Gregg Wallace programme on TV

dragonette

I kinda do a weekly or fortnightly shop - but I have to get shopping delivered. While it's convenient, it does mean no YS bargains. I struggle to cook most days so sadly ready meals need to happen sometimes and prepared veg are a life saver at times - I still spend about £150 a month on food, so I'm pretty confused at how people spend so much on these programmes. But then, is hugely exaggerated by getting all the store cupboard things like oil.

I would like to watch this programme, but Greg Wallace annoyed me so much on master chef with over dramatising that I just can't! Enjoying this thread instead

Cornucopia

fuddle wrote: »

My DH made two of the recipes from last weeks show on Saturday. The corn pancakes and the fish taco's. Given that I am eating primally and I do have a good stock of ingredients, he spent £20 on ingredients that we didn't have in for those two dishes.

And how was Fortnum & Mason?

There could be a slight issue with pack sizes when buying in things specially.

I do share your point and agree with you but when you are trying to eat fresh (primally, superfoods etc) it is more expensive when value pasta, grain based carbs is what you are used to, what I am used to. No, it doesn't make for a healthy diet, in fact it made me quite poorly which is why we've changed but I tell you I am struggling to keep my normal budget.

I'm aware that MSE is about saving money, especially as a route to better overall financial health. However, food is important - much more important than the typical British opinion of it IMHO.

I've previously talked about targeting a food budget of £20 per person per week, and I think that is achievable whilst maintaining a reasonably healthy diet.

I'm probably actually spending closer to £30 per person per week. But that includes Lidl luxuries like Smoked Salmon and Crayfish tails, and even the odd half-price meat product (like this week's Slow-Roasted Pulled Beef in Bourbon BBQ sauce, which was all the more delicious for only costing £1.42).

fuddle

Cornucopia wrote: »

And how was Fortnum & Mason?

Excuse me. How rude?

I would sit here and work it all out but my time is more important than proving to someone that I don't embellish the truth.

Goldiegirl

Cornucopia wrote: »

I'm aware that MSE is about saving money, especially as a route to better overall financial health. However, food is important - much more important than the typical British opinion of it IMHO.

I've previously talked about targeting a food budget of £20 per person per week, and I think that is achievable whilst maintaining a reasonably healthy diet.

I'm probably actually spending closer to £30 per person per week. But that includes Lidl luxuries like Smoked Salmon and Crayfish tails, and even the odd half-price meat product (like this week's Slow-Roasted Pulled Beef in Bourbon BBQ sauce, which was all the more delicious for only costing £1.42).

Regarding the ethos of MSE, I've noticed that many people believe it means buying the cheapest possible things and cutting expenditure to the bone.


But my belief is that it means buying the things you want to buy, at the best possible price.


Food is indeed very important - it's a pleasure, and not just a fuel.


Our food expenditure is somewhere between £20 and £30 per head, per week, depending on what we have. We have some own label items, and some branded items, but I'm always looking for offers on branded items and stock up when they are on offer


As I have to follow a low salt diet due to an illness that I have, my most important driver is the amount of salt that something contains. If the cheaper item has more salt in, I will buy something else with less salt, but may cost slightly more.


As I have a special dietary need, we cook most things from scratch. We like meat and fish, but also like at least one vegetarian night a week. Within my dietary needs and an acceptable to us budget, we eat well and healthily.

fuddle

My family are trying to eat only fish, meat, fruit, veg, salad and diary for £12.50 per person a week. There's little wiggle room, yes, but that amount is out of necessity.

That amount per head was fine when using lentils, oats and gravy thickeners halving meat needs, pasta and grain additions and four/fat combinations to make dumplings or Yorkshire puds etc but now it is pure protein and veg or salads with nothing to stretch it out. It doesn't go far at all.

Eating without refined carbs is so difficult on a budget. Eating is for pleasure when there's enough money to make it a pleasurable experience but when you have to think about what you're buying, how long will it last, will it make a pack up for tomorrow etc it is difficult. It's actually getting me down because it's so frustrating. My budget is decent and I should be able to eat healthy without needing to resort to fillers to keep within it.

Snorkypants

Fuddle, you might like to read up on The Perfect Health Diet - it's very similar to Paleo/Primal but allows carbs as long as they are the right kind. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, white rice etc.

Rainy-Days

Thing is, with all that shop they have been doing there is no cleaning stuff in there or even personal care products - it is just food! So, if you factor in those things such as washing powder/liquid etc it is going to rack up even more. You can bet if they are buying branded food then the branded cleaning/hygiene products will be favoured as well.

I was appalled at the cupboards stuffed full of food. I have reasonably full cupboards, but I carefully rotate my things and I always have a shopping list in the kitchen so that when I am running low/on the last of something I add it to the list. I hate food waste, not only are you throwing money in the bin, it is just morally wrong.

fuddle

Snorkypants wrote: »

Fuddle, you might like to read up on The Perfect Health Diet - it's very similar to Paleo/Primal but allows carbs as long as they are the right kind. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, white rice etc.

Thank you Using potatoes and rice will help a lot with this. I am also looking into quinoa and tapioca.

greent

I love this programme - and also enjoyed the last series


We're a family of 6 and spend about £120 a week (food only, not toiletries etc) which I consider to be pretty good. We have a lot of meat, including lean mince, steak and free range corn fed chicken. I also buy some brands (eg:Heinz beans - but can often get them for 40p/ can in Farm Foods so I stock up), some basics range stuff and sme mid range stuff. I bake all of my own bread, using a mix of Aldi bread flour and Allisons. I bake quite a lot of cakes/ goodies. I usually go shopping twice a week (Sat - Aldi and usually Tesco and Tues Aldi) Tues is a top up for more milk to see us through (physically can't fit it all in on a Sat) and anything else I've forgotten/ now fancy.


I can't abide food waste. I always have full fridge/ cupboards/ freezers - but rarely is anything wasted. Food is rotated and common sense is used if BBE date has passed.


I don't think that the families featured are MSE readers, but they do make good tv

Owain_Moneysaver

Cornucopia wrote: »

Value Pasta does not a balanced diet make.

It's not the only stuff I eat - I had a 50p reduced chicken burger tonight :j