Really healthy eating on a budget

Glad

I'm following this thread hoping to get my food bill down too, I try to eat as healthy as possible but my food bill is around £50 a week, just for me

JennyP

We were £40 a meal for two before I started really planning meals and trying to be more budget conscious. I thought I was spending a lot more than that till I added it up.
Ironically it went up to £48 a week when we started budgeting but I did stock up on reduced quorn stuff and 3 for £10 packets of salmon. I reckon there's now a months worth of stuff in our little freezer and we'll just need dairy and veg to go with it.

JamesO

JennyP

I think what I'd really like to do - once we've eaten the contents of our freezer - is make myself a fortnightly meal plan.

I really like this website https://eatnotspend.wordpress.com/

I'd like to make something similar to the meal plans with shopping lists on there that fits in with my idea of healthy eating - 2 portions of oily fish a week, lots of veg, no gluten, no sugar and perhaps no dairy. Make the plan and the list with perhaps a day which could be flexible when I could try new things.

I keep thinking gram flour might be a good move. I don't eat onion anymore (migraines!) but wondered if I could make bhajis with other veg grated and gram flour. It can also be used to make gluten free flatbreads. I might try that for lunches.

PipneyJane

JennyP wrote: »

I keep thinking gram flour might be a good move. I don't eat onion anymore (migraines!) but wondered if I could make bhajis with other veg grated and gram flour..

Yes, they’re called a “pakora”. It makes a good fritter batter, too.

Gram flour is also used in Indian sweets. Besan Burfi is the name of the one my colleague brings in to work.

- Pip

moneyistooshorttomention

JennyP wrote: »

I keep thinking gram flour might be a good move. I don't eat onion anymore (migraines!) but wondered if I could make bhajis with other veg grated and gram flour. It can also be used to make gluten free flatbreads. I might try that for lunches.

When you say "onion" would that apply to anything else in the same "family" as well? For instance - leeks could be substituted for onions. Or do you react to anything in the allium line?

JennyP

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

When you say "onion" would that apply to anything else in the same "family" as well? For instance - leeks could be substituted for onions. Or do you react to anything in the allium line?

I can have garlic. Would have to look leaks up but think they're OK.
I'm not 100% certain onions do anything but it was on the list of foods to avoid.

JennyP

PipneyJane wrote: »

Yes, they’re called a “pakora”. It makes a good fritter batter, too.

Gram flour is also used in Indian sweets. Besan Burfi is the name of the one my colleague brings in to work.

- Pip

I thought I was about to invent an amazing new food!!!! :rotfl:

ScotinLondon

Pakora's, Bhaji's in my book are all the same thing - well according to my mum anyway...Bhajis used to be regular occurrance in our household when we were growing up and any veg would be used...potatoes, onions, chillis, mushrooms, courgettes etc. It's the gram flour batter that you need to get right - not too thin and and not thick and the right spice mix too...when done right, it is v good, especially with tamarind sauce and chilli chutney that the indian sweet marts give out. Just perfect.

If you live in London, the best place is Maru's by Alperon Station. It looks like a dive and the service is hit & miss, but the bhajia's are great.

SIL

dbrookf

My non-veggie hubby and I just love this healthy stew....cheap and cheerful...we have it regularly:

http://www.recipes.vegsoc.org/recipe.aspx?cId=645&cTheme=85