Eat Well for Less...Live on MSE

Flat_Eric

maman wrote: »

I missed the beginning. Was she widowed? I was curious because she was wearing rings.

The youngest girls seemed genuinely willing to help and really pleased to make a meal for mum. But I think the older ones, although it was a bit of a laugh to make the pizza and mess about with the presenter didn't seem to have much staying power. Too busy to cook a chicken breast???

I think they were happy just helping themselves to snacky stuff. They might give it a go with the carrot of a holiday in Florida.

It didn't explain about her circumstances. It just said she was a single mum of five. I thought they were a really nice family but had to laugh because in some clips, it was clear that if the cameras hadn't been rolling, the kids would have said something different!

PasturesNew

If you dig around a bit, her situation is:
Married to an antiques dealer, 5 kids. One particular kid diagnosed with diabetes - got some coverage in the newspapers in 2010 as they wanted a monitor from the NHS which was refused, which cost £6.50/day.

She decided to set up a charity about diabetes and did a couple of fundraisers.... then in 2011 she said they were selling their £390k 4-bed house with 3 reception rooms to downsize to raise £10k to set up their charity ...

Now the husband appears to be off the scene - but maybe that's just temporary or recent, or maybe the show "deliberately" misrepresented her position, playing on the emotional "single mum" tagline.

Husband appears to still be an antiques dealer and still in the village - which might also be why she seems to drive a Mercedes, have a very expensive branded watch and wears rings.

She's certainly "loaded" by most people's measures.... and they're a bit vague about her job too. I found one person with her name in that region that seems to fit ... and appears to work in the field of supporting vulnerable people in social housing.

It's all a bit "odd" overall.

Her shopping behaviour also seemed to be: Pick up the kids, park outside the shop and give them £30-40 to go in and buy what they fancy for tea ...

VfM4meplse

PasturesNew wrote: »

If you dig around a bit, her situation is:
Married to an antiques dealer, 5 kids. One particular kid diagnosed with diabetes - got some coverage in the newspapers in 2010 as they wanted a monitor from the NHS which was refused, which cost £6.50/day.

She decided to set up a charity about diabetes and did a couple of fundraisers.... then in 2011 she said they were selling their £390k 4-bed house with 3 reception rooms to downsize to raise £10k to set up their charity ...

Now the husband appears to be off the scene - but maybe that's just temporary or recent, or maybe the show "deliberately" misrepresented her position, playing on the emotional "single mum" tagline.

Husband appears to still be an antiques dealer and still in the village - which might also be why she seems to drive a Mercedes, have a very expensive branded watch and wears rings.

She's certainly "loaded" by most people's measures.... and they're a bit vague about her job too. I found one person with her name in that region that seems to fit ... and appears to work in the field of supporting vulnerable people in social housing.

It's all a bit "odd" overall.

Her shopping behaviour also seemed to be: Pick up the kids, park outside the shop and give them £30-40 to go in and buy what they fancy for tea ...

All largely irrelevant. It doesn’t matter how much you’ve got in the bank, she still tried to be as hands on a mother as she could be rather than seeking external help.

Setting up a charity for diabetes is largely a waste of time btw. DUK has a massive presence amongst both patients and clinicians, and it’s far better to contribute to that than going alone.

Prinzessilein

I watched this...and snickered out loud when they produced a slowcooker that had been at the back of the cupboard and never been used!

Even the teens could get the hang of filling the slowcooker and switching it on...how could they be moaning about 'no time for proper cooking' and yet ignore the slowcooker?

And the fridge and freezer were practically empty?...Seriously?....do the family really not use these?

And life has clearly changed since my day....Mum, dad and 5 children at home...and we all ate together and we all ate the same meal...and none of use moaned!

VfM4meplse

Prinzessilein wrote: »

And life has clearly changed since my day....Mum, dad and 5 children at home...and we all ate together and we all ate the same meal...and none of use moaned!

Diagnoses of T1 diabetes and coeliac disease are serious, not merely a question of moaning. And the reality is that kids in this age of plenty will eat what they want to, rather than eat to survive.

Prinzessilein

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Diagnoses of T1 diabetes and coeliac disease are serious, not merely a question of moaning. And the reality is that kids in this age of plenty will eat what they want to, rather than eat to survive.

I wasn't suggesting that you ask the coeliac to eat gluten...or force a vegetarian to eat meat!

In my family we have a couple of diabetics...and one veggie.

What I am saying is that within the family there would be one meal that was cooked - and it was appropriate for all. (If we had sausage and mash then there would be veggie sausage for the vegetarian)

The 'no moaning' was that no one turned down the plate of sausage and mash and asked for chicken and chips instead....and no moaning at eating vegetables...(today some families are cooking three different meals in one night - which is expensive, and often unnecessary)

maman

VfM4meplse wrote: »

All largely irrelevant. It doesn’t matter how much you’ve got in the bank, she still tried to be as hands on a mother as she could be rather than seeking external help.

I'm not suggesting that it's easy to bring up a family of 5 including a coeliac and a diabetic BUT....


It's a bit disingenuous if she or the BBC have knowingly set up a programme that suggested she needed to save money while eating well when she could easily afford the current bills. The implication was they were spending money they could ill afford as without it they wouldn't be able to afford a holiday.

VfM4meplse

maman wrote: »

I'm not suggesting that it's easy to bring up a family of 5 including a coeliac and a diabetic BUT....


It's a bit disingenuous if she or the BBC have knowingly set up a programme that suggested she needed to save money while eating well when she could easily afford the current bills. The implication was they were spending money they could ill afford as without it they wouldn't be able to afford a holiday.

She was spending £14k pa on rubbish! Whatever the reason, they’ve done the family a good turn. And entertained me for an hour, of course

Kim_kim

I watched the mum of 5 girls episode - I loved the breakfast muffins :-) I made them.
I love the taste tests! It amazes me how low down the brands feature. By default I do tend to buy brands for most things, I do it without thinking really.
It seems such a waste to buy a box of cereal you might not like & waste when the branded one is only a little bit more.

Watching the mum of two disabled boys now.
I buy convienience stuff, I get that - but moaning about getting the can opener out!!

donnajt

i love this show - but i have to say i was shocked by the mum of 5's empty fridge/freezer and cupboards - i would be lost without my supplies and over stashed cupboards lol that's prob where i am going wrong lol