Eating less to make savings??

valk_scot

If I'm cutting back I cut out the real non-essentials, like rubbishy snacks, processed junk and (this might not be popular) booze. I'll eat and drink more simple things ie milk or fruit juice with fizzy water rather than coke, tea rather than hot chocolate, plain biscuits or scones rather than cakes.

I won't cut down on meat/veg/fruit/rice/pasta/usual basics etc. You need decent nutritious food to be healthy, you need a good variety every day or at least week and it's much MUCH better for you to eat three smaller meals a day than one big meal plus snacks. What I will do though is check on portion control. If you regularly make 10% too much it either goes in the bin or on your backside! So there's potential benefits all round there.

I think if someone is overweight then starving all day and only eating one meal has to be a really bad way to go. Blood sugar rock bottom most of the time and then a massive spike, then starving again. It's not healthy, even if they could keep it up. Best to spread food intake out over the day.

If you're cutting back to save money though you have to keep a sharp eye on your basic nutritional needs to make sure they're met, especially if you've been ill. Nutrition comes first and you have to save money on the other stuff. Carrots before cake, sadly!

tessie_bear

we dont eat less meals but we do buy less snax and rubbish when we are trying to save money...and we buy more healthy stuff ....fruit which is cheaper (mostly ) than chocolate

Bronnie

Rebekah24 wrote: »

Anyone eat less meals in order to economise??

I try to stick to one decent meal and keep things simple. I dont have much of an appetite anyway esp not after the flu.

Cutting back on frills obv OS...like coffees and unnecessary snacks, desserts all those things. However anyone downscaled with meals also?

Wondering if its just me being nutty :eek:

Not a good idea!

Your body performs best with a steady supply of fuel to get you through the day, not a feast and famine scenario.

The best way to economise on food is to search this forum for cheap and healthy meal ideas, not cut out meals. Many of us here could create several meals for the price of "one decent meal" if we put our minds to it!!

Am I right you're not talking about weight loss here?

My DD2 is naturally slim and has always naturally had a totally different attitude towards food, than the rest of of family. She doesn't have any problem issues and eats healthily, but she only eats when she's hungry, stops when she's had enough, and can easily 'forget' to eat when she's doing something. She eats to live, not lives to eat! Food is not massively important to her! Are you like this? If so I do think you need to make more of a conscious effort to ensure you eat regularly and well and not let mealtimes slide, than the rest of us greedy-guts who are never going to 'forget' it's lunch time

sunflower76

NO, I couldn't do this. I hate to be hungry and it can't be good for your body at all. I'd much rather be cold than hungry so if it were one or the other then the heating would be off here.

Rebekah24

I have to say I am never hungry, I dont have any appetite anyway

I do a lot of soups, stews, casserole's, gluten free pasta etc. I would be sick if I tried to eat 3 times a day. Obv there are some money savings in not eating in the morning or lunch time.

Thanks again for all the replies guys.. not starving to save money, so dont worry!:eek: I get plenty in for my own needs... obv not everyone here agree's that 1 meal would satisfy!

valk_scot

yummyhoney wrote: »

we have our 3 main meals a day but i know if i had gottn 2 packs of whoopsied meat with say 4 pieces of meat in each,,instead of opening the 2 packs i'd freezo one,,and maybe have a tiny piece of meat for myself and everyon else would have there norm,,they dont notice that i do this of course:)

This actually makes me feel quite sad. It reminds me of the tales of rationing when some mothers would literally half starve themselves to give their husband or kids a couple of extra mouthfuls each. How many folk do these four pieces of meat have to stretch to? Remember that the official portion of red meat is supposed to be the size equivalent of a pack of cards. We're all used to eating bigger ones than this, of course, but ask yourself what the portion sizes you're serving to others look like compared to your own, using the above as a guide.

Of course meat isn't everything and you don't need meat at every meal anyway. If you're getting enough protein from other sources such as eggs, milk, cheese, beans and pulses then you don't need meat at all. But I'm just saying that you need to look after yourself too, you know?

Bronnie

Rebekah24 wrote: »

I have to say I am never hungry, I dont have any appetite anyway

I do a lot of soups, stews, casserole's, gluten free pasta etc. I would be sick if I tried to eat 3 times a day. Obv there are some money savings in not eating in the morning or lunch time.

Thanks again for all the replies guys.. not starving to save money, so dont worry!:eek: I get plenty in for my own needs... obv not everyone here agree's that 1 meal would satisfy!

But even dividing your one meal into 3 smaller meals eaten throughout the day would be better than one 'hit'!! Sometimes eating a little even when you don't particularly feel like it can stimulate your appetite in the long run

yummyhoney

ah it wouldn't happen very often,,but we have plenty of eggs milk and so on,,so i def know i could do without the meat and not be deprived of anything x

CCP

Rebekah24 wrote: »

I have to say I am never hungry, I dont have any appetite anyway

I do a lot of soups, stews, casserole's, gluten free pasta etc. I would be sick if I tried to eat 3 times a day....

Have you always been like this or is it something that's only happened fairly recently? If it's a recent development it might be a good idea to get a check-up at your GP, to make sure there's no medical reason for your loss of appetite.

If there isn't any particular reason for not feeling hungry then I guess you are best off doing whatever suits you best, as long as you're getting enough calories and nutrients to keep yourself going (if you are losing weight, particularly if its not intentional, then I would start to worry).

My apologies if I seem to be trying to tell you what to do here - I have a bit of a tendency to go into 'big sister mode', I'm afraid!

Rebekah24

Bronnie wrote: »

But even dividing your one meal into 3 smaller meals eaten throughout the day would be better than one 'hit'!! Sometimes eating a little even when you don't particularly feel like it can stimulate your appetite in the long run

It isnt one huge meal..its like a small bowl, 1/2 a carton of soup etc

I work a long day, quite happy with my tea! I do occasionally bring in homemade soup in a 250ml tuppaware

I will give it a go though! thanks