Weezl's phase 1- recipe testing and frugalisation- come one, come all!

Fire_Fox

weezl74 wrote: »

awww thanks sian

erm, we've axed the pork and turkey to get those essential omegas and calcium. there's some cooking bacon and 4 cans pilchards but that's it :rotfl:

waits for fireworks across the nation

You probably don't want to hear from me again ... I truly hope what I am saying doesn't upset you in any way, I think you are doing an AMAZING job here and keep pointing people in the direction of your threads. I am now looking at the shopping list with fresh eyes and I am seeing a real divide, we have a load of produce that is absolutely packed with nutrition (fruit and veg, baked beans, dairy, pilchards, porridge, weetabix) and then processed stuff that is on the list because it's cheap.

In no way am I saying we shouldn't have meat, but bacon ... it's full of sodium which can increase blood pressure and nitrates which may be carcinogenic. This seems totally at odds with your herculean effort to include at least five portions of fruit and veg a day which are full of blood pressure lowering and anti-cancer phytonutrients. :A

I feel much the same about the white rice and (to a lesser degree) white pasta and white flour - they are just calories and they are high glycaemic index calories. Fortifying flour is a massive boost to Bob and Shirley's calcium levels, but nutritionally it isn't a patch on wheatgerm. I never advocate my clients take supplements of individual vitamins or minerals, it doesn't take account of the synergistic effects of different nutrients.

I have held off looking at magnesium and iron while we were in a state of flux and I am worried I am going to b*gg*r everything up again. I am not sure about the balance of amino acids either: Asda junked the 2kg pack of chick peas and the protein added to back to white bread flour is just gluten. To be honest looking at the amino acid profile in depth is probably beyond my capabilites.

There was talk earlier of which countries advocate more than five a day, this is from my first year nutrition assignment:
"Current UK guidelines advocate five 80g portions of fruit or vegetables each day [Food Standards Agency, 2001], although many countries advise larger quantities. The Australian government recommends seven portions, Greece and the USA nine, Canada and France ten portions per day [Van Der Zee, 2005]."

I don't think it is essential we go higher than five a day, but I do wonder if we should limit foods in our plan that may have negative effects on the body. Fruit and veg are a rich source of vitamins, some minerals, fibre (mainly soluble) and water as well as phytonutrients. But actually so are pulses and wholegrains and these are probably a richer source of minerals and insoluble fibre than fruit and veg. Adding more fruit and veg isn't going to fill up our hungry teens, and it isn't going to provide sustained energy and concentration for their studies - pulses and wholegrains will. :j

maltesers_2

weezl74 wrote: »

somebody lovely sent me this

I won't embarrass her by naming her, but it is the kind of gift that's so in keeping with a radically minded vegetarian who thinks things through, speaks her mind, not afraid to challenge government injustice, does her research, and likes others (and promotes them hugely) who are quirky and eccentric, but visionary.

;);)

I'm sure no one could possibly guess who (inserts big smiley sun instead of smiley) Is there a prize?

weezl74

phizzimum wrote: »

girls are still getting their appetite back after nasty tummy bug here so i'm not really able to experiment - we're confined to very boring bland food (and i'm polishing off all the cake, oops!)

Dear Phizzies,

We are sorry you aren't very well. Please do get better soon. We like your opinions very much here at the 'ministry of food'

Love Mrs 50p and all the gang xxx

homegrown_life

weezl74 wrote: »

pasta con limone e aioli (Bob' subtitles- pasta with lemon and garlic)

400g pasta 25.6p
20g gia garlic 13.12p
3 dessertspoons Lemon juice
130ml oil 14.24p
salt and ground black pepper
160g frozen fine green beans 16p
20g grana padano 22.6p

I'd v much appreciate costings and nutrition for this one if anyone has chance

I've got this far with the costings and I'm not sure how much juice you'll get from a lemon. There isn't bottled stuff now is there? :cool: I did manage to find out a dessertspoonful was about 10ml, but still stumped!!

I think I need a cup of tea...:coffee:

maltesers_2

weezl74 wrote: »

perhaps a section for Shirley called 'how to get more essential nutrients for almost no money' containing fab tips like your rose hip one maltesers, or the eggshell calcium method...

Maltesers I know you are busy, but you have a very strong health and diet focus, would you like to be the person who collects those tips together for us please?

xxx

I would love to Weezl but I having an op thurs/fri and rather serious chemo following so I not sure I will feel up to it then. I will if I can though.

weezl74

Fire_Fox wrote: »

You probably don't want to hear from me again ... I truly hope what I am saying doesn't upset you in any way, I think you are doing an AMAZING job here and keep pointing people in the direction of your threads.

I really DO want to keep hearing from you laydee!

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I am now looking at the shopping list with fresh eyes and I am seeing a real divide, we have a load of produce that is absolutely packed with nutrition (fruit and veg, baked beans, dairy, pilchards, porridge, weetabix) and then processed stuff that is on the list because it's cheap.

