How can we eat healthily on £20 a week?

shazzle

Hi Guys
Leesoutheast, well done on your savings, it is amazing what you dont need to pay for.
Queen Bee and Tinks, YOU CAN DO THIS x Meal plans are critical and the slow cooker will be an asset as you can cook cheaper cuts of meat to taste like extra special! Lol. My DH was shocked when I bought SP stewing beef and made the best curry in the SC!
Look for reduced stuff, Lidl and Aldi for the specials on fruit and veg are amazing. BE STRONG. The stardrop thread will give you ideas of use and ite really is amazing stuff.
I am 39 and a former shopaholic and have been here for about 8 months now and I love how people have the time to advise the "old" ways and generally how to make the most of what we have and make it better if possible.
Your budgets are not unreasonable, if you have a Home Bargains or B&M check them out, great shortdate foodstuffs.
Soapnuts are great too..
I have been here too, scared and unknowing but you have to make a positive decision that, for whatever reason you are restricting the budget, it will benefit you...
Ooh sorry I went on a bit them!!
Good luck you really can change x

LilacPixie

OK i just do this very very roughly to taste so feel free to amend if needed:

I use a full pack of diced skinless turkey thigh from Mr T's 500g £2
2 diced onions
1-2 star anise
Pinch of cumin seeds
Pinch of nigella seeds
4-5 whole cloves
3-5 tsp minced garlic
1tsp minced ginger
1 tsp of chilli powder
2 tins of chopped tomatoes
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp garam masala
2 tsp paprika

I put onions, turkey, and tinned tomato in SC with a little water on low for around 8 hours. An hour before the end add all the spices garlic and ginger serve with rice and a tsp of plain yoghurt if required. I often just throw it all in at the start for a milder curry. even my one year old eats this with some basmalti.

Queen-Bee_2

Thanks Shazzle - BTW - what is B&M??

Queen-Bee_2

Thank you LP - I am going to give this a go today with reduced quantities for my one chicken thigh!!! However, what are Nigella seeds? Is there something else I could use instead? I have a pretty full drawer of herbs and spices, but haven't heard of that one...

shazzle

Bargain Madness I guess I added the &!! lol x
I do curry pretty similar for the SC
Chopped onion in the bottom, skinned thighs/mushroom/peppers/cabbage (anything) on top
Then mix half pint water with teaspoon, garlic, ginger, coriander and chilli (all in jars Home Bargains), stock cube, tinned tomatoes and curry powder to taste.
Chuck this on top, set high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours. Put the lid on and walk away x Mind the bones otherwise a tasty Rogan style curry. Low fat and healthy too x Oh thicken if you need to with a bit of flour...
Have fun i really do love my SC x x

tinks_77_2

Hi everyone :wave:

QB - Yes, i know what you mean about the little things adding up.
Look forward to exchanging tips and experiences with you too, good luck!

LP - No, i didn't take a list today, which is rather unlike me (I have lists for everything). I'll have a look over on the Meal Plan thread, thanks.

Shazzle - Thank you. Will have a look at the Stardrop thread too, although I have no idea what it is :rotfl:

T

Trinny

Hi there

I would take a look at Weezl and MBaz threads - on eating healthy for very little money. It is possible to do this - it would be worth joining the grocery challenge - for the first month you keep all reciepts - then that gives you your monthly total. Then you cut down by a "reasonable amount" each month towards your goal spend of £20 per week.

If you are cutting down drastically you may find it tougher.

The obvious approach is to drop a brand when you shop - or to shop online - buying extra milk which can be frozen, to avoid trips to the supermarket. Otherwise - do a fridge, freezer and storecupboard inventory - and make meals from what you already have in.

I dont have any OS gadgets like slow cookers or bread makers yet - OH is my breadmaker:rotfl:

I am sure you will be able to cut down - but until you know exactly and to the penny how much you spend now - it will be difficult to know whether £20 pw is realistic for your family

HTH

Trin

Butterfly_Brain

I go to Aldi once a week and check out their super six........This week it is
Celery 29p
Little Gem Lettuce(2) 29p
Mangoes 29p each
Cucumber29p
6 Tomatoes 29p
Avocado 29p
I also check out offers online before I go shopping
Chicken Thighs are cheap and tasty or you can get a 1kg chicken for £1.79 in Netto at the moment, they also have 2 packs of mince for £3
Chicken can be stretched to at least three meals and the mince will probably stretch to 6 meals if you bulk it out with plenty of veggies, oatmeal or even broth mix.
Sausages can be made into lots of different meals.
Tinned Tuna is reasonable at the mo and you can make fiscakes, pasties or a tuna pasta.
Go for Basic/value/smart price lines most of them are good my favourites are Sainsbury's because they have such a good selection.
Make cakes, biscuits and bread what about good old fashioned jam tarts.
Fruit is expensive but you can stretch a bag of apples by coring and filling with mixed fruit and brown sugar.
Look on line for wartime recipes they are cheap and filling and healthy.

LilacPixie

sorry QB just seen this nigelle seeds are onion seeds. you can buy them in asian supermarkets/ethnic

Queen-Bee_2

LilacPixie wrote: »

sorry QB just seen this nigelle seeds are onion seeds. you can buy them in asian supermarkets/ethnic

Ah... I have some black onion seeds in my spice drawer - mind you, I can't think what I bought them for, so they're probably a bit long in the tooth by now :rotfl:

Today, in the spirit of keeping to my £20 budget, I made macaroni cheese. But really, it was far too hot and humd for thsi kind of dish today and I didn't enjoy it at all. Shame really, but at least it's another dish up my sleeve for when I want one.

I'd also forgotten that I'd asked a [vegetarian] friend over for lunch tomorrow. They don't eat diary stuff either, though they will eat fish. I think I must be feeling a bit tired, cos I'm stumped as to what I can give them.

Actually, thinking about it, I picked a load of blackberries yesterday which are still in the fridge, so I will have to think of some what of using them for a pudding (without adding too much sugar).

As for the main course though, all I can think of is that I'm going to break my budget for the week! That makes me sound like a lousy hostess and really, I'm not and looking forward to seeing my friend, but I'm sure you know what I mean....