Eating healthy for cheap

NewShadow

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I've frequently read research that listed off the many % extra of all sorts of nutrients organic fruit and vegetables have compared to chemically grown.

I've never seen anything arguing its worse for the environment and am struggling to see how it could be - as chemically-grown involves chemicals by definition and organic doesnt and animals are treated better.

I've also never come across anything saying organic food is "higher in naturally occurring toxins" either and also can't see how it logically could be.

If you've never come across anything - may I suggest you haven't looked?

Quick 'literature review' for you -

https://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~lhom/organictext.html

When you test synthetic chemicals for their ability to cause cancer, you find that about half of them are carcinogenic.

Until recently, nobody bothered to look at natural chemicals (such as organic pesticides), because it was assumed that they posed little risk. But when the studies were done, the results were somewhat shocking: you find that about half of the natural chemicals studied are carcinogenic as well.

This is a case where everyone (consumers, farmers, researchers) made the same, dangerous mistake. We assumed that "natural" chemicals were automatically better and safer than synthetic materials, and we were wrong. It's important that we be more prudent in our acceptance of "natural" as being innocuous and harmless.

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2014-06-06/organic-isn-t-clean-and-it-isn-t-toxin-free

In one study of greenhouses in Israel, the use of manure led to much more nitrogen leaching into groundwater compared with use of conventional fertilization. Nitrogen contamination, the study noted, is one of the main reasons for closing drinking-water wells. And by the way, nitrogen from all sorts of farming is one of the main pollutants behind algae blooms, fish kills and dead zones in bodies of water from local farm ponds to the northern Gulf of Mexico.

A broader study of 12 different farm products in California found that in seven cases, those using conventional methods had lower greenhouse-gas emissions. A big reason for the difference? Conventional farming tends to be more efficient than organic farming, meaning fewer inputs are needed to generate the same amount of food...

As for health benefits, the evidence suggests there's no distinguishable difference in nutritional value between organics and other food...organically cultivated winter wheat had higher levels of lead and cadmium than conventionally grown wheat.

https://www.chemistryworld.com/feature/dont-worry-its-organic/1012635.article

Another contentious issue relates to compounds found in plants called secondary phenolic metabolites. Plants produce these natural toxins usually at very low levels to protect themselves against attack by pests or as a response to other sources of stress.

Plant tissues may contain up to several grams per kilogram of these phenolic compounds, such as resveratrol, flavonoids, and furocoumarins...Cleeton quotes a raft of research showing that organic fruit and vegetables contain more phenolic compounds than conventionally farmed equivalents.

Their theory is that because conventionally grown crops are protected by synthetic pesticides they don’t need to rely so much on their own defence mechanisms, which include phenolic compounds. But others point out that, because of restrictions on pesticide and fungicide usage, organic farmers are more likely to select varieties with greater resistance to pests or disease...

In Short

Organic farming is a multi-million pound industry that relies on the public’s perception that organic food is more healthy

There is little evidence to suggest that organic fruit and vegetables are any healthier than conventional produce

Some forms of organic farming may introduce natural toxins into consumers’ food

Just because something's 'natural' does not mean it's better for you - cyanide is natural and you can buy apricot kernels as an organic health-food snack! :T

NewShadow

jack_pott wrote: »

You need a lot of water to rehydrate the soya, it soaks it up like blotting paper. I brown the mince and pour off the fat, but none of that is relevant, because the recipe is identical except for having switched from the Schwartz pack to the ingredients in bold.

When I use Soya mince (TVP) I don't use any water at all - the juice from the tomatoes is more than sufficient.

Just fry the onions and add the soya and tomatoes at the same time.

Nomoonatall

NewShadow wrote: »

When I use Soya mince (TVP) I don't use any water at all - the juice from the tomatoes is more than sufficient.

Just fry the onions and add the soya and tomatoes at the same time.

Forgot to say, I mostly use frozen soya mince. When using TVP, I do the same as NewShadow...although I sometimes add it to the onions and garlic for a couple of minutes before adding tomatoes.

Nomoonatall

ID-8 wrote: »

Hi there,

My name is James, I'm 41 & have two children (15 & 12).

