Additive free shopping on a tiny budget?

AliPru

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

You definitley want to be careful of E948

Penny. x

Ok, points taken :rotfl:

Willowx

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

You definitley want to be careful of E948

Penny. x

Well a lack of it could be a problem, as could an excess but it wouldn't be one I'd be particularly concerned about when selecting food.

thriftlady_2

I find that cooking additive free foods is pretty straight forward. Just buy plain and simple ingredients.

Like these -a piece of cheese not cheesestrings, a lb of mince from a butcher you can trust, a free-range chicken and eggs, milk (give the kids, and indeed everyone whole milk -full of fat-soluable vits), porridge oats not boxed cereals, wholemeal flour for your bread, apples, butter not margarine -way too many additives and rubbish, a fishy from the fishmonger, yogurt with NOTHING added (add some stewed apple spiced with cinnamon) some spuds and some carrots.....you get the idea

As a general rule of thumb -if it is in a box or packet with health claims emblazoned across it, then it is processed rubbish and bound to cost more than a lb of carrots;)

And I agree with piglet -aspartame is to be avoided at all costs

bertiebots

I have 3 kids too but make most things from scratch including bread. I think its something you need to do gradually so you dont feel you are putting yourself under too much pressure to be super mum! Remember to try and cook double when you have the time and have 1 day a week when you bake hobnobs/buns etc (they can all be frozen!!) This way when you are having a busy day doing other things or are just too tired you can go to the freezer and still know your kids are getting good food. I would really recommend looking through the indexed collections for cheap healthy recipes as they have really helped me. Remember any new routine takes time and even if you just replace half the food you eat with home made its a start! As for the value products I find most actually have less ingredients ..so less addatives and calories! Its a matter of finding what works for you and your family. I buy all my fresh fruit, veg and meat at a local market (cheap as chips) and the rest at sainsburys as there own brand value products are very good. I got a bread maker last week and these are a fantastic addition for addative free cooking. I dread to think what is put in shop bread. You can use them for pizza dough ,cakes and jam too and with very little effort (plus at 25p a loaf totally money saving!!)

Churchmouse

thriftlady wrote: »

I find that cooking additive free foods is pretty straight forward. Just buy plain and simple ingredients.

Like these -a piece of cheese not cheesestrings, a lb of mince from a butcher you can trust, a free-range chicken and eggs, milk (give the kids, and indeed everyone whole milk -full of fat-soluable vits), porridge oats not boxed cereals, wholemeal flour for your bread, apples, butter not margarine -way too many additives and rubbish, a fishy from the fishmonger, yogurt with NOTHING added (add some stewed apple spiced with cinnamon) some spuds and some carrots.....you get the idea

As a general rule of thumb -if it is in a box or packet with health claims emblazoned across it, then it is processed rubbish and bound to cost more than a lb of carrots;)

And I agree with piglet -aspartame is to be avoided at all costs

I am with you on so much, thriftlady, particularly margarine and aspartame, yuck:D But I had a friend say to me the other day " oh, of course you don't use processed goods, everything is *au naturel* and untouched" and I had to reply " of course I do!!!!" She doesn't recognise butter, cheese etc as being processed, which of course they are. As is flour, sugar and an awful lot more:D I have no desire to have a bundle of sugarcane in my cupboard:rotfl: I think it's important to emphasise that it's not being *processed* that's the villain, but all the artificial carp that's introduced during some processing that's to be avoided;)

thriftlady_2

Churchmouse wrote: »

I am with you on so much, thriftlady, particularly margarine and aspartame, yuck:D But I had a friend say to me the other day " oh, of course you don't use processed goods, everything is *au naturel* and untouched" and I had to reply " of course I do!!!!" She doesn't recognise butter, cheese etc as being processed, which of course they are. As is flour, sugar and an awful lot more:D I have no desire to have a bundle of sugarcane in my cupboard:rotfl: I think it's important to emphasise that it's not being *processed* that's the villain, but all the artificial carp that's introduced during some processing that's to be avoided;)

Yes, of course -I like my flour to be ready-milled and my butter ready-churned;) I also buy food that has been processed further like smoked fish and meat, cured meat like bacon, honey, or grapes that have been turned into wine:D and I process some of it myself when I make jams and chutneys. Yeast, baking powder, salt and sugar are all additives.

Another general rule of thumb -don't buy food that contains ingredients you can't actually buy yourself. And, I think that includes synthetic vitamins. If a product has had vitamins added then that's because they have had to be replaced because they've been destroyed in the processing- skimmed milk powder, 'juice drinks', boxed cereals. Margarine has them added to bring its nutritional profile in line with that of butter.

Claire70_2

angie_loves_veg wrote: »

I read it as yogurt, raisins, cheese straws.....

I think we may have a simple case of a missing comma - also eliminates alot of those nasty extras!

Ohh sorry, that teaches me to not rush in and then out again ...


I give my 2 yr old for treats ....

yogurt
raisans
dried apricots - http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?pid=779
dried cherries -
home made cheese straws
twinks
apples


she hasnt complained yet and loves the dried fruit... if you buy lots of differesnt colours it makes it more exciting. ie, cherries, apricots etc etc.

the only thing in them is usually preservative, I get mine from holland and barrett who are also having something on sale


Claire

NessyNoo_3

Farway wrote: »

Not sure how small your budget is, but Asda say they have or are phasing out artificial stuff, like colouring and flavouring, plus low fat etc in their own ranges

I don't know if this includes their Smartprice range or strictly Asda own brand

Asda have completely removed artificial colours, flavours, flavour enhancers, hydrogenated fat and aspartame from ALL their food and soft drink products- this includes all brands- Smart Price etc.

AliPru

Brill - thanks NessyNoo, that's really helpful to know!

annaangeluk_2

HM cheese straws have been mentioned on this thread a couple of times. I'm trying to get some ideas for healthy lunchboxes and was wondering to make them!

recipes would be much appreciated!

Thanks
Anna x