Help us get 5 a day on 10.00 for the week!

CFC

Queenie wrote: »

I have no doubt, whatsoever, that there are some people who exist such as halia described. The reason I found her comments "patronising" were the sweeping statements within:-

"... one of the big difficulties people in deprived areas have is the cost of adding in the five a day part"

I am one of those "people" halia is speaking of and I don't find it difficult; nor do the people I associate with in real life. I *do* agree *some* people may fit with halia's observations. I also acknowledged that not everyone has the variety of shopping venues available to them - although as I'm in a deprived area that *does* have those facilities, it's fair to say "everyone" in my area has those resources open to them.



I also drew attention to another comment I disagreed with:-

"Yes you can cut the cost by using pulses, dried fruit, cheap canned fruit and forzen veg but its still an 'extra' to your meals."

If your deprived area has all those shops you are extremely fortunate, Queenie. I must say you are also fortunate that your childhood taught you about adding pulses and veg to your diet.

I think Halia has a very important point to make. People live in a deprived area for many reasons, and someone who lives in a deprived area yet has training on and access to the internet (apart from any school access which may or may not be available to kids) is not exactly a 'standard person living in such an area', but a more intelligent, and interested or educated person.

I also live in a deprived area, because an ex local authority house on an extremely deprived, very large, estate, was all I could afford. There is a huge gulf between myself and the neighbours in my street. It is not always a question of money - I regularly see the kids down the road sitting outside their homes on the street with a bag of chips, which costs money - but a question of intelligence, education and a 'long term viewpoint' which factors in children's health 'down the road' rather than the short term, comfort, instant view. Apart from anything else, many of these parents have such poor parenting skills that they are unable to refuse a child's request for sweeties and junk and impose fruit and veg instead. And these poor parenting skills in deprived areas, are why there are consistently youth problems, petty crime and a high level of truancy on said estates.

Feel free to flame, anyone who wishes to.

The good, or rather, bad, news is that actually from recent research it has been determined that the gap in diet between poor and richer has narrowed. Sadly, it actually appears that the diet of the better off has become worse, not that the diet of the poorer has become better!

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article2771024.ece

moanymoany

I think the fruit salad idea is great, value apples and oranges - I think sometimes pears are on value - tinned value sliced peaches to give the juice and fruit for 15p.

Make a pan of veg soup to keep in the fridge and heat up a portion at a time. Value onions and carrots are a great base.

Those who know do say go for a variety of colour. I like the frozen mixed veg as it is perfect for when time or energy is low!

Cazzdevil

I found it thoroughly interesting watching "India Food Made Easy" last night and the presenter was talking about traditional Indian foods and the variety of ingredients used. I hadn't realised that over 50% of Hindus were vegetarian so lentils are the staple ingredient in their diet.

It ocurred to me (& darling boyfriend) whilst watching it that there are so many cultures which ensure that meals are a family event - Italians, Indians, Chinese etc all make a realy big deal of eating, but us Brits seem to dismiss it as merely feeding time. How many households in the UK sit down as a family and eat & discuss their days versus those which plonk in front of the tv in silence while scoffing down their frozen ready meals or oven chips?!

It's a tragedy.

Queenie

CFC wrote: »

If your deprived area has all those shops you are extremely fortunate, Queenie. I must say you are also fortunate that your childhood taught you about adding pulses and veg to your diet....

To be fair, part of my post was very tongue in cheek At the time, my mother would *not* have considered herself fortunate to struggle as a (non benefit!) widowed mother of 5 small children - nor did I feel "fortunate" to be cooking roast dinners (vegetarian = no meat!) at 9yo's :rolleyes: when my peers were out playing! While now I might be reaping the rewards of that "education" - it was not a "childhood" I would endorse

Living in my deprived area does indeed mean I have a variety of sources for food/supplies but that has to be balanced by the fact that jobs are very hard to come by that pay anything above the basic wage and social problems are a constant issue! Personally, if I had to choose between having this number of shops to spend money in vs a better area with more prospects ... I would choose a different area!

frogga

This is a good thread! got lots of tips thanks

culpepper

We also lived a very deprived childhood as far as money was concerned but my dad grew tomato plants on our window ledges and rhubarb and potatoes down the allotment. I remember beng very envious of girls who were given an apple to eat in playtime at school.
We did eat a fair amount of jam which I guess would be one of the 5 a day. We had it on rice pud or in jam tarts or just on bread. Ofcourse it was homemade from blackberry picking .

nicola1982_2

I find it difficult to get much fruit in my diet predominantly because I don't like apples which are probably the cheapest and longest lasting fruits. I used to eat bananas a lot but went off them since getting pregnant.

Veggies are much easier. I always keep a bag of frozen peas and spinach in the freezer in case my veg goes off quickly (sometimes it can happen). Canned sweetcorn is brilliant too. Carrots are always cheap, following that go seasonal. I'm hoping to start growing veg soon too.

Rachel021967

Have you tried Black Saturns fruit cobbler recipe using value tinned fruit.
The link is: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=5642803&highlight=cobbler#post5642803

Shopping at the end of the day to pick up the fruit and vegetables near their sell by date. Picking the last of the blackberries. Windfall Apples and pears.
Good luck.
Rachel

Gale_10

I am really enjoying this thread but I am surprised that no-one has mentioned healthy start vouchers. I live in Scotland and anyone with a child under four gets them providing their income as calculated by the Tax Credits people, as less than £14,000. They can be used for milk or fruit and vegetables be they frozen, fresh, canned in juice or brine, as far as I remember. I have one child under four and we get £2.80 per week. Not enough to make one rich but it really does help our family get our five a day. I think also its designed to encourage breastfeeding, because if you use your vouchers for baby milk they go much more quickly I expect.
Just a thought!
Gale_10

pandaonmyshoulder

Cazzdevil wrote: »

I found it thoroughly interesting watching "India Food Made Easy" last night and the presenter was talking about traditional Indian foods and the variety of ingredients used. I hadn't realised that over 50% of Hindus were vegetarian so lentils are the staple ingredient in their diet.

It ocurred to me (& darling boyfriend) whilst watching it that there are so many cultures which ensure that meals are a family event - Italians, Indians, Chinese etc all make a realy big deal of eating, but us Brits seem to dismiss it as merely feeding time. How many households in the UK sit down as a family and eat & discuss their days versus those which plonk in front of the tv in silence while scoffing down their frozen ready meals or oven chips?!

It's a tragedy.

I am Mum to 4 children aged between 8 and 17 years old. We sit down as a family with Dad to our evening meal (cooked from scratch) around the table and talk about our day. On Friday though we were in the middle of putting down laminate flooring in our lounge/dinning room and so the table was out of action that night... our kids were moaning and wondering how people manage to eat their tea on their laps:rotfl: Thankfully the table is now back in use and my kids are much happier.