spread instead of butter!)

Beans are good idea, love beans....good, there are lots of varieties and can be used to bulk out stews, chilli etc...dried ones tend to be cheaper so batch cook and freeze.

Got 2 stone to loose - I guess it is the 40th birthday approaching fast (late August) that got me in that mode LOL.......good luck!!!

Have added some more (in pink!), all the best for the diet

TottalyLost

Oh, another reply and in PINK LOL

Thanks a lot

nooney

How about:porridge for breakfast, made with water,very cheap.
Then home made veg soup for lunch,just veggies and stock very low calorie and inexpensive, lots of low fat pulses for supper with rice.I lost a stone last year on a similar diet.
hope that helps. Good luck

bc3000

How about buying a whole chicken, you can have it with some veg (roasted) the first day, and other days have maybe a chicken salad (I'm weird and like fruit in salad lol), then maybe you could make a chicken soup (stock from bones)?

Aldi are really good for their 6 fruit/veg that are on offer every week... Fruit like apples and bananas are always pretty cheap for snacks.

JenniO

Jacket potatoes - with low fat cottage cheese and freshly cut chives (from a chives herb pot you could have in your window sill). Mustard is also interesting with a potato and is very low in calories. Could eat with a salad (buy heads of lettuce, not bags for better quality and cheaper).

Homemade soups with beans/pulses with salad for lunches or tea.

TottalyLost

Nooney, BC3000, JenniO - thanks a lot for your ideas.......all great

I know Aldi is great but haven't got one for miles from me buuuuuuuuuuuuu

Got LIDL on the way back from work though where I change from tube for bus so will be shoping there now.

Whole chicken sounds great but I do not like chicken breast only legs and tights LOL

Trying to work out my own meny accoring to Green/Red days re one of the diet clubs - found the book at home from days when I tried it and failed as I was trying to follow their receipes and they proved to be just simply way to expensive to maintain.

But gouing to follow the "rules" and make my own stuff - hate ready meals, always cook at home and after a month, still in love with my steamer.. vegs and fish tastes great

Thanks a gain

NattyVee

Buy chicken legs and thighs (not breasts - expensive) and only when they're reduced. Then freeze the ones you're not going to use.

Chicken is lovely and lean, and very versatile. I love making chicken chowder.

Boil your chicken legs/thighs for as long as possible to make a tasty stock (remove the skin and skim the top of fat regularly!). Then take them out and pick the meat from the bones. It will fall off without much effort.
Chop up loads of onions (you can get a bag of basics ones for very cheap that will last a couple of weeks) then fry them in low fat spray oil at a very low temp. When they have sweated a bit, stick your chicken in there with the stock (freeze what you don't use for another day).
Pick any veggies you want, whatever's cheap. Basics mushrooms are a bargain, and they bulk it up. Carrots are dirt cheap as well. Frozen sweetcorn is gorgeous, as is broccoli. After the veggies are cooked, add a bit of flour mixed with milk at a time to thicken it (this replaces the cream and still tastes gorgeous). If it tastes bland, add a stock cube.

If you really want to bulk it up, add some egg noodles (really cheap at Asian food stores, although dried ones are not too bad either in the supermarket) and serve it when everything's nice and hot.

Best thing about it, stick it in a tupperware and freeze it/keep it in the fridge for another day!

I also make a seafood one as those mixed cooked seafood packs are 2 for £5 at the moment at Sainsbury's and each soup I make makes at least 4 bowls so is very cost effective. Great for using whatever's kicking around in the fridge to minimise waste!

I'm a student but won't eat ready meals since MSG and stuff makes me feel sick as a dog and I love healthy eating. So it's all about balancing cost and health for me, as well as being able to have fast food after a day at work. To be able to just microwave some soup you made the night before is a real joy.

My advice, stock up on the cheap basics vegetables like onions, carrots and peas and just go crazy making soups, risottos and stews. As long as you're not eating junk food, the weight will fall off you, because it's all home made and full of vitamins.