Wholefoods and healthy eating shopping lists

[Deleted User]

I have been cooking with wholefoods since 1977, when we started by joining a wholefood cooperative in kendal. It is a very easy lifestyle, cooking from scratch when possible but not beating yourself up when you cannot. I use brown grains but not exclusively, we also sometimes enjoy hm bread made with white flour, scones etc but all additive free because I make them.

I never had a processor in 1977, I just learnt to chop small and I used an old fashioned hand cranked mincer, the type that can still be found in second hand shops. I mostly buy my goods online and use http://www.buywholefoodsonline.co.uk/ a lot, also goodness direct but they are slow to post

I started off with rose elliot books like `not just a load of old lentils` and `meals for 50p` was a lifesaver as times were exceedingly tough. Cranks recipe books were also a great favourite of mine. Everyone loved the rose elliot recipes btw

Just make it a gradual thing so that it is a way of life but don`t become precious about it. Tea last night was a mix of LG brown rice and quinoa with lemon, mint and dill plus some feta and I served that with salad stuff from my garden. Breakfast is oatmeal with some dried fruit while cooking. Lunch today is baked potatoes, green beans, red cabbage and real burgers. Afters dried apricot compote with vanilla yogurt. Later today a (white !!) scone with clotted cream and hm jam

An easy one is hm all sorts soup with some brown lentils added (they cook quicker than green) and a nice loaf pref w/meal but doesn`t have to be if digestion is getting used to the food

Lizling

Some things you might want to add to your shopping list are eggs, full-fat dairy products, nuts and perhaps a cooking oil that isn't vegetable/sunflower oil since those are very highly processed.


A few things I've eaten in the last couple of weeks or so that I think were 'clean' and didn't require a food processor are:

Chickpea,courgette and mint salad with yoghurt dressing
Big tomatoes stuffed with spinach, feta and walnuts
Spinach patties (the breadcrumbs I used are easily replaceable with flour of some sort)
Omelettes with various fillings or things mixed into the egg
Broccoli with tahini dressing
Mung bean, broad bean and green bean salad (the recipe for that's on the internet)
Chatchouka (tomatoes and peppers baked with eggs on top)

Later this week, I'll probably be making tahini-dressed courgette and green bean salad from the River Cottage book, for the cook something different challenge. Just need to buy a couple of oranges, a lettuce and more tomatoes first.



Sorry, I only do vegetarian food so I can't help with meat or fish ideas.

C.W

Lilyplonk wrote: »

Welcome to the Oldstyle Section, CW - good to see you and I'm certain you'll get lots of replies on here.

I'm sure there's no such thing as 'the wrong forum' - just that the Board Guides have a pretty good idea which forums get the best answers for particular types of questions.

'The Oldstylers' are well-known for their resourcefulness and knowledge of tasty and nutritious food .

Thank you, Lilyplonk! I'm sure you are right and I appreciate the welcome. I've seen some super helpful threads I've been lurking in so thought I'd give it a go myself

C.W

FairyPrincessk wrote: »

OP, on the food processor, you might try picking one up from a repro shop (we got a nice one for little money that was ex display that way--was missing a few bits but had all we needed). You can also get cheap models in some supermarkets or at argos.

I don't have a suggestion for a go to source for recipes or a store cupboard list, but in my own similar quest I've found that that most important thing is a way to keep records. I keep track of what quantities of dry goods (bulgar, rice, beans, lentils etc) we use on average in a term. I also keep track of the recipes I've tried and make notes on ways to improve them etc. i use Pinterest for the recipes and just make comments to let myself know what has worked etc. I tend to look at Pinterest when I meal plan and make my shopping list each week so I don't miss out fresh ingredients. Dry stores are bought 2-3 times a year based on the quantities we use.

Until you know what you like and what works with your lifestyle, it may take some trial and error before you have your own list of foods. Keep hanging around the OS boards, you'll find lots of resources here!

Hi FairyPrincessK, I did purchase a blender from Argos but clearly it wasn't a good choice as it doesn't actually blend things very well. Certainly doesn't create a smooth consistency as there's lots of big lumps remaining, whether the food is fresh, squishy, frozen, dry... none of that matters. I've spotted a couple of combo products on amazon (juicer and processor types) for around £30 so I'll have to do some research to see if they're any good for when I have the spare cash.

Thank you for the suggestions! I was beginning to meal plan but I definitely like the idea of keeping track of what you use and what recipes work etc. I actually made a pantry inventory the other day so I could work out what recipes I could do with what I already have to reduce what I'd actually need to purchase, rather than trying lots of new recipes that needed lots of new items.

C.W

kittie wrote: »

I have been cooking with wholefoods since 1977, when we started by joining a wholefood cooperative in kendal. It is a very easy lifestyle, cooking from scratch when possible but not beating yourself up when you cannot. I use brown grains but not exclusively, we also sometimes enjoy hm bread made with white flour, scones etc but all additive free because I make them.