My Wife & I have been guilty over the years of cutting costs on food & feeding our family cheap & processed foods. I'm not going to lie, we would happily buy 4 Lidl pizzas at £2.50 each & that would be a family dinner sorted. I have come to terms that really that is unacceptable and we need to try to put better food in our bodies.

I signed up to this forum to get some tips & tricks & as I learn along the way, I would also like to share wisdom where I can.

So my first post/question is, what is your advice for eating healthy at a relatively low cost? Any recipes/ products you buy on a regular basis to help you?

Thanks guys,

James

You could always make your own pizza bases and freeze them. I sometimes use just tomato puree as a tomato base, but it's really easy to make a 'proper' pizza sauce. Then just add whatever veg you like and grated cheese.It's cheaper and healthier than bought ones. x

melanzana

Sorry if I am taking this slightly off topic.

I am not vegetarian, but out shopping earlier I saw "Organic soya mince". I read the pack and said why not try it?

It is ok for the cupboard so that saves freezer space for a start!

And it seems you only need a small amount as it bulks up. Sounds very MSE to me!

Anyway, just wondered if any of you have tried it.

Will have a go with spag bol and chilli, and if I remember lol, I will report back.

Thanks.

moneyistooshorttomention

two points - I understand that soya mince is always made from non-organic soya beans (unless it specifies it's from organic ones). I believe that all soya beans have to be presumed to be g*netically modified these days unless they are organic.

The only possible downside I've come across - in the most objective info. I've been able to come across - is that it might take more land to produce an organic diet than a chemically-grown one. To which I guess we would all form our conclusions as to whether that's acceptable or no in view of the high (and growing) worlds population. My personal viewpoint is based around I'm one of 2 children and I don't have any children - so I feel I've "done my bit" on not taking "more than my fair share" according to traditional ways of growing - so I just focus on the health aspects.

Re research "proving" the healthier food is unhealthier - I would have thought that I would have come across it before now if it was majority opinion and would tend to put "evidence" otherwise into the "Well - the sugar industry funds research 'proving' sugar is okay. They would wouldnt they..." camp. Wonders how much these pesticides/etc manufacturers pay into funding "research"...

*************

Anyways - back on topic and I think we're all still wondering what OP means by "healthy" and speculating as to our own personal viewpoints on that. We're not really going to be able to give him any useful info. until we know what he personally means when he says "healthy".

NewShadow

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I would have thought that I would have come across it before now if it was majority opinion and would tend to put "evidence" otherwise into the "Well - the sugar industry funds research 'proving' sugar is okay. They would wouldnt they..." camp. Wonders how much these pesticides/etc manufacturers pay into funding "research"...

Or the multi-billon pound organic food industry who have also been unable to decisively prove their food is any healthier, I wonder how much they spend on "research"?

Nomoonatall

melanzana wrote: »

Sorry if I am taking this slightly off topic.

I am not vegetarian, but out shopping earlier I saw "Organic soya mince". I read the pack and said why not try it?

It is ok for the cupboard so that saves freezer space for a start!

And it seems you only need a small amount as it bulks up. Sounds very MSE to me!

Anyway, just wondered if any of you have tried it.

Will have a go with spag bol and chilli, and if I remember lol, I will report back.

Thanks.

Hi melanzana,

What sort did you buy? If you're unsure whether you'll like it...soak or marinade it in a nice stock of your choice. x

melanzana

Nomoonatall wrote: »

Hi melanzana,

What sort did you buy? If you're unsure whether you'll like it...soak or marinade it in a nice stock of your choice. x

It's called Clearspring Organic Soya Mince. UK company.

"Made from 100% European soya beans"

I will try it. If the texture is as good as meaty mince, I just might be converted here!

It cost £2 for a pack that says it will serve 10 -12 portions. Even if I am greedy and halve that, that is fantastic value for such a source of protein!

Nomoonatall

melanzana wrote: »

It's called Clearspring Organic Soya Mince. UK company.

"Made from 100% European soya beans"

I will try it. If the texture is as good as meaty mince, I just might be converted here!

It cost £2 for a pack that says it will serve 10 -12 portions. Even if I am greedy and halve that, that is fantastic value for such a source of protein!

That sound good! I think you will be converted!

I'd be interested to know if it's lovely! x