Bragging! And I'm not ashamed of it.

catkins

[QUOTE=I'm really sorry to read that for some people "the living conditions" make no difference. I honestly cannot see how, having seen what the living conditions for battery caged hens are, anyone can just say that they don't care! :shocked:

I agree it is sad that people's only concern about food is that it comes as cheaply as possible, at the expense of animal welfare, farmers driven by supermarkets' low prices to give up their farms, supporting local businesses etc. I don't even think it is really old style to focus only on price this way- surely old style is going to your local butcher, talking about where the meat comes from and what thriftier cuts he can offer etc.

I want to keep my bills down as much as possible and to this end ensure I buy whole (RSPCA) chickens rather than breasts and stretttch, cook economical cuts, buy things that are reduced and would otherwise end up in landfill etc etc but I couldn't live with myself if I knew that my desire to save a few £ for a 'treat' meant that animals or people were suffering.

And before I get flamed, I do understand that for some people it is a choice between buying unethical products or just not having the money to eat nutritious food at all. Obviously in that case you have to choose to feed your family, however I doubt that all of the people on here driving their grocery bill down to the minimum are in that desperate state.[/QUOTE]

I don't eat meat or fish but I do eat eggs. Not only do I want eggs that taste the best, which I think are free range organic, I also want to know that the chickens have had the best life possible which, obviously is not going to be the case for a battery hen.

For me it is worth paying slightly more to know the chickens are better looked after and for the lovely taste of the eggs. I live in a built up part of Essex but more and more people are keeping chickens and, if I can see how those chickens are being kept, I buy from them. Usually much cheaper than supermarket eggs as well.

honeythewitch

attentionseeker1 wrote: »

I always buy value eggs.. other than the living conditions of the birds there is absolutely no difference whatsoever!

I'm really sorry to read that for some people "the living conditions" make no difference. I honestly cannot see how, having seen what the living conditions for battery caged hens are, anyone can just say that they don't care! :shocked:

I agree it is sad that people's only concern about food is that it comes as cheaply as possible, at the expense of animal welfare, farmers driven by supermarkets' low prices to give up their farms, supporting local businesses etc. I don't even think it is really old style to focus only on price this way- surely old style is going to your local butcher, talking about where the meat comes from and what thriftier cuts he can offer etc.

I want to keep my bills down as much as possible and to this end ensure I buy whole (RSPCA) chickens rather than breasts and stretttch, cook economical cuts, buy things that are reduced and would otherwise end up in landfill etc etc but I couldn't live with myself if I knew that my desire to save a few £ for a 'treat' meant that animals or people were suffering.

And before I get flamed, I do understand that for some people it is a choice between buying unethical products or just not having the money to eat nutritious food at all. Obviously in that case you have to choose to feed your family, however I doubt that all of the people on here driving their grocery bill down to the minimum are in that desperate state.

In the statement that you quoted the poster is stating a fact.
It is true that living conditions (unless the bird was malnourished or ill) should make no difference to the quality of the egg.
The difference comes from the feed used, and free range or organic hens are often (but not always) given better quality feed that impacts on the taste, because of the higher price.
A battery hen and a free range hen of the same breed and age on exactly the same feed will produce similar eggs.

fuddle

attentionseeker1 wrote: »

I always buy value eggs.. other than the living conditions of the birds there is absolutely no difference whatsoever!

I'm really sorry to read that for some people "the living conditions" make no difference. I honestly cannot see how, having seen what the living conditions for battery caged hens are, anyone can just say that they don't care! :shocked:

I agree it is sad that people's only concern about food is that it comes as cheaply as possible, at the expense of animal welfare, farmers driven by supermarkets' low prices to give up their farms, supporting local businesses etc. I don't even think it is really old style to focus only on price this way- surely old style is going to your local butcher, talking about where the meat comes from and what thriftier cuts he can offer etc.