I never had a processor in 1977, I just learnt to chop small and I used an old fashioned hand cranked mincer, the type that can still be found in second hand shops. I mostly buy my goods online and use xx a lot, also goodness direct but they are slow to post

I started off with rose elliot books like `not just a load of old lentils` and `meals for 50p` was a lifesaver as times were exceedingly tough. Cranks recipe books were also a great favourite of mine. Everyone loved the rose elliot recipes btw

Just make it a gradual thing so that it is a way of life but don`t become precious about it. Tea last night was a mix of LG brown rice and quinoa with lemon, mint and dill plus some feta and I served that with salad stuff from my garden. Breakfast is oatmeal with some dried fruit while cooking. Lunch today is baked potatoes, green beans, red cabbage and real burgers. Afters dried apricot compote with vanilla yogurt. Later today a (white !!) scone with clotted cream and hm jam

An easy one is hm all sorts soup with some brown lentils added (they cook quicker than green) and a nice loaf pref w/meal but doesn`t have to be if digestion is getting used to the food

I was sure it must be possible as processors haven't been around forever! It's just most 'modern' recipes always involve one so I can never get the consistency or timing right.

Thank you for the links and places to visit - I will certainly check them out!

I'm getting quite good with breakfast as I've become a big fan of overnight oats (oats, milk, fruit, nuts/seeds and a bit of natural/greek yogurt if you have or want it, then leave it in a mason jar in the fridge overnight - can make lots of fun flavours!).

C.W

Lizling wrote: »

Some things you might want to add to your shopping list are eggs, full-fat dairy products, nuts and perhaps a cooking oil that isn't vegetable/sunflower oil since those are very highly processed.


A few things I've eaten in the last couple of weeks or so that I think were 'clean' and didn't require a food processor are:

Chickpea,courgette and mint salad with yoghurt dressing
Big tomatoes stuffed with spinach, feta and walnuts
Spinach patties (the breadcrumbs I used are easily replaceable with flour of some sort)
Omelettes with various fillings or things mixed into the egg
Broccoli with tahini dressing
Mung bean, broad bean and green bean salad (the recipe for that's on the internet)
Chatchouka (tomatoes and peppers baked with eggs on top)

Later this week, I'll probably be making tahini-dressed courgette and green bean salad from the River Cottage book, for the cook something different challenge. Just need to buy a couple of oranges, a lettuce and more tomatoes first.



Sorry, I only do vegetarian food so I can't help with meat or fish ideas.

I do have those things! I try to buy organic/free range for dairy products, and love full fat milk (rediscovered a few weeks ago and not that much more expensive than regular milk). I was originally using soya products wherever possible then found out they're highly processed... darn. Oh well, fortunately I'm not a vegan.

I have a decent olive oil (though sadly couldn't afford the organic this time) and some coconut oil.

Thank you for the suggestions on meals. Even though I'm OK with eating meat, I tend to avoid it and just have it as 'treats' when I eat out (generally because the veggie options aren't that great).

Polaria

Hi,

This is a food list you may find interesting:
whole30.com/downloads/whole30-shopping-list.pdf

Pol

kboss2010

I make quiches a LOT.

Pastry:
100g cornmeal (aka fine polenta not cornflour as cornmeal is gluten-free naturally - buy it for around £1-2 a kg from the world foods section of supermarkets)
50g butter
A little water
Pinch of salt

Rub the butter and cornmeal together, add the salt and add a little water until the pastry just clumps. You can't roll it so you just have to butter a dish and press it flat with your fingers. Blind bake it for 15 minutes at 200oC/Gas Mark 6 then add the filling.

I use 2 large eggs, 75 mL milk and salt and pepper for the quiche mix and then add whatever filling I have - feta cheese, broccoli, boiled sweet potato, sweetcorn, peas, mushrooms, ham, bacon, cheese, peppers, tuna, onion...anything you can chop up small.

maman

kboss2010 wrote: »

I make quiches a LOT.

Pastry:
100g cornmeal (aka fine polenta not cornflour as cornmeal is gluten-free naturally - buy it for around £1-2 a kg from the world foods section of supermarkets)
50g butter
A little water
Pinch of salt

Rub the butter and cornmeal together, add the salt and add a little water until the pastry just clumps. You can't roll it so you just have to butter a dish and press it flat with your fingers. Blind bake it for 15 minutes at 200oC/Gas Mark 6 then add the filling.

I use 2 large eggs, 75 mL milk and salt and pepper for the quiche mix and then add whatever filling I have - feta cheese, broccoli, boiled sweet potato, sweetcorn, peas, mushrooms, ham, bacon, cheese, peppers, tuna, onion...anything you can chop up small.

I do the same but minus the pastry for a Spanish omelette/frittata.


I'm not quite sure about the distinction between what you're calling 'wholefoods' and what I call healthy eating OP. I cook virtually everything from scratch, only exceptions being baked beans and ham/gammon and I do have pasta and I eat a small amount of wholemeal bread rather than baking my own. I'd stretch a point to jars of pickles (like beetroot, onions etc) although I have made my own.


I'd suggest you start with home cooking of simple meals including some for the freezer and work from there.

C.W

Polaria wrote: »

Hi,

This is a food list you may find interesting:
whole30.com/downloads/whole30-shopping-list.pdf

Pol

This is exactly what I've been looking for! Thank you