cheap protein/fruit and veg right now?

gailey_2

thanks guys was going to try couple crumbles but wasent sure if that classed as helathy or 5 a day as stewed with sugar.Theres tree near me someones garden keep meaning be brave stop and ask. theres couple others but they seem really small or just too high for me reach.

did look at dried fruits today and they seemed pricy.

was going to try drying out some cherries as have lots of them in freezer from july and making fruit winders.

is their any veg thats good ie spinach? cabbage, avacado that has protein or am i confusing with iron?

looked in world food ailse quite confusing

was tempted by the gungo peas as they big in carbian style cooking?

wondering if should look up some new recipes as best to have plan what to do with them.

made carrot and kidney bean burgers tonight.

I have some spices in cupboard so might try bakes apples with cinnamon maybe serve with value icecream or custard.

are spread like peanut butter good idea? or nutella?

Buttonmoons

I nipped past farmfoods to get stuff for DD's lunchbox and they have tins of Princess tuna for 49p a can - cheapest I've seen in a long while, asdas SP tuna has rocketed in price.

babyshoes

Veg that contains protein is mostly in the 'beans, peas and pulses' category. Nuts also contain a fair bit, though are high in fat.

If you are eating some meat or fish (at least a few times a week), you don't need to worry about balancing the amino acids as meat contains them all; but if you go purely veggie you need a variety of protein sources as most veg proteins don't contain all the amino acids that your body needs. The exception to this is soya, which is why it is often used in meat substitute products.

On the topic of apples, another nice thing to do with them is to take the core out, then stuff them with cheap dried fruit such as raisins packed down well, along with a drizzle of honey and some cinnamon or other spices like nutmeg through the middle. Bake slowly until the apple is soft right through - cooking apples often look exploded as the insides expand and burst the skin - and serve with custard or cream.

JIL

Have a look at frugalqueens blog it is very good and its full of recipes and nutrition advice. She has even costed each recipe.

http://www.frugalqueen.co.uk/p/frugal-food.html

The recipes all have been made with a budget in mind, so its her own take on lots of recipes. I am told her faggots are fantastic.

pumpkinlife

I would buy pilchards instead of tuna, a 400g tin costs half the price of equivalent tuna in Tesco (bar any offers). Makes a nice pasta sauce/sardine paste for lunches/toast topping.

If you have a Chinese/ethnic supermarket close by, you can buy HUGE blocks of tofu for the same price as those tiny Cauldron ones.

We bought some lamb hearts from the local butcher, 6 large hearts for £3.20. They make a good stew, but need to be cooked for a long time . They taste and feel like very lean lamb meat. I only use three in stew for two adults and 2 children. Might be worth asking a butcher what the best value weight to money is on meat.

Eggs are good, 15 for £3 in most supermarkets. Our veg shop is doing huge trays (30) very cheaply as well. Our local Coop often has them reduced in the evenings a couple of times a week, picked up a box of 12 for 10p with a weeks display before date left!

Lots and lots of beans and pulses. A few different types add variety. Chickpeas are particularly good as they have lots of iron, if you have growing little ones.

All veg is good! Variety is even better. Lots of veg in season - carrots, onions, cabbages, potatoes and other roots are going cheap now, all very healthy and versatile.

Apples, pears, plums also cheap. If you have a market or grocers go there, much cheaper than the supermarkets and you can prep it and freeze it to use later to eke it out. Dried fruit is quite expensive, though Lidl isn't too bad for apricots and bags of nuts.

Finally, peanut butter. Couldn't live without it in this house.

paulineb_2

If you have an aldi nearby look for the aldi super six veg offers, aldi also do tuna for 49p per can.

Butterfly_Brain

Have you been out getting blackberries, there are loads around here, but like the apples they are late as well. We also have a lot of beech nuts,but you have to beat the squirrels and birds to them and elderberries

Eggs are a good cheap form of protein as are pulses.
You will find it cheaper going to your local butcher who will help you with cheap cuts of meat and tell you how to cook them, things like chicken livers, pig cheeks, hock, rabbit, chicken legs are all good buys.
When we had a really rough patch our butcher and greengrocer helped us out no end, don't feel embarrassed to tell them that money is tight and ask them what would they recommend. I have had bones for soup and their is plenty of meat still on them, these are free at some butchers or pennies at others.
I got a carrier bag of kale for £1 at my greengrocer yesterday and that will do 4 meals easily, it can be frozen as well, so there is no waste.
Aldi has a lot of good deals on the super six this week it is
fun size pears
fun size apples
salad potatoes
chestnut mushrooms
plums
pineapple
All at 69p each
They also have spaghetti at 19p a pack

dylan2011

You beat me to it, Aldi Tuna is also very good IMO and a bargain. They do chunks and flakes. And the super 6 are a must.
Also, baked beans are very good. They are a good source of protein, and also count as 1 of your 5 a day. A jacket potato (I just use whatever potatoes I have, even larger new potatoes, just cook a few) top with baked beans and a little grated cheese if you have it makes a very balanced, cheap and easy meal.
Some places still have blackberries that are ok for picking/eating, making crumbles etc.
Frozen green beans, mixed veg etc are great value. I find iceland a good place for this type of thing, and their meat prices are reasonable too. For me, I find mince is usually the cheapest option all round, as most meals you can add a variety of bulkers to it, and still have it very tasty with only a little amount used.
Also, I always find bananas to be one of the cheapest and filling fruits, generally around 68p a kg.
If you can pop in Mr T in an evening, they often have fruit that is reduced heavily and still good - I got grapes the other week, they had loads, got 2kg for 64p!

candygirl

ALDI has a £5 off id you spend £40 in the Mirror today