Economy Gastronomy - new budget cookery programme; BBC

rosieben

I agree that to try to introduce a family like that to a complete OS way of shopping/cooking would have been too big a change and tbh if they can afford to spend £130 a week on food that's their choice, they may well decide to cut that further as they progress.

I liked Allegra, I'll probably watch the rest of the series because of her - I've a bit of an allergy to tv chefs and I'm still gob-smacked at the cheffy bloke saying they had too much cheese in the fridge and had to 'use it up' - I think that's probably one of the silliest things I've ever heard a chef say

It was a pleasure to see the two littlies tucking in to everything that was served to them and as for the older boy, can someone tell me the reasoning behind the 'ok he doesn't like tomatoes so lets make him a mac cheese and absolutely smother it in tomatoes' idea? to me this was just making mealtime a misery for the sake of '[STRIKE]good[/STRIKE] very bad tv'

be interesting to see how the next family do

cw18

rosieben wrote: »

It was a pleasure to see the two littlies tucking in to everything that was served to them and as for the older boy, can someone tell me the reasoning behind the 'ok he doesn't like tomatoes so lets make him a mac cheese and absolutely smother it in tomatoes' idea? to me this was just making mealtime a misery for the sake of '[STRIKE]good[/STRIKE] very bad tv'

be interesting to see how the next family do

TBH, this is something I would have done in the same situation. I often include things people (including myself) don't like in a meal we do, as things can taste totally different when cooked a different way. Plus, as the tomatoes could easily be lifted off, it encourages trying without spoiling the whole dish - and means everyone else can have the tomatoes. No reason for all to miss out just 'cos one "won't" eat.

competitionscafe

freyasmum wrote: »

Another thing to bear in mind is that not all of our OSers are OS because they're struggling for money, they do it because they like the old ways, they hate waste, they don't like processed foods, etc

Exactly - well said! :T I have no interest in reducing the cost of each meal to the absolute minimum as if it's some sort of competition. But I do hate to waste food and I hate processed food.

There have been times in the past and even quite recently, when I have had to really struggle with a lack of money and so I do know how to eat healthily on a very low budget which is fantastic knowledge/skill to have.

However in less difficult times the amount I spend per meal isn't the issue for me (it's still less than a diet of ready meals and takeaways would cost!). Food is an interest and a passion for me so I am happy to spend money on my 'hobby' (and obviously eating also happens to be something I need to do to stay alive anyway!). I don't have a flat screen tv, or a car or go to football matches or have the 'latest' mobile phone or whatever as these are not priorities for me, so I choose to spend time and money on something which is - good food.

I realise that I am fortunate in two aspects - I can currently afford to do this and also I am mostly only cooking for 1 or occassionally 2 people (unless cooking for a group of visitors) so I can eat something like a nice rib-eye steak or a sea bass now and then - which costs around £5 for 1 (still less than a takeaway and not much more than a 'posh' ready meal!). However if I was cooking for a family obviously things like that would have to be a rare treat as £5 or £6 or £7 per portion (with salad/ veg) for a meal soon adds up when multiplied by x number of people when you need a sea bass or a steak or whatever each! I will also add wine or cream or good olive oil or whatever to a dish if it enhances it as my priority is taste rather than cost.

Obviously I realise it's much easier to cook and eat well when your number 1 priority is not cost - but I still spend less than someone who lives on ready meals and takeaways and I do have 'cheap'/budget meal nights too. Anyone who is cooking from scratch on a tight budget (particularly those with kids) has a lot of things to take into consideration and I am full of admiration for them. Regardless of budget or wether or not I one day have a family, I always have been and always will be 'old style' in outlook (was brought up that way!) - so will almost always cook from scratch and minimise waste, avoid processed food, shop with a list, bulk cook and freeze etc etc... to me old style isn't just about the monetary cost of living.

Smiley_Mum

I think the family next week spend an eyewatering £17,000 a year on their grocery bill!!! That would cover me for over 8 years. We spend £40 a week for adult and 2 children. I tend to cook from scratch, yes sometimes we have a takeaway but perhaps two or three times a year and usually with a discount code involved.

maman

I enjoyed the programme and have been reading the thread since Wednesday. What I couldn't understand is why, given the 'ONLY BUY WHAT YOU NEED' rule at the beginning, did they go out and spend on the huge joint of beef? Personally I think they should have made a list to cover the week's meal plan and only bought that. Top-up shops are huge money wasters.

It really didn't make sense when they had 'unexpected' guests and went to the fridge to make a scratch meal and 'found' a joint of beef!

helyg

I have just watched this on iplayer, and did enjoy it.

I think they are recycling a lot of ideas which have been done brfore though, or perhaps they are just common sense? For example the "bedrock" idea is very similar to the "family tree" idea in Jamie Oliver's Jamie's Dinners book from a few years ago.

I was horrified at how much they were spending, simply because we are a very similar family. I work in a nursery school and am married to a lorry driver and we have 3 kids. But if I spend £70 a week on food I think I've been reckless, never mind the £200+ they were spending at the beginning! :eek:

To be honest making lists, using what you have in the cupboard and cooking one meal for the whole family is hardly rocket science is it? But I'm looking forward to trying out some of the recipes as its always nice to have some new inspiration.

rosieben

maman wrote: »

... What I couldn't understand is why, given the 'ONLY BUY WHAT YOU NEED' rule at the beginning, did they go out and spend on the huge joint of beef? ...
It really didn't make sense when they had 'unexpected' guests and went to the fridge to make a scratch meal and 'found' a joint of beef!

because the whole thing was set up for the tv programme - they had obviously arranged for the rellies to visit as part of the programme plan

rosieben

cw18 wrote: »

... No reason for all to miss out just 'cos one "won't" eat.

this was a separate one made for the kids and of course kids should be encouraged to try things, but perhaps a few slices of tomato on top wouldn't have been so offputting and maybe if they'd just served it up and said nothing... I couldn't believe how evangelical they were about it bearing in mind their track record at feeding the kids nutritious food!

mumto1_2

I'll echo what some have said on here - and it's not jsut this thread - many of you are incredibly judgemental of anyone who doesn't think and do exactly like you do regarding food, budgetting and cooking/recipes.

Not every has to spend 20p per meal, or add 1kg of oats to 500g of mince, buy cheap sausages (and think they are OK) or anything else you lot do. Nor is there any need for a program to preach at the unconverted masses about living that way. Your evangelicanism about 'all things OS' smacks of an extreme religion to me, and is incredibly off-putting to say the least.

The program shows the families that don't know how to budget and cook home-made food how to do that - and it accomplishes that very well.

chickadee

rosieben wrote: »

because the whole thing was set up for the tv programme - they had obviously arranged for the rellies to visit as part of the programme plan

He he, I don't know. Did you see that poor woman's face when he dropped on her that the in-laws were coming for tea? That was priceless! :rotfl:I thought she was going to cry. If it wasn't a surprise to her then she's a very good actor.