Do I really spend to much on food?

zippychick

Crux

I seen reference to veggie food, so here is the Complete vegetarian index

If you scroll down to meal planners in post 1, you will see links to Ginghams mentioned veggie seasonal planners

Zip

Bronnie

jinky67 wrote: »

You also stated to eat a lot of porridge, do you buy Smartprice or Value range of that? Because I find NO difference in taste or texture

I have to say I do! haven't tried the Smartprice, but I certainly didn't like the Value one and was a bit peeved to end up using it in flapjacks (which I am nervous having hanging around the place as they're soooo tempting and soooo fattening!)

jackieglasgow

I don't mind cheappie porridge, although we all know Scott's is the best there is but I can sacrifice a wee bit of flavour for more than £1 per pack. I know it's only a £1 but I wouldn't use the good ones for Flapjacks (know exactly what you mean there, Bronnie), and don't see the point in having two packs around the house.

Jackie x

SusanC_2

crux wrote: »

I thought I was doing good by cutting our household groceries bill from 750 a month to 500 for the three of us. However I see that most people here are aiming hugely lower than that.

Ok, I don't understand how.

We eat healthy, I cook everything, I plan meals for the week and shop for those ingredients. Huge amounts of fresh fruit/veg and fresh meat/fish, very little processed food, lowish carbs so no cheap bulk. I shop at Morrison's as it's much cheaper than our local Tesco's, we are not overweight so our portion control is quite good.

When I look at my shop even if I go and buy value everything, the price will only drop maybe £50 a month. The majority of cost is in the meat/fish and fresh veg/salad.

How on earth do people manage on £1/meal?? Tonight I'm cooking pork loin for three that alone cost £3 for 440gm's let alone the other ingredients. Do I need to change the way I eat healthy to drop my food cost or am I missing something?

How can I get my meat/fish and fresh stuff cheaper than at a supermarket?

Last year I averaged £177/month for the three of us (although one of the three is small). Off the top of my head and not having read through the thread yet, these are what I imagine are probably some of the differences:
- I choose my cuts of meat according to the price. I rarely buy higher than £5/kg, the main exception being joints of lamb when they are on offer which I soemtimes pay as much as £6/kg for.
- I am sparing with the meat and often have meals which don't contain meat.
- I also select my fruit and veg with careful attention to the price.
- I buy frozen veg if it is cheaper than the fresh veg.
- I always try to ensure that I use more of the cheaper veg in more meals (so for example I use onion and carrot a lot as they tend to be cheaper)
- I use a lot of dried lentils and beans.
- I make my own bread.
- I make a lot of my own sandwich fillers (e.g. cream cheese, hummus, ham).
- I always check out the reduced section whenever I go shopping. It helps that there are two Co-ops in my village so I go in them maybe four times a week just to check for reduced items.
- I stock up on offers (e.g. I buy Yeo Valley Organic butter but have never bought it at full price because it is regularly 2 for £2 and I buy and freeze it).

Hope some of that is useful.

se999

On breakfasts, hubbie loves muesli, but hates 'dead flies' his terms for raisins/sultanas. So instead we pick and mix the ingredients, and mix out own, it works out far cheaper, especially when things are on special at the health food stores etc. He also adds fresh fruit, or dried apple rings. There's also no extra added sugar.

He normally likes yoghurt too, so we use something like a nice greek starter, and use a yoghurt maker, we then use UHT value skimmed milk for the yoghurt, which is quick and simple and low fat. We also do lots of yoghurt sauces rather than cream for chicken dishes etc..

jackieglasgow

I have HM muesli all summer long, before reverting to porridge in the winter. I used to live abroad, in Europe, and it was always the norm to make your own. I also make my own Granola, and I agree with your OH - Dead flies! Luxury tyoe foods with a budget. I am also growing lots of heritage type tomatoes this year to see how that goes budget wise. Packet of seed about 70p I think, some soil which I had and hopefully many punds of tomatoes to feed my addictin, along with some of that nice come-and-cut-again salad someone mentioned earlier. Bit of a tangent from breakfast there, sorry.

But that's a strong point, actually. Eating seasonally is the cheapest way to eat well, and have good restaurant quality food. That is what the best restaurants do. Locally sourced where possible, seasonal ingredients, simply cooked. There's maybe the direction to go in, crux. Less rich than maybe some of the things you are having just now, but you'll be able to have better quality dishes and not always pay a premium for it?

banwa

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

With all due respect I find these comments a bit "off".
I aim for slightly less than £200 a month for my family. Why do you make an assumption that anyone doing so is living on ready meals and unhealthy junk or just plain miserable?
Amazing though it might seem I still buy broccoli and peppers, some were from Aldi's Super 6 and others I grew myself. I don't restrict our fruit and veg intake either.
I bake my own treats rather than buy them and I cook from scratch most of the time. So we eat well and are happy with what we eat.

I'm really pleased this thread has been reopened as it has given me the opportunity to apologise for my earlier comment. I posted this last night on the thread which was deleted so sorry if you're reading this again

I made a comment that basically accused everyone on a tight budget of being either unhealthy or miserable. Really, I lack the imagination or resourcefulness I don't think reduce my budget any more, not without comproming our health or happiness. I salute all you who can.

I have received nothing but kindness and support on this board and am very sad that I might have caused offence. Especially to all the lovely people I see on the grocery challenge who have only ever emphasised that it is about finding a budget which suits you. Now I don't know if I should dare show my face around there again

crux

Thanks for all the responses! Been mega busy this evening, shopping and cooking so no time to reply individually but I read everything and so many good ideas!!

I put my head in the whoopsie section today for the first ever time :j

Got in my mind an absolute bargain and it's already in our bellies! Monk fish fillet reduced from £7 to £2, I got two of them! Meant to freeze one but it looked so lovely that we had one each! So, not an inexpensive dinner but so good value to me.

Cooked with sliced and saut!ed Red Onion, celery, Fennel. Once they veggies are soft add fresh dill, 1 tsp of fennel seeds, white wine bring to boil briefly and season then lay the fish onto the veggie/wine mix. Pop the pan into a 200 degree oven for 10-15 mins, baste the fish with the juices every now and then. Once it's ready add some more pepper + salt if needed, garnish with a bit of reserved dill, serve with crusty bread.

Highly recommended if you get the chance, any meaty white fish would do.

Also, baby spinach, which is currently in the oven making Spanokopita pasty for tomorrows lunch, and no before anyone asks I did not make the filo , I'm keen but no masochist :rotfl:

misskool

Have we discussed seasonal eating yet? We're coming into the great british season (my strawberries have set and I can't wait for the first one).

It's not easy in the winter and even I fold but for the next 4-6 months, buying fresh seasonal produce will be reduced. Asparagus season soon. :drool:

crux

banwa wrote: »

I'm really pleased this thread has been reopened as it has given me the opportunity to apologise for my earlier comment. I posted this last night on the thread which was deleted so sorry if you're reading this again

I made a comment that basically accused everyone on a tight budget of being either unhealthy or miserable. Really, I lack the imagination or resourcefulness I don't think reduce my budget any more, not without comproming our health or happiness. I salute all you who can.

I have received nothing but kindness and support on this board and am very sad that I might have caused offence. Especially to all the lovely people I see on the grocery challenge who have only ever emphasised that it is about finding a budget which suits you. Now I don't know if I should dare show my face around there again

:T Make food not war :cool: