cheap protein/fruit and veg right now?

gailey_2

Done a very basic shop today.

have 3kids so trying keep to budget but also be nutritous.

got 1tin value tuna 85p

red split lentils £1.18

value kidney beans
value bakes beans.

fruiit got

bananas, apples and value grapes.
cherry tomatoes as reduced.
tinned pinnaple, mandarins, peaches

tinned sweetcorn and tomatoes.

frozen peas and mixed veg.

am i missing something?
fruit bowls been empty in over a week.

no more blackberres.

have lots cherries in freezer.

so wheres cheapest place

whats best frozen, fresh or tinned,

apart from fish and meat what other things high in protein?

tori.k

Eggs are still one of the cheapest forms of protein along with milk

RAS

gailey

rather than lentils buy split peas - about half the price for the same amount of protein, yelow or green are fine and can be used for the same recipes as lentils.

With respect to fruit, are their any laden apple or pear trees in public spaces or gardens near you?

gailey_2

thanks they drink plenty of milk.

need to get eggs lids as were more expensive in tesco.

just thought tuna and fish be cheap but sadly its not.

apart from kidney beans and red lentils anything else veg/pulse related worth trying?

there,s couple apple trees but not sure they eating apples.

hoping get few chesnuts.

just want give kids balanced diet worry as moneys tight this month.

[Deleted User]

if the apples aren't eaters how about baked apples
core them and fill with sultanas if you have some and top thehole at the top with a dab of butter and brown sugar ,bung in the oven and they are gorgeous.
I also slice them and stew gently until soft with a little water and some honey
have a shufti at http://agirlcalledjack.com website lots of interesting ideas there to fill you up for very little cash

modern_millie_2

Hi Gailey, popping out of lurkdom - just come back to MSE after a while - sorry to hear your circs.


Chick peas are good protein, also cheap in the T*sco ethnic section - 3 tins for £1. Can be used as an alternative to rk beans, or make into felafel, stew/curry type dishes with sweet potato or other veg, also mixed with pasta, garlic, olive oil (with bit of wilted spinach if you have it) or in basic tomato sauce with pasta. Or whizz up with olive oil and garlic for hummus type spread.

Good luck - hope things improve for you and Mr G soon.

babyshoes

gailey wrote: »

there,s couple apple trees but not sure they eating apples.

Well, just pick a few and try them. If they're eaters, you can put them in the fruit bowl, if not then cook 'em up in pies, crumbles, sauce etc. You can freeze crumbles uncooked or lightly cooked and cook them from frozen. Pies, sauce or stewed apples to make into something else all freeze well too. I generally have some small foil trays of crumble in the freezer, along with cheap instant custard sachets in the cupboard for a pudding when the main is a bit sparse.

Apples stewed with cinnamon (or other spices) and a little honey/sugar/sweetner if necessary would make a great filling pudding or breakfast with some plain yoghurt. Also nice with custard or as a pie filling.

tessie_bear

protein foods are meat/fish/eggs/cheese/milk and pulses such as chickpeas also in tofu and i think quorn

google what fruit/veg is in season and perhaps visit a market and see what is in the £ bowls

i agree tin tuna is pricey but if you mix one can with mayo/ sweetcorn/ pasta/ chopped pepper/ chopped cooked onion / cheese it would make a meal for however many you need it for...cheaper than buying everyone a pork chop iykwim

i would stay away from ready meals even if reduced and make from scratch also look at eggs such as quiche/scrambled/omelette as a cheap protein

hth

candygirl

http://myfridgefood.com/
if you put your ingredients in here, it will come up with meal ideas

RAS

gailey wrote: »

apart from kidney beans and red lentils anything else veg/pulse related worth trying?.

Split green or yellow peas, cost about 50-60p per 500g.

gailey wrote: »

there's couple apple trees but not sure they eating apples.

hoping get few chesnuts.

This year apples are really late so even if they are eaters, they may not be ripe yet.

If they look like this https://www.google.co.uk/#q=bramley+apple+picture they are Bramley cookers.

The good thing is that they will store well if you are able to pick more than you can eat.

Baked apples as above but even stewed apple is good for you; just peel, core, quarter and cook in a little water. Add a little lemon juice if you have a squeezy one from Lidl, or nutmeg (they cost 10p from market stalls), or cinnamon or a clove or two for different flavours. Eat with value custard.

candygirl

If you go to an Asian supermarket the split peas, lentils and chick peas are v cheap, as well as the fruit and veg