In no way am I saying we shouldn't have meat, but bacon ... it's full of sodium which can increase blood pressure and nitrates which may be carcinogenic. This seems totally at odds with your herculean effort to include at least five portions of fruit and veg a day which are full of blood pressure lowering and anti-cancer phytonutrients. :A

Point taken. I had been optimistically thinking that since the rest of the diet is pretty low sodium, the bacon could go a long way (imparting a meaty taste for dear Bob) through a lot of meals, thereby not taking us over the 'normal' amount of sodium. I totally 'fess up to having not even worked this out at all or even googled amounts of sodium, so am pretty likely wrong there, let's have a closer inspection and see? Perhaps you already have and are sparing me though :rotfl:

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I feel much the same about the white rice and (to a lesser degree) white pasta and white flour - they are just calories and they are high glycaemic index calories. Fortifying flour is a massive boost to Bob and Shirley's calcium levels, but nutritionally it isn't a patch on wheatgerm. I never advocate my clients take supplements of individual vitamins or minerals, it doesn't take account of the synergistic effects of different nutrients.

£5.98 is the difference if we swap out all the white flour, bread flour, pasta for it's brown equivalents. I think we could easily say to Shirley that that's doable if she'd feel able to get the family on board. If she shops around, she could probably still bring the whole list back to the £100

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I have held off looking at magnesium and iron while we were in a state of flux and I am worried I am going to b*gg*r everything up again. I am not sure about the balance of amino acids either: Asda junked the 2kg pack of chick peas and the protein added to back to white bread flour is just gluten. To be honest looking at the amino acid profile in depth is probably beyond my capabilites.

There was talk earlier of which countries advocate more than five a day, this is from my first year nutrition assignment:
"Current UK guidelines advocate five 80g portions of fruit or vegetables each day [Food Standards Agency, 2001], although many countries advise larger quantities. The Australian government recommends seven portions, Greece and the USA nine, Canada and France ten portions per day [Van Der Zee, 2005]."

I don't think it is essential we go higher than five a day, but I do wonder if we should limit foods in our plan that may have negative effects on the body. Fruit and veg are a rich source of vitamins, some minerals, fibre (mainly soluble) and water as well as phytonutrients. But actually so are pulses and wholegrains and these are probably a richer source of minerals and insoluble fibre than fruit and veg. Adding more fruit and veg isn't going to fill up our hungry teens, and it isn't going to provide sustained energy and concentration for their studies - pulses and wholegrains will. :j

Please don't hold off the other research, unless it's to go off and do some fun things in real life My view is that it's much better to know earlier about snags, or we land up building something in response to one problem that then needs rebuilding due to another issue.

I see a bit of an opinion divide on the thread too and I think both are valid and I'd love to try to keep both strands with us.

There's a desire to protect Bob and shirley from too much change from the norm too quickly, to keep their lifestyle pretty similar to their peers, to avoid excessive kitchen faff, to put cakes, meat, biscuits in cos it's so normal.

There's also a desire that if we say this planner is healthy, then in all integrity it should be.

Because both of these strands are for the good of Bob and Shirley, I'd love to try to keep them both (whilst mindful of Bob's sleepless nights over the new B and Q designer garden makeover).

Just forgive me every now and again if I get brain meltdown over how to hold the two together!

Much love, and all do keep posting!

Weezl x

maltesers_2

Free Coffee - caffeine free

Another idea from free food - dandelion root coffee. I have made this and it really is as good as any coffee and is much better for you. Although it is best to dig up roots in autumn it can be done anytime (from somewhere that is not contaminated with chemicals etc). Scrub the roots, chop up into smallish pieces and dry out/roast in oven. Grind in coffee grinder and use as fresh coffee.

I have a feeling that dandelion root has some good nutrients, probably minerals, but my herb books are in an awkward place at the moment.

Will eke out meagre tea bag allowance and possibly be a nice treat for Bob and Shirley.

weezl74

maltesers wrote: »

I would love to Weezl but I having an op thurs/fri and rather serious chemo following so I not sure I will feel up to it then. I will if I can though.

Hugs maltesers. We will be thinking of you.

I quite understand.

All good thoughts and vibes coming your way. If you have any energy to do so and fancy popping in we'd love to hear how you are at some point

weezl74

homegrown_life wrote: »

I've got this far with the costings and I'm not sure how much juice you'll get from a lemon. There isn't bottled stuff now is there? :cool: I did manage to find out a dessertspoonful was about 10ml, but still stumped!!

I think I need a cup of tea...:coffee:

DH has just gone out for SP lemons. I'll post a verdict in a bit

I hope that's powdered milk in that beverage?;)

We are strict here at the ministry of food

weezl74

Avocet wrote: »

If you want me to check on stock levels, please let me know when the recipes and menu plan have been updated in line with the new shopping list. The latest menu plan I can find is in post 1669, and its recipes don't match the shopping list (no pickled cabbage, chick peas, stock cubes, chicken etc), so I think I'm all out of sync.

No rush, obviously! Just when you're ready. And only if it would help - don't feel obligated. :-)

will do, thanks loads

I've put a new copy of the calcium and 5 a day checker on Googledocs here and I'm trying to make sure everything on the new shopping list is included. Then I thought we'd do a bit of stock checking. Any help with the spreadsheet is gratefully recieved!