How much do you spend on food?

AubreyMac

Cornucopia wrote: »

If you mean the chilled prawn cocktail, then I would describe that sauce as quite rich (I don't see that it could be called watery at all).

Yes, chilled prawn cocktail in the marie rose sauce (or seafood sauce whatever it's called).


Lidl's is half the price of sainsburys. but the sauce in Lidl's taste nice but the consistency is more runny. I like to put it in a sandwich but it does make my bread soggy. So I just have it with a salad or in a fresh sandwich (not made in advance). I still buy it though coz I like it and the runny sauce is worth the saving in money.

AubreyMac

dlusman wrote: »

Dont agree - you can eat good healthy food for same if not less than non

Why has my food shop gone up then?


£2 for a punnet of strawberries (or grapes/blueberries).


65p for 5 jam donuts.


I know which will fill me up more (may be different for someone else though). Isn't it known that processed do cost less?


I know that part of my issue is that I find the 'common' fruit/veg boring. I prefer the more exotic fruit/veg - pak choi, courgette, avocado, asparagus, yellow tomato on vine, corn cobs, papaya, lychees, cherries. I've recently discovered samphire, truffle and medjool dates. Those are far tastier but also more expensive than carrots, peas, brocolli and apples.


If I make meals using the foods that I like the taste of I know I will eat it and use up 100% of it so for me it's worth spending the extra money. I'm also more likely to maintain this way of eating too.


A good tip is to buy some fruit and veg from ethnic shops, though I know that may not be available to all. My parents are asian and for them it's always been normal to eat healthy and organically but to be fair my mum didn't work so she can spend entire days shopping in various places, making food and nutritious broth.

dlusman

AubreyMac wrote: »

Why has my food shop gone up then?


£2 for a punnet of strawberries (or grapes/blueberries).


65p for 5 jam donuts.

Anyone can quote cheap rubbish and expensive healthy - However you could spend 49p on 500g of nectarines from Lidl


You can spend any amount of money on any food you want - But it is possible to eat healthly without spending more

Cornucopia

Buying Fruit & Veg seasonally has always and will always be the most economical way to do it - whether it's paying an overtly seasonal price at a Market Stall, or a slightly obscured one through Supermarket offers like Aldi Big 6.

It's one of the on-going discussions about MSE: whether we are about absolute cost-savings (like eating cheap Cabbage instead of expensive Pak Choi) or more like the M&S notion of "spending it well". Personally I think it is a bit of both, with the emphasis on the latter (which is more interesting and more inclusive).

In terms of this discussion, I am absolutely convinced that you can buy well for £25-30 per adult per week. This is very dependent on where you shop and what you buy (how could it not be?). I still get to a similar figure as JackieO, even though there's no batch cooking, and not much baking going on. I don't find a significant cost disadvantage from ready meals, though you obviously have to exercise caution with them for other reasons (fat, salt, sugar, etc.)

pumpkin89

It's one of the on-going discussions about MSE: whether we are about absolute cost-savings (like eating cheap Cabbage instead of expensive Pak Choi) or more like the M&S notion of "spending it well". Personally I think it is a bit of both, with the emphasis on the latter (which is more interesting and more inclusive).

I think if you're talking about saving money, that means getting the same things for a lower price. Eating cabbage instead of pak choi is a valid way to spend less, but I don't think you can call it a saving as you're not comparing like for like.

I actually tried the 49p nectarines from Lidl yesterday at a friend's barbecue. I have to say, they did nothing to change my view of Lidl, and I'd rather spend £2 on the ones I normally buy as then I'd actually want to eat them. But I do appreciate we're in a fortunate position, and not everyone would be able to justify paying four times the price for better quality.

AubreyMac

dlusman wrote: »

Anyone can quote cheap rubbish and expensive healthy - However you could spend 49p on 500g of nectarines from Lidl

You can spend any amount of money on any food you want - But it is possible to eat healthly without spending more

Sure, and I see how it's technically possible now.


However, like with many aspects of life, a lower budget will restrict your options more.


And in terms of healthy v processed on a small budget, I do think you have much more options if you go for processed.


To my financial detriment, I'm just someone who really enjoys a big variety and have a huge appetite.

[Deleted User]

Well I don't like processed food at all and just prefer to cook from scratch. now and again I may treat myself to something a bit out of the ordinary if I see it at a reasonable price but to me eating as healthily as I can ,even if it means I cook from scratch is important I am in my mid- 70's so eating properly is a must.

I do eat quite a bit of fruit and I love almost any sort of veg, apart from celeriac which I am not keen on. I am lucky that where I live I have a circle of friends who are quite happy to swap some veg for a cake

Yesterday I came home from visiting my sis-in-law in Faversham and brought home a bag of already chopped and frozen rhubarb which will make quite a few puddings,plus half a dozen newly laid eggs courtesy of one of her friends free range chickens and I took down on Saturday a large HM fruit cake plus half a dozen HM cherry scones. Our bartering system means they get to eat cake and I get some nice eggs and a large bag of rhubarb :) win-win I think.

Quite often someone will ask if I want some of their surplus allotment stuff and I will happily make them a cake of their choice.

Plus my DGS and I forage for blackberries in season which get used up and I am more than happy to buy Y/S veg for soups and casseroles
Every little helps as is said

JackieO xx

GwylimT

Here we!!!8217;re spending on average £48 per week on food, two adults, two children, no processed food apart from tomato puree. Slightly more than we spent in the UK.

Feral_Moon

pumpkin89 wrote: »

As a forum newbie, I'm amazed at how little some people seem to be spending! I spend about £150 a week for myself and my husband, which I appreciate is a lot, but I can't imagine doing it for under £50.

I've frequently questioned how little people spend on their food budget, as well as the amount of food they actually use to create some meals.

For example, I recall somebody making a noodle stir fry for 4 people which only consisted of one block of dried noodles, half an onion, a couple of mushrooms, half a red pepper and a couple of chicken thighs!

I would only expect this quantity to make two small portions as a lunch/snack and I don't have a particularly large appetite. I'm also great at being able to stretch ingredients and can make 250g of mince feed 4-6 people, with the addition of vegetables and pulses and a portion of rice/pasta/couscous/gnocchi.

It's quite easy to create meals on a small budget short term - I've often had pasta with grated cheese, beans on toast, HM soups, bowl of noodles etc - I buy a box of 40 packs for £12 - but this isn't a diet that can be sustained long term for health reasons.

Feral_Moon

pumpkin89 wrote: »

Is that really the only compromise? I have shopped at Aldi and Lidl in the past, but found the quality quite a bit worse. Has it improved markedly in the last couple of years? My perception is also that I wouldn't have much choice of premium and organic food there, but again, maybe that's incorrect.

The range of food available has changed quite a lot over the past couple of years. I've always found the quality to be excellent but with the addition of more luxury and organic produce, I rarely need to buy anything elsewhere.