June 2023 Grocery Challenge

KajiKita

Thanks @Nelliegrace, I had read that article when it first came out but hadn’t seen it for a long time. It was useful to return to it. I want to have a rummage and see what the results were of the second study where they looked at eating UPFs alongside MPFs, which as they say is how a lot of people eat (many people being time poor). 

KK

leftatthetrafficlights

KajiKita said:

I was reading an article in the G@urdian today about ultra processed foods (UPFs). Apparently when researchers went out and bought food for two groups of people UPFs and minimally processed foods (MPFs) the MPFs cost 40% more for the same volume of food. 

I think that probably explains quite a lot of what we are all experiencing here.

KK

The people who purchased the MPF at 40% more bought 'prime cuts of meat or fish every day' so not really a surprise that it was 40% more expensive!! 

ETA: Just out of curiosity, I've done some working out! 

Yesterday, I cooked a batch of wholegrains and lentils (all organic) which will last dh and I for a bare minimum of 2 main meals and 2 lunches - total cost of £3.92 including the stock powder I cooked them in. Obviously we will add in veg/salads but even taking that into account it will be under £5 for minimum of 2 days of food for 2 adults! If the grains and lentils weren't organic that price would be less too....

MissRikkiC

I think that’s an interesting read. Like someone said prime cuts of meat don’t help but it can be quite easy to spend more on whole foods, especially the outset. 

That said, we all know that It’s entirely possible to stay on a lower budget when cooking with whole foods however what seems to be lacking to be able to achieve this for the masses (not here ofc) is (mostly) the knowledge and awareness of cooking and budgeting. 

I think it’s interesting that the UPFs are deemed cheaper, some things definitely are but for the most part they’re not. That said i also think that it’s a lack of knowledge and understanding of practical cooking skills and knowing that a bag of dry beans is cheaper on the whole plus the ingredients to go alongside to make that same UPF as an example is the issue. 

I think people opt for UPFs for various reasons. When they don’t have time available to them, or don’t have the knowledge of how long something will take to cook (likely the same time) or the skills to make the same meal (maybe even better), or the funds in place to begin with to spend more than a few quid on fresh items which we all know would last longer and cover more meals. 

Instead a £1.50 meal for someone might feel like the best option because they don’t have all this wonderful knowledge and experience that most of us are gleaning from each other. Even still. Years later! 

MissRikkiC

Above post in mind, I will probably go over this month. It was a top up month so 2 boxes of washing powder, toilet rolls (x2 as hub bought them as did I), nappies, wipes all needing to be purchased plus a full cupboard restock at the start of the month. We’ve been having deliveries for a few months now along with veg boxes as it keeps me out of the shops (for the most part) but also because I am currently so time poor that it feels sensible. The food we are eating is of better quality (organic veg) and where possible I’ve been buying organic eggs and fruit too. 

We are cooking less for the family as the children now are having their ‘tea’ at nursery and milk due to allergies is purchased separately so maybe this is allowing for the above as we haven’t increased our budget but it’s tight. 

We have £14 left for the next 2 weeks. I think we could likely just about manage given that we’ve just had a delivery of veg and the freezer has meat etc in it but it will feel challenging. There are more nappies to come from that too. Hmm. 

SausageDogSandwich

Late to the thread this month, thank you @elsiepac for the new thread Hope everyone is well.

my budget is £400 for June please.

Have rounded my spends up to £25 before we had a few days away and then had Tesco delivered yesterday which was £75.03. Will need to go to the shops at some point as apparently Tesco had no cheese at all or bagels. Also need to do a big ice cream restock for the kids this month. 

£101.03/400

Ginmonster

I'm finding all the debate about ultra processed foods at the moment very interesting. The main problem I can see is that there's no sensible definition of a UPF and not enough evidence about what it is about them that is unhealthy. It's it the salt and sugar levels or is it something else? So for instance baked beans and pop tarts are both UPFs but it seems fairly obvious that one is much better to include in your diet than the other. It's just not useful advice to say stop eating UPFs as so much of our food is ultra processed. Once you start looking at it, it includes breakfast cereal, shop bought hummus, pesto, bread etc etc.  Not many people have the time to make absolutely everything from scratch. I think more research is needed but also some sensible and pragmatic guidelines on which are the best and worst UPFs. 

Anyway, I had a big shopping delivery yesterday (only missing the broccoli I wanted but there's always some fresh thing you can't get hold of these days isn't there?) and am pretty fully stocked now.  Hopefully I won't need anything until next week unless I run out of ice lollies given how hot it is!

 £95.71/£250

Pennypincin

Hi everyone.
£37.70 left from the last fortnight, somehow.
£60 for the next 2 weeks from today.
Will add what is left, am trying to be frugal so I can do an online delivery and have the money to fill the freezer when I eventually get a new one.

Nelliegrace

£200 budget, £92.10 spent, £107.90 left.

We went to the local Sainsbury’s superstore this afternoon, so I could have a walk somewhere cool. What a difference a few weeks make to the weather. 
It seemed to be a good day for fish. We got yellow stickered haddock and plaice fillets, and, checking again before going to the till, they had been reduced further, so that is another six portions for two in the freezer. The beef sausages were reduced from £2.55 to 59p 
I had a list of things on offer. Their gold instant decaf is cheaper than Aldi, and we like their loose leaf tea. 
£44.58.

Pennypincin

Popped into Tesco for a few bits, just enough for the next few days including 6 cartons of long life milk and am shocked to have spent just over £18. Especially a its mainly salad stuff and forgot the lettuce.
I can't afford to add more to the pot for food at the moment and am doing slimming world and finding it tough.
I'm dreading having to fill the freezer as I've had the added expense of needing to buy a new one as my current one is on its way out any day now after accidentally leaving the freezer door open slightly a couple of weeks ago.
It's 10 years old and really don't want to be replacing it, but it's stopped working twice since leaving the door open and only just managed to get it going again.
Sorry for the long post and a moan.
Any tips will be much appreciated.

Pennypincin

I'm tempted to see if I can get any reduced items, whenever I've seen them, they still seem pretty expensive.