Gingernutbizkit's quest to find a menu plan that eases her conscience!!

gingernutbizkit

I agree, thanks mumto1

Ging x

greenbee

Well done on your challenge so far.

I struggle constantly with the different ethical and financial decisions that have to be made on a daily basis. It's very confusing.

I am lucky enough to have a good local organic farm shop (veg is therefore cheaper than non-organic supermarket veg in season), village shop (stocks pretty much everything and I can walk there), village butcher and nearby independent health food shop (great for pulses, grains, nuts, dried fruit etc). Between these and a selection of local markets/farmers' markets I can avoid the supermarket most of the time. Having said that, i had to go today as I've been away and missed all my local shopping opportunities!

I also buy lots of stuff on line. Traidcraft loo paper and kitchen roll can be bought in bulk either direct or from sites like natural collection/ethical consumer, along with bulk ecover and similar cleaning materials, and natural toiletries. Bulk vinegar/bicarb etc are available from summer naturals.

I have found that looking closely at portion sizes has made a huge difference to the amount of meat/fish I consume (80g is a lot less than most people think they should have!). Whole grains are more filling than refined carbohydrates, and getting more than your 5 f & v may actually work out cheaper than you think... most of the year it's the veg that will be cheaper. Starting meals with a vegetable soup will be warming and filling, and mean that a reduced size main course isn't an issue. In the summer, salads as starters work well too.

Root veg can often be bought from local farmers/markets/farm shops in sacks very cheaply. They'll last for ages if kept somewhere cool, dry and dark, and form the basis for a lot of meals.

I find that fruit works better for breakfast (with porridge or muesli & yogurt) than veg (unless a cooked breakfast is on the menu, when tomatoes... technically a fruit I guess... and mushrooms can be included).

Carrot & celery sticks make great snacks, as does chopped apple and clementines or a few bits of orange.

If you DO have to go to a supermarket, then make sure you think about how much room you have available in your freezer/cupboards and scour it for bargains while you are there. They can be good for stocking up on seasonal fruit & veg that can be cooked & frozen (I'm busy filling the freezer with stewed rhubarb at the moment, as I've had some good deals on it). Remember that at times it may be more ethical to go for those bargains (which may anyway avoid the food being wasted) to allow you to continue with some of your higher priority concerns around animal welfare and fairtrade.

Good luck with your challenge!

mumto1_2

the boxes are different every week and you can get a different size box, or only loose stuff, but the boxes are the best deal. I usually get a veg ox 1 week and a fruit box the next.

we had the parsnips with a roast duck (whoopsied at £3.50ish) last night - roasted as well. Got half the duck left, going to make soup and wraps with it, I think.

gingernutbizkit

Thanks Greenbee... some helpful tips there. I had breezed past a large bag of potatoes at the farm shop for £6.50 but now I think about it they would last us for ages so are actually quite a good deal. Mrs Ging might be making more room in her shed than she thought .

Mumto1 - great idea to get veg one week and fruit the next I guess you would get more variety that way .

I made rubber chicken last night with the last Asda chicken. When I compared to the price that the box delivery would charge a chicken would be about £12 :eek:. That's way more than I'm used to paying so I would have to make it VERY rubber!!!! Might revisit the threads on that one for some extra tips.

The book on war time rationing is very interesting and I think I might have a go at the stuffing recipe for tonight and see how I get on. I have a lot to learn from that generation... my nan is a great example of the make do and mend philosophy

ging x

mumto1_2

well, as free-range/organic chickens are ethically better, and i can get one to last at least for 4 x 2 peeps meals plus stock.... per meal it isn't that much. and we eat at least 2 veggie meals a week, so it balances out. jacket potatoes with beans and cheese are cheap... :-) we have lots of veg on the plate to fill up on too.

Stuffing is a good way to stretch a meal.

And if anything goes off quickly from Riverford, you (usually) get a no- hassle freebie next delivery. Tho I've never had a prob I've put usually... LOL

And the difference in taste can't be ignored, either. free range chicks don't have water injected into them to pump up the weight, so they taste better.

greenbee

Chicken - I boil mine in the SC. It means the mean is moist and succulent rather than drying out, plus I get stock from cooking it as well as stock from the bones. And the stock from a decent chicken is SO much richer and better than stock from a cheap flabby one...

gingernutbizkit

I've boiled in the past but Mrs Ging does like a nice crisp skin. That said I think she acknowledges that we could both do without eating that luxury I did find it easier to get the most meat out of the bird too so I will definately go back to this again.
Ging x

mumto1_2

yup, how true! If you go to a butchers, ask if they ever have any carcasses in - I get mine for free from my butchers. I roast them off in the oven while the veg is carmelizing and then simmer for a couple of hours. Strain, cool and then I bag up to freeze. 1 bag = 1 portion soup /2 bags = stock for risotto.

gingernutbizkit

Great idea, thanks

gingernutbizkit

Mrs Ging came back from the shops today with fairtrade bananas and chocolate :j. She did however go for some stuffing (still have yet to learn to make my own ) so not exactly keeping to budget! A stepin the right direction though. We have now agreed that we will buy FT bananas all the time unless they come on our organic fv box (arrives friday).

Had a butchers at our local butchers . It actually was a similar price to the farm shop we went to the other day. Picked up 10lb of free range chciken breast for £33 - think that was a good deal?

Now worked out a monthly budget of sorts:

f + v box delivery = £50.00 (may increase according to box size)
Meat = £50.00 (will decrease once freezer is stocked)
Fish = £50.00 (as above)
Storecupboard Items = £110.00 (including toiletries and household items)
Weekly Extras = £50.00

Off to order my chest freezer.....
Ging x