I want to keep my bills down as much as possible and to this end ensure I buy whole (RSPCA) chickens rather than breasts and stretttch, cook economical cuts, buy things that are reduced and would otherwise end up in landfill etc etc but I couldn't live with myself if I knew that my desire to save a few £ for a 'treat' meant that animals or people were suffering.

And before I get flamed, I do understand that for some people it is a choice between buying unethical products or just not having the money to eat nutritious food at all. Obviously in that case you have to choose to feed your family, however I doubt that all of the people on here driving their grocery bill down to the minimum are in that desperate state.

Your post made me think and I appreciate that.

For a while now I've been toying with the idea of buying from a butchers but have been concerned that I blow my budget. Through your post I see that it I should educate myself about the cheapest cuts of meat and how to cook them.

honeythewitch

fuddle wrote: »

Your post made me think and I appreciate that.

For a while now I've been toying with the idea of buying from a butchers but have been concerned that I blow my budget. Through your post I see that it I should educate myself about the cheapest cuts of meat and how to cook them.

Check the butcher's sources very carefully. The meat sometimes comes from exactly the same place as the supermarket.

Goldiegirl

MysteryMe wrote: »

Don't Harrods or Fortnum and Mason have a message board that the foodie braggarts can peruse whilst sipping their Gold Blend and leave this board to people interested in trying to maintain a healthy diet whilst on a limited budget?

The only person that was bragging on this thread was the OP, who was 'bragging, and not ashamed of it'

I think the most important thing is to shop within your means.

I don't understand why someone with limited money coming into the house would spend several £100's on their food, but equally, I don't understand why someone who could afford more would pare everything to the bone, and spend £40.00 on their monthly shop.

As long as a person feels they personally are getting value for money, enjoying their food (after all eating a good meal is a pleasure in life) and eating a healthy balanced diet, that is what really matters, rather than how much they are spending

meher

MysteryMe wrote: »

leave this board to people interested in trying to maintain a healthy diet whilst on a limited budget?

Impossible. Everyone is welcome here and they can post a reflection of their lifestyle, whether it is fully accounted, partly accounted or simply a statement. It is ok to post the way you want to present it.

i'm not interested in the details but i don't mind believing everyone's acquisitions M&S and waitrose are located closely where i live and i rush to these stores when i have friends inviting themselves unnanounced and i have had days when i've managed to buy a pizza for less than a £ and wine that costs originally £17 or so for £2. i've also managed to buy a basket full of barbeque pastes, nans and salads to go with it because my friends just decided that they were going to use my garden and other things needed for barbecue for under £5 from M&S just couple of weeks ago. So i don't see a reason to be sceptical about low budget conquests. Neither does it mean that these food stuff are junk because they are priced low. It simply means you watch out and look out for offers and price mark downs. Waitrose always price matches even value foods of other stores and thankfully many people are looking out for bargains elsewhere whilst some of us are shopping at high end stores for quality food for bargain prices

cutestkids

honeythewitch wrote: »

Check the butcher's sources very carefully. The meat sometimes comes from exactly the same place as the supermarket.

I have to agree with this, I tried my local butcher who on the face of it seemed very good, lovely display everything seemed very fresh etc.

None of the meat was however sourced locally, and it was not until a friend of mine started working there that I found out, the following, the fresh chicken breasts on display in the shop were taken out the freezer the evening before and defrosted overnight to be sold as fresh the next day fine if you know what you are getting but not so good if the plan is to freeze them when you get home.
The same applied to the burgers, sausages and quite a few other things, basically they were buying packaged meat from a wholesaler and freezing it then selling as fresh.

I have found that our local Morrisons offers the best value and quality on meat where we live.

They have a butcher counter in store and this is where I buy most things.
It also tends to work out cheaper than the 3 for £10 deals that they do in the next aisle.
I buy my main meat such as mince, stewing steak, sausauges, chickens, chicken breast etc from there.
Bacon, gammon steaks, things like lorne sausage and black pudding I buy from my local market as it is the best value and good quality.
I check out the Co-op as they often have offers on things like chicken drumsticks etc.
Eggs come from the local farm only because they are cheaper than the supermarket.
I also use mainly Morrisons for fruit and veg as again it is the best quality.

