Need OS advice to get my food shop down!

pauleyc

Just a thought as my ds2 has eczema, can you not get stuff from the dr's? I get oilatum bath solution and their cream too , from the dr so im sure you could too.

Muesli

Will definitely have to try the scotch eggs, I used to make diet ones when I did slimming world and they were lovely, made in just the same way but without the breadcrumbs and using meditteranean diet sausages.

I am in just the same boat as you OP, need to cut the grocery bills. I tell you what I find a cheap recipe, can't post links as new user, but if you google 'good food magazine oven risotto' you'll find it

We use half a pack of value cooking bacon, but also add some frozen peas and some sliced mushrooms when you add the stock in. I find it very family friendly to cook too, as you can chop up the bits in advance and just keep them in tupperware and you cook it in the oven so no need to be stirring

With the other half of the pack of value cooking bacon you can either freeze it for another time or make Brilliant bacon pasta from the feed your family for a fiver recipes from Sainsburys, it's a Jamie oliver recipe, basically bacon, courgette, garlic, creme fraiche.

This is another of our family favourites although I make it with cheapy bacon and I don't add the cheese. We often use a whole tub of creme fraiche too, dunno what I would use the other half for otherwise.

kerrypn

More great tips, thanks

I love corned beef hash but DS will not eat anything with potatoes in, its not a fad he genuinely hates them, always has so I sub in pasta for him where I can

Oilatum I have had before actually, it wasnt bad, Im at drs on mon for pre school booster with DS so will ask for some more

I will buy a big chicken next time-when freezing cooked chicken what are the rules?Dont want salmonella!

I follow bread recipe given in the instructions-i halve sugar but still too sweet and doesnt rise as it should regardless of yeast content-I always buy strong bread flour as the guide book says??

ChocClare

Do you have a Tesco's within reasonable distance? SMA is £6 there at the moment according to mysupermarket and that's so much cheaper it might be worth going there specially to buy a load (or getting it delivered with one of those £10 off your first order over £50-type dealies? You could always do the rest of your shop there for once - I find Tesco's is generally cheaper than Sainsbury's on lots of things...

kerrypn

OMG if thats SMA Gold that is the best tip I have ever been given-that is hand on heart the very first time I have ever heard of it being on offer....off to check

EDIT:Just checked, its the follow on milks that are £6 it has to be SMA Gold as DS is only 6 months

EDIT2:Although they say from 6 months...will ask my HV if I can swap thank you

ChocClare

Yes, sorry, I didn't look to see how little your baby was. I think they're not allowed to put first baby milks on offer, as it's to encourage you to breastfeed.

Having said that, I did read that Wilkinson's is the cheapest for SMA Gold - but I don't know whether it's just pennies, couldn't find it online.

I seem to remember both of mine moved on to white quite quickly but then they were pretty big babies to start with (DS was 9.2 and DD was 8.7 at birth - not fat at all but VERY tall...).

BitterAndTwisted

kerrypn wrote: »

I will buy a big chicken next time-when freezing cooked chicken what are the rules? Don't want salmonella!

There aren't any rules when freezing cooked chicken other than freezing it once it's cooled properly. When freezing meat you just don't freeze it twice in the same state (raw/cooked). No risk of salmonella if the meat has been properly cooked all the way through when you roast it.

gailey_2

I have kids similar age 4 and 11months.

My 4year old is getting fussy not huge fan of potaoes either but she will eat
chips, wedges, waffles of potato shapes with roast chicken drumstick as cheap often reduced. breaded fish or fishcake.

I juss switched baby to cows milk which is costing bit more on bill not menat to switch until 12months but my hav said shes big baby, showing no reaction.
Could you not try a different brand formula at all.
With my 1st i mix fed and used to buy hipp organic was 4.99 in tesco.
Also noticed the follow on milk 6months up was often on multibuys in boots, tesco or sainsburys.

Mr m , sainsburys and asda often have huge baby events with big discounts.

I baby led weaned with my youngest no purees or jars just finger foods, cereal and yogurt been real hit shes eating what we eat such contrast to first who would gag on lumps at 12months, baby often eats more than 4year old.

I buy wipes only on offer or tesco value the cheapest at 50p for 80.

nappies use cloth costing me hardly anything as used cloth with my first and brought few 2nd hand bargains.

food wise I go lidls for fruit and veg although aldis quite cheap, kids have lots of fruit and veg not huge meat eaters so i try and incorperate other forms of protein like beans, lentils into their meals.

I batch cook and freeze into little tubs and sometimes make kids seprate meals and freeze as we like spicey so other day did a very mild veg curry with rice and froze leftovers.

Pasta sauce they prefer plain so just passata 45p a carton some mixed herbs no salt with pasta and grated cheese they also like mixed in tinned tuna nice and cheap protein.

baby likes ricecakes, 4year old only allowed 1pack or crips a day usally with sandwich at lunch.

we get double concentrate squash lasts ages usually for 2.50 juice and pop dont last long here.

Shop around for best milk deal.

always look at reductions on meat and bread and freeze if possible.

Hubbys huge meat eater I buy pancatta or diced bacon and we have that with pasta.
we add ham or bacon to a quiche or omlette.
smoked salmon trimmings 98p to scrambled egg.
I buy sausages reduced or on offer for casseroles as usually quite cheap.
Try to make a chicken last but struggle.
But cheaper cuts like chicken legss and wings.

shop around as much as you can.
Add handful red lentils to chilli or spag bok guarantee hubby wont notice and does strech it.

richoneday

I don't know if this is any help but I was at my local hospital last week and there was a poster up saying free vitamins and fruit and vegetables it was obviously aimed at parents of very young children. I'm sorry I don't know any details but it was an 'official' poster - ie NHS or some government thing. It may be worth asking your health visitor or calling your GPs surgery to see if you are entitled.
I am also trying to get my food budget down and have managed to grow some veg this year - courgettes are brilliant they just keep coming so bear this in mind for next year if you have any room in your garden - you can even grow them in a grow bag on a patio/balcony.

OrkneyStar

got-it-spend-it wrote: »

I guess it probably depends on how much the nappies and SMA cost per month? Weezl's plan feeds a family of four (2 adults and 2 teens) for £100 a month so I think £200 is doable.

Although Weezl has done a great job working on that, and all the helpers out too, I definitely would find it difficult to stick to that long-term tbh. It is a good place to get ideas though and some meals to incorporate into a wider plan imho!