feed a family of 4, almost vegan, on a rather small budget! Old Style!

Anne_Marie_2

Missymoo, have you tried dried soya mince at all? Just remembered this thread as have been doing a big batch cook today, including a large pan of spag bol using dried soya mince, and thought it might save you a few pennies.

It's much cheaper than buying the supermarket/Quorn frozen alternatives. I used to buy it locally when I lived in Scotland from a health food shop, who bought it in bulk and packaged it. It was really cheap, but cannot remember now the price as it was some considerable time ago. It bulks up very well once liquid is added, think it's by 4 times, so 100g will give you the equivalent of 400g of mince. You can buy it in Holland and Barrett and it's made by Neal's Yard, should you not be able to find a local supplier.
http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/neal-s-yard-wholefoods-natural-soya-protein-mince-60082699

I can't buy it here, so usually bring a couple of bags back on my annual UK visit, or ask family to bring me some out, as I have never seen it here. Also the Quorn mince is hardly ever available, and when it is, it's extortionate.

The dried soya mince isn't quite as chunky as the frozen/chilled stuff, but it's totally fine for spag bol, chilli, lasagne etc. Don't whatever you do, buy the dried soya chunks....they are like rubber, or at least used to be, and nothing in the world will induce me to try it again! (This is of course a totally personal opinion, and others might like it....just warning you of my experience.)

missymoo81

Thanks for the tips ladies. I will have to investigate tapioca and soya mince. Trying to keep away from too much soya though. I'm really cold today and not feeling great. Need more Vit c. Feel a little defeated trying to budget so tightly, especially when OH has just gone and spent stupid money on a truck that doesn't go when I'm in desperate need of a little car that does. Huuurrrummmphhh, sorry completely off topic. Will resume my veganness comments.

Mr_Singleton

missymoo81 wrote: »

I've recently turned vegan for health reasons

Hmmmmmmm, For ethical and moral reasons I understand but health????

moneyistooshorttomention

Well - there's the antibiotics routinely fed to animals (ie and on from there to us). Re fish - and there's all the rubbish in those seas the fish swim in (eg microbeads for instance these days).

I can understand that.

Also - it's not healthy to be overweight. I hasten to add that I don't know if OP is overweight or no - but, if she is, then that could be another reason to go on a vegan diet. As far as I can see - vegans seem to be slimmer than a lot....

Hence I'm taking an interest - because my own diet is veering in a more vegan direction these days = courtesy of weight to lose (and it is coming off gradually...).

missymoo81

Thanks moneyistooshorttomention.
I'm not overweight as such, I carry more weight than I prefer and am probably at the higher level of 'healthy' weight for my height. Bit weight has been gradually creeping on. My down fall is all junk food, most of which as a vegan I can't eat. About a month after I went vegan, I actually had energy, I slept better and looked better. This is because the food I'm eating is all natural and plant based and I'm getting all the vitamins and nutrients I have been lacking. Don't get me wrong I could have done this on an ordinary meat eating diet, but would have had to go to all organic, due to the chemicals and antibiotics in animals products, and would be eating meat instead of nutrient rich beans and pulses. That's what I mean for health reasons. It's better for me. I'm not saying everyone should do it. But it works as a healthier lifestyle for me.

moneyistooshorttomention

I get that point - ie re the pulses.

With the exception (darn it....) of soya beans and products thereof - unless they are organic. Because, if they arent organic, then they almost certainly are g*netically-modified. Annoying - as I can manage to find organic tofu - but have yet to come across any organic edamame (and I would like to include that in my diet - but can't because of that).

missymoo81

Completely agree, unless formented, trying to keep away from soya, although have a small amount of soya milk.

moneyistooshorttomention

At least it's possible to get organic soya milk.

I was looking for a readymeal to stick in the freezer just-in-case today at (a smallish) T*sco near me and choice was very very restricted indeed - as I could see that at least the majority of the packets now have "includes soya" clearly visible on the front. At least it's not necessary to read the small print for the ingredients - as one can see right away not to buy them.:cool:

Katzen

Good morning! I've just finished this wonderful thread and feel inspired. I recently became veggie (again, as was a vegetable-hating teenage veggie). It was the Cowspiracy film that finally swung me. I have toyed with veganism but as I'm currently breastfeeding my 22month old and pregnant with #2 I don't feel ready to run the B12 gauntlet just yet. Plus I love eggs and cheese so that will take some serious work to eliminate them from my diet. Maybe over time I'll get there.

I notice you eat a lot of spinach, are you aware that there's a compound in it that actually makes the iron almost impossible to absorb? Although as someone else said eating VitC at the same time always helps absorption.
You also don't seem to eat broccoli or many peppers. Both are great sources of VitC. I believe broccoli is also high in calcium. Luckily both are readily available frozen and therefore cheaper than fresh.

Did you come to a conclusion re:fortified cereal? If you look at the packaging, they rarely contain a full days worth of vitamins so a decent multivitamin is better if you think they might be lacking.

Finally, I understand the health reasons for avoiding antibiotic ridden meat but what's the health issue with GM crops?

moneyistooshorttomention

Health issue with GM crops - ie those animals (eg rats) they experimented on by feeding them GM crops.

The effect it had on them - I gather a very high percentage of them were visibly ill as a result (obviously they aren't able to tell us what they're feeling like). I've seen the photos of those rats - with massive tumours bulging from them.

Personally - I'd rather the only "bulging" I do is that little bit of excess weight I'm still carrying at the moment.

Personally - I don't want my health affected just because someone somewhere wants to make a buck or two from mucking around with our food (M*santo I'm looking at you).