I really think it is a case of shopping around for the best value and quality that you can afford but as others have said I can only afford so many ethics when it comes to food so it is choice between buying eggs from battery hens or no eggs then I will buy the battery ones because my childrens health and welfare comes above that of a chicken (sorry if that offends)

senileturtle

I want to keep my bills down as much as possible and to this end ensure I buy whole (RSPCA) chickens rather than breasts and stretttch, cook economical cuts, buy things that are reduced and would otherwise end up in landfill etc etc but I couldn't live with myself if I knew that my desire to save a few £ for a 'treat' meant that animals or people were suffering.

Take it you're talking about the "Freedom food" scheme by RSPCA?

http://www.hillside.org.uk/RSPCAmonitoredFreedomFoodFarms.htm

Not as ethical as they make out. Many Freedom Food monitored farms have been discovered to have appalling standards of welfare bordering on abuse. You can see most of the videos on youtube.

The only sure way to ensure an animal that ends up on your plate is being treated well is to visit a farm unannounced (farms tidy up for announced inspections). But even then you don't know what goes on when you're not there, or what happens when the animals leave the farm (most slaughter house trucks transporting animals do not provide water or food for the journey). Also slaughter can be slow and painful as a lot of slaughterhouses try to boost the amount of production thus rendering proper stunning unlikely as the workers are going as quick as they can.

Cutestkid, your children not eating eggs for any certain amount of time isn't going to impede on their welfare or health. What a silly excuse for buying unethical eggs. I'm sure your children would appreciate the welfare of the hens more than some soldiers and eggs meal. If they are taught to respect animals that is. And if you have a garden with plenty of grassy area you can invest in some ex battery hens and teach the children the value of looking after animals other than the usual pet dog or cat, as well as teaching them how the eggs get to their plates. Pet chickens are easy to keep and provide plenty of eggs for people who choose to eat them. They are also inexpensive as the only major expense is the coop, but that's an investment that ends up paying back as you won't need to buy eggs in a shop any more.

maman

cutestkids wrote: »

I really think it is a case of shopping around for the best value and quality that you can afford but as others have said I can only afford so many ethics when it comes to food so it is choice between buying eggs from battery hens or no eggs then I will buy the battery ones because my childrens health and welfare comes above that of a chicken (sorry if that offends)

I'm not offended in the least, I totally agree with you.:)

If I was that concerned about animal welfare for meat in supermarkets I'd go without meat. I certainly wouldn't be paying through the nose for a fancy hat, stripey apron and bits of parsley decorating the meat. I'm not knocking all local butchers but you do need to compare like with like and fancy prices for the same meat is just pretension.

I think most of us have certain things we'd prefer to buy if money was no object but this is real life and very hard for many people.

Kirri

senileturtle wrote: »

Cutestkid, your children not eating eggs for any certain amount of time isn't going to impede on their welfare or health. What a silly excuse for buying unethical eggs. I'm sure your children would appreciate the welfare of the hens more than some soldiers and eggs meal. If they are taught to respect animals that is. And if you have a garden with plenty of grassy area you can invest in some ex battery hens and teach the children the value of looking after animals other than the usual pet dog or cat, as well as teaching them how the eggs get to their plates. Pet chickens are easy to keep and provide plenty of eggs for people who choose to eat them. They are also inexpensive as the only major expense is the coop, but that's an investment that ends up paying back as you won't need to buy eggs in a shop any more.

:T Well said.

I think a child going to see a battery farm and balding, unhealthy chickens - might be put off them as well!

I'd rather buy organic/better quality/non GM eggs and have less of them personally (same would apply to meat if I ate it).

Though I feel bad eating eggs anyway given the life span of even an organic chicken. Would love my own ex batts. Last eggs I bought were the Hen Nation ones.