Cost of fruit and veg.

charlotte46

Hi

Being really skint at the moment i was just wondering how much people pay of their fruit and veg. I'm also trying to eat more of the stuff but it seems to cost so much.

I know it would be cheaper to shop at the market but just not sure exacatly how much things should cost and the only time i could do a market shop is on a sat but we eat at parents over the weekend so don't really need any fresh veg till monday.


For instance :

1 kewi: 20p
1.5kg carrots: 79p (basics from sainsburys) (will no doubt have to make carrot soup by the end of the week.

Thank you.

kethry

I'm in the same situation, on the GI diet which is predominantly fruit and veg based, so really struggle - i'm on benefits too, feeding two of us on maybe 30 quid a week.

what i've found is the following:

1) certain things are ok frozen. e.g. peppers, iceland sell a bag of mixed frozen peppers already chopped for 99p. I also get : spinach, chopped green beans, peas, broccoli/cauliflower mix, baby carrots from there too. they're great for anything wet - i chuck all these into casseroles, curries, soups and stews and sometimes i just do a mix veg boil to have on the side.

2) other things are cheaper from the market, some things cheaper from the supermarket. What i've found is that staples like carrots, potatoes, onions, that kind of thing are a loss leader at the supermarket, and you can buy big bags of onions, for example, from Tesco for 79p (their value range). of course that's only useful if you know you'll use them all up, but generally onions tend to keep. Certain other things at the supermarket are more expensive, for example, courgettes - 2 courgettes in a tray in a bag are 1.40 (or they were the last time i looked), and i can get 2 courgettes from the market much cheaper. you really do need to write down prices to compare market to supermarket.

3) between different supermarkets you'll often find differences. I appreciate not everyone has the time to do this, but for example, Aldi is selling broccoli half price this week, a head of broccoli for 24p. they usually have a half price something. If you can do this, and you have the discipline to walk out of the supermarket with nothing if you know you can get it cheaper elsewhere (which is a lot easier said than done!) then you can save money but it does depend on being on the ball because fruit and veg prices can change quite quickly.

4) also check what's in season - in season foods tend to be slightly cheaper, and taste better. the market is the one to really keep an eye on that, but if you have a car, you could also investigate farm shops, because they sell seasonally.

5) lastly, do check out the reduced sections of big supermarkets, because you can often pick up bargains there. I remember one day last summer when i nipped into Asda for something and they were selling bags of peppers for .. i don't remember how much but it was very cheap, so i bought all i could get my hands on, staggered home, roasted the lot, put em into bags while still hot, peeled them and then froze them in portions. They're lovely that way, all the juices are in the bag, and you can defrost just to sprinkle over a salad with all the juices as a salad dressing, or you can just use as normal frozen peppers in a spag bol, for example. if you do do this though be aware that most reduced veg will go off quickly so get em in the freezer as soon as you get home. Even things like reduced mushrooms, you can chop, cook down, and freeze in portions, as well as keeping some to have on toast one morning for breakfast (with some garlic... which is lovely. although i don't work so i don't have to worry about breathing over people.. LOL.)

hope all that helps - sorry its a bit long..

keth
xx

cuddlymarm

Hi

I buy bags of onions and peppers and chop them and put in the freezer raw (you just have to remember to scrunch them 3 or 4 times until they are properly frozen otherwise you have a solid clump) This way you only need to take out as much as you need each time.:rotfl: :rotfl:

I've never quite worked out what needs blanching (or how you do it) before it goes in the freezer so I try to cook meals with fresh veg for the beginning of the week and then have frozen for the rest.:rotfl: :rotfl:

Can anyone tell me how to do blanch veggies because often the offer bags are too big for 2 of us now OH works away during the week and DS2 is at uni ?

Thanks:rotfl: :rotfl:

thriftlady_2

It is possible to get your 5 a day and not spend the earth.
Try this
1 glass of value/smartprice orange juice
1 apple (try a farmshop for local just picked and cheap)
1 serving of carrots
1 serving of frozen peas
1 serving of fruit canned in juice

My top tip is to buy British, seasonal fruit and veg and not worry too much if you are not getting avocado, mango, and sweet potato - think apples, pears, cabbage and carrots. Check out a farmshop if possible.

liz545

I usually get from the market,
10 or 12 apples or satsumas for a pound
5 or 6 peppers for a pound
3 courgettes, or lettuces, or cucumbers or aubergines for a pound
about 50p for a half pound of mushrooms (I think!)
30p a pound for tomatoes
I can't remember how much I pay for carrots, I think its 50p for three pounds.

Those numbers are from memory, but I'm fairly sure they're close! Obviously it varies slightly depending on what's in season.

freyasmum

Hi cuddlymarm!

To blanch vegetables you just parboil them. I can't tell you exactly how long for - it depends on the vegetable, but just cook them till they're half done. Then you can put them in the freezer. I prefer to free-flow them before putting them in a bag, but then we have quite a large freezer, and I know other people prefer to just put them in a bag and smush them a couple of times.

HTH,
Linzi x

lightisfading

Being short of time and relying on public transport, i never have the time to shop all over for things, but i try to buy my fruit n veggies at the market (apart from peppers, which we love but are hideously expensive there).

I got 2 bags full of f+v today for £5.20, which i thought was pretty good?

(5 massive baking spuds, 2lbs carrots, 1x broccolli, 1x cabbage, 1x cauliflower, 6 bananas, 5 satsumas, 4 onions)

For the physical amount, i think £5 is cheap compared to what you could get of meat, for example. I'm glad i'm veggie

Of course now it's winter i'm craving summery veg like courgettes, and they cost a fortune!! I got too used to having home grown ones this summer.

cuddlymarm

Thanks Linzi

I'll give it a try (it will have to be the smushing way of freezing because our freezers not that big)

Thanks again:T :T

tiff

Dont rule out tinned veg and beans. Tinned toms 15p, tinned sweetcorn 17p, baked beans 15p, kidney beans 17p etc.

mah_jong

I am amazed at the wonderful prices you pay for your fruit and veggies!

mine are expensive....live far North of Scotland...no car
last lot of satsumas were 1.99 I think
peppers 1.49 for three,
It gets depressing...I was aware that f and v were the biggest part of my daily shopping so added a category in MS money! I will be able to give you the percentage soon!!

I got some cheap veggies steamed blanched them and froze few weeks ago but the chances are few and fare between

jobbingmusician

You could also try asking on Freecycle if anyone has a glut of apples, or any other home-grown fruit, just at the moment