Ready Meals etc

alandbailey

Even though I live alone on a very low income, I have started to rebel against the crap that is offered to us as ready meals/processed foods. I now examine the data on each pack of food, and if it states reconstituted meat or formed meat, I refuse to buy it. Try eating a chicken kiev made from a whole breast as opposed to a chicken kiev made from reconstituted meat - you would not willingly go back to the cheaper option.
These days I would rather eat a slice of bread and butter with a fried egg than much of the rubbish on sale in the supermarkets.
I try to grow as much produce as possible and keep poultry - that way I know my food is wholesome.
I now try to only buy food from the supermarket that is either fresh or cannot be mucked about - fresh fruit 'n veg, bread or frozen prawns etc.
I have finally come to my senses, albeit rather late in life!:j

KingL

good for you !

jenniewb

Have you tried cooking your own food? if you make stuff up several meals at a time, portion and freeze it does work out cheaper.

KingL

If you have a local market, check them out for fruit and veg - they are often about a third of the price of supermarkets.

Of course, "the good life" is the best way

alandbailey

I will NOT kill and eat my chickens - they are more pets than livestock! I do all my own cooking but as I am alone, it is not always feasible to bulk cook then freeze.
I am just amazed at how much rubbish is palmed off onto the consumer. Of course, if I were well-off, I would only shop at Waitrose or M&S ! - lol.

vicki+1

my favorite cheapy meal, pasta,frozen sweetcorn and tinned tomatoes, with melted grated cheese on the top. Quick, healthy , cheap and yummy (although not so cheap since the price of pasta went up.

chesky369

I also live on my own and find that there's nothing better than cooking up a large chicken casserole or beef in wine and parcelling up tubs and freezing them. Then, in the week when I don't feel like starting to cook a meal from scratch, there's a smashing chicken with leeks and mushrooms, or beef stew that I stick in the microwave. Add a portion of rice and some fresh peas and you have a wonderful dinner.

alandbailey

Due to very successful weight loss surgery (down from 24 stone to 12 stone) I need to have a protein intake of approx 100/120 gms daily and fats pass straight through. Therefore I have to bias my cooking and eating towards an Atkins style diet. Since 75% of my stomach was removed, carbohydrates and fibre are very low on my list of priorities. This is why I am annoyed about the rubbish being sold as good protein. Even though I grow my own veg and fruit, I cannot eat much of them - but I can make wine and liqueurs and drink them!!:beer:
Since my divorce I have taught myself to cook and 6 years post-op am still doing well.:D

alandbailey

As an addendum to my previous post, I tend to buy reduced price meat and poultry from the supermarkets, cook it and then add it to pulses (lentils, pearl barley etc) and cheap tins of the appropriate soup, cook it with frozen peas or tinned sweetcorn, and freeze what I don't immediately eat.
It is a challenge being an OAP on a fixed low income and needing high protein meals, but I find it a satisfying challenge - better than sitting at home moaning.
As a bonus, anything that I buy and don't like, my chickens will fight for it! - lol. Nothing gets wasted in my house!!!:D

WhiteHorse

The chemical and other trash they put in the so-called food is terrifying. No wonder so many children are aggressive and hyperactive.

sheeps68

I'm a buy in bulk and cook in bulk person and have a variety "ready meals" in the freezer all home cooked. Much better quality, taste better and cheaper. Highly recommend this approach.