reducing monthly food spend

danlightbulb

dylan2011 wrote: »

Next time you do a beef curry, add in a handful of lentils, a chopped onion, maybe a pepper and a chopped sweet or normal potato. Then see if you can get 3 portions out of it. Gradually introduce changes, and it soon mounts up.


Take a couple of chicken drumsticks with some home made potato salad and some green salad on the side.


Make sandwiches/baguettes at home - so much cheaper. Buy multipacks of drinks or fill a bottle at home.

I appreciate your suggestions however the issue I have with adding vegetable/salad items is they don't contribute to my daily calorie goals. This is why I tend to focus on the protein/carb foods rather than adding bulk from low/zero calorie foods.

I just had a look at muscle-meats as per some peoples recommendation and I'm struggling to see the benefits - it does not seem any cheaper to me than the supermarkets?

NewShadow

danlightbulb wrote: »

I appreciate your suggestions however the issue I have with adding vegetable/salad items is they don't contribute to my daily calorie goals. This is why I tend to focus on the protein/carb foods rather than adding bulk from low/zero calorie foods.

So you're dirty bulking rather than looking to do it clean on a budget?

I just had a look at muscle-meats as per some peoples recommendation and I'm struggling to see the benefits - it does not seem any cheaper to me than the supermarkets?

Quality, quantity and convenience.

But again, only relevant if you're looking to bulk clean or cutting.

danlightbulb

I struggle to meet my calorie target. This is especially the case the more effort I have to put in to cooking. I know that will sound lazy to people but its simply a time issue. When I have the kids at weekends I barely have time to eat, live on milk almost on those days. The rest of the week I'm at work all day. Sorry for the excuses but Ive tried healthy/clean cooking before and can't make it stick.

I don't think I eat particularly unhealthily, just not particularly healthy either. I need to stock a combination of foods so that if I fancy cooking something nice I can, but if I'm struggling for time I can generate something tasty very quickly.

Tonight I ate 3 chicken thighs (roasted) accompanied by 4 potato croquets. It was pretty rubbish really. Now I'm drinking a couple pints of milk to compensate for the crap meal.

NewShadow

danlightbulb wrote: »

I struggle to meet my calorie target. This is especially the case the more effort I have to put in to cooking. I know that will sound lazy to people but its simply a time issue. When I have the kids at weekends I barely have time to eat, live on milk almost on those days. The rest of the week I'm at work all day. Sorry for the excuses but Ive tried healthy cooking before and can't make it stick.

Which I suggest is even more reason to be concerned with the macros of what you do eat.

Crud calories aren't going to help you build muscle or effectively fuel your workout.

A roast chicken breast or piece of salmon with baked sweet potato or brown rice and some raw or steamed veg is cheap and easily clean 600 cals. Throw on some grated cheese and grilled bacon make it 800.

Have a post workout snack of an apple, greek yogurt, and a cup of mixed nuts = another 600

Porridge with fruit, scrambled eggs, wholemeal toast with sugar free jam, Greek yogurt with sliced up banana and strawberries, Banana with natural peanut butter - all great clean high protein, (potentially) high cal breakfasts, snacks or meals.

dylan2011

Sorry, my suggestions were based on my partners eating habits as he also is bulking.
Also, adding lentils and sweet potato to your curry will give you extra protein, good carbs and calories as well. Meat is not the only source of proteins, beans, lentils and pulses are all good, cheap alternatives. As well as eggs.

Feral_Moon

Sometimes I think people are far too obsessed in cutting food budgets to insensible levels rather look at other areas of their life they can make savings.

People allocate a fraction of their budgets towards food nowadays compared to days gone by. I know this is American but I'm sure the trends are similar for Britain...




From: http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/03/cheap-eats-how-america-spends-money-on-food/273811/

It seems at the side of America we spend the least amount on food compared the rest of the world...

danlightbulb

Thanks NewShadow and Dylan. Dylan no need to say sorry for anything, your advice has been helpful and I'm sure your partner is doing things the right way not like me.

But guys, the cost issue. I just don't get it. A 300g sirloin steak in tesco is £5.20 (I'm browsing online at the moment). Ok the accompanying things like potatoes (I like potato croquets, or southern fried wedges the best) will be cheap, but that's just one meal. I'm struggling to see how I can reduce the cost, if anything it will go up.

Just to answer Feral Moon's comment above - I have already looking at the rest of my outgoings and made significant improvements (see below statement in reference to this), and I have started saving and making really good progress.

Just an additional comment I have significantly reduced takeaway use but since I have done so I have struggled to meet my calorie targets and I have lost motivation for eating big meals. Clearly takeaways are expensive and dirty but they are also easy for me to bulk on. Ive been struggling since.

NewShadow

Examples of why I prefer Muscle food (worth noting I never buy without a discount code)

Extra lean beef mince - 21.7% protein, 4.2% fat, 0% carbs, 124cals per serving = £3 per 400g pack

http://www.musclefood.com/extra-lean-british-beef-mince.html

Tesco Extra lean beef mince - 20.8% protein, 4.5% fat, 0% carbs, 155cals per serving = £2.50 per 250g pack

http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=279704092

Lean Turkey Breast Steaks - 25% protein, 0.6% fat, 0.1% carbs, 180cals per serving = £2.80 per 340g pack

http://www.musclefood.com/turkey-breast-steak.html

Tesco Turkey Breast Steaks - 22.3% protein, 1.2% fat, 0% carbs, 162cals per serving = £3 per 325g pack

http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=284128098

Feral_Moon

danlightbulb wrote: »

Thanks NewShadow and Dylan. Dylan no need to say sorry for anything, your advice has been helpful and I'm sure your partner is doing things the right way not like me.

But guys, the cost issue. I just don't get it. A 300g sirloin steak in tesco is £5.20 (I'm browsing online at the moment). Ok the accompanying things like potatoes (I like potato croquets, or southern fried wedges the best) will be cheap, but that's just one meal. I'm struggling to see how I can reduce the cost, if anything it will go up.

Just to answer Feral Moon's comment above - I have already looking at the rest of my outgoings and made significant improvements (see below statement in reference to this), and I have started saving and making really good progress.

Just an additional comment I have significantly reduced takeaway use but since I have done so I have struggled to meet my calorie targets and I have lost motivation for eating big meals. Clearly takeaways are expensive and dirty but they are also easy for me to bulk on. Ive been struggling since.

You can buy cheaper, for e.g. a rump steak from Aldi is £2.99 so much cheaper than Tesco.


But, instead of buying individual steaks at approx £20/kg how about buying a large roasting joint at approx £5/kg and slice it into steaks yourself? Same with chickens, buy a whole chicken instead of portions. And salmon is cheaper to buy whole, or at least a side, then portion it or ask fish monger to do it.

danlightbulb

Feral_Moon wrote: »

You can buy cheaper, for e.g. a rump steak from Aldi is £2.99 so much cheaper than Tesco.


But, instead of buying individual steaks at approx £20/kg how about buying a large roasting joint at approx £5/kg and slice it into steaks yourself? Same with chickens, buy a whole chicken instead of portions. And salmon is cheaper to buy whole, or at least a side, then portion it or ask fish monger to do it.

I was thinking of trying online shopping as a way of planning my meals better, hence looking at tesco.

I like the idea of slicing my own steaks. Where do I buy a big chunk of rump joint from?