benefits and healthy eating

Hi is anyone else on Government benefits finding it hard to shop healthy or is it just me. I have frozen veg I get each pay day (fortnightly) but its trying to make nice meals from them. Just before xmas I ended up making green soup consisting of -kale, sprouts, green beans and broccoli not too tasty but helped. Or mushy pea curry/Carrot soup and that is about it. wanna do sunday lunch but meat getting expensive

[Zest]

Hi Hidden ,

Maybe search for 'shopping on a budget' in the search window (top right) and you'll come across past threads about this subject - I found one here for example:

healthunlocked.com/healthye...

Might be a good starting point, and hopefully people will also reply to your thread with suggestions and ideas too.

Also, you might find this webpage link from NHS Choices helpful too:

nhs.uk/Livewell/eat4cheap/P...

Zest

[Hidden in reply to Zest]

By the time my bills are paid I have £40 for 2 weeks worth of food

[Jan810]

Hi, ASDA I find cheapest for shopping. They sell frozen fruit like berries that are cheaper frozen than fresh. £2.00 a pack. Stir frys are nice and cheap, you can have the fresh veg, noodles and a sauce for £3. Also jacket potatoes are nice and healthy, very cheap. A beautiful recipe is to mix tomatoes, spring onions, cheese and a little mayo and roast on the jackets, so fresh and tasty. You can add chorizo or the packet cooked sausage to make it extra tasty. Frozen white fish is £3 for 4 fillets, that with some asparagus or broccoli or both and new potatoes, very cheap per serving. Butternut squash soup, a chicken oxo cube and a bit of creme fresh or cream, very cheap and very delicious. Fajitas, £1 for whole meal wraps, £2 for frozen peppers, £1 frozen onions, £2 frozen chicken strips, and a bit of grated cheese. they taste great. Plenty of servings too. I have a family of six so always looking for really cheap and healthy meals to make. I hope I have given you a bit of inspiration. X

[BadHare]

I don't eat meat, so have more to spend on healthy food items. It's hard on a budget, but try not to buy processed foods that have fewer nutrients & high levels of sugar & salt.

My main meals most days in winter is soup which is healthy, cheap & filling.

Squash, sweet potato, lentil & tomato is good. I also add a red pepper & black kale. If this isn't filling enough for you, add an ounce of grated cheddar.

The cheapest I make is green pea soup. I add fresh mint or basil, so it's not bland.

Lentil & carrot is nice with coriander, or spicy lentil & parsnip with a spoon of curry powder.

I've stopped eating it, but Quorn is higher in protein than meat, as well as being cheaper. It's bland, so needs some herbs or spices to give it flavour.

Porridge is nutritious & filling. Try soaking some oats with water overnight, then adding milk as it cooks, to make it more tasty.

This food blog might give you some ideas: cookingonabootstrap.com/

Some more here: mirror.co.uk/money/5-best-b...

twolittlefleas.co.uk/the-hu...

One way to get more food for less money, is look out for reduced price fruit & veg at the start or end of the day.

[Anne76]

All the other replies very good. We make tomato soup, two tins tomatoes, onion and carton pasatta also cheap frozen peas, onion, stock cube, cook and whizz. Tins beans and rice cheap and healthy, can add curry season etc. Look at Forks over Knives website, although American it will give you good ideas. As said go vegetarian, you can eat more cheaply on it.

[Hidden]

If you cut expensive meats out it will level off the high cost of orgánica and natural foods.But yes I'm on the same low budget and it's tough in a this country unless you grow your own or have friends with gardens., Prices are going up on everything expect benefits that will be compramised under the new federal policies that are coming.So ,millions of us will be affected negatively. So all we can do is are best to survive and pray for help..Good luck and God bless!!

[Tibblington]

We don't get Government benefit but as pensioners, live on a tight budget. The first question I would ask you is why you are buying frozen food? Secondly if you want meat buy some of the cheaper cuts from te butcher, they have more flavour. Neck of lamb for example makes a deliciously cheap stew with fresh vegetables bought from a shop. If you have some of the gravy and vegetables left over put them through a liquidizer or press them through a sieve to make soup for the next day. Just a couple of thoughts. Tibbly

[Hidden in reply to Tibblington]

i buy frozen veg so nothing goes to waste

[1momof3]

Do you have farmers markets in your community? They sell in season veggies cheap. Get some freezer badges , 4 or 5 days after purchased if not eaten freeze .... When you are in the store shop the out side edges ,only enter the inside isles for things on your list . Check the clearance section of each department. Drink only water...be sure you aren't buying both your healty new diet and your old habit foods. Freeze your leftovers ( meal). You can do this .

[Hidden in reply to 1momof3]

we have 1 that comes to town once a month but always week we are skint

[Cooper27 Administrator]

This lady is very good: thriftylesley.com relatively healthy recipes to feed yourself for £1 a day.

I can manage to feed 2 of us quite healthily for about £20-25 a week (although OH buys lunch at work, so that's not factored in). I would suggest investing in a slow cooker if you can - I've seen them for as little as £8 in tesco, but they use very little energy so save on cooking bills. I love mine! They are very good for things like chicken legs - the meat falls off the bone, so you get more off, it just goes further. It's great for lentil soup, which is around 12p a portion, and also dried beans and chickpeas. I love veggie 10 bean chilli, which costs about 60p a portion.

[Cooper27 Administrator in reply to Cooper27]

Also meant to suggest porridge. Oats are very cheap. just half a cup of oats, 1 cup of water and a pinch of salt, then microwave for 2 mins. I have started adding a tablespoon of peanut butter to mine (sounds weird but works really well), which makes it incredibly filling.

[Hidden in reply to Cooper27]

thanks for that will have a proper look through later

[Smitheil]

If you live near an Aldi, their fresh fruit and vegetables are fantastic and the cheapest. I'm on benefits and I can do a weeks shop for £17 for myself and my 3 year old. Search on Pinterest for cheap meal ideas, use leftovers for lunches and freeze meals if you make too much so you'll save yourself some money the week after. Meals don't have to be expensive, we eat really well because I cook everything from scratch, premade sauces and packets etc are more expensive.

[Hidden]

Decided to try and grow my own fruit/veg now the neighbours have moved and footballs will not be thrown over into our garden. Just need weather to pick up so I can tidy the garden ready. fresh salad minus having to shop =healthy happy me. One question how to deter cats as loads come in my garden.

[Smitheil in reply to Hidden]

Cats hate lavender, rosemary, rue and pennyroyal so if you plant those they should stay away

[Sharshargabor]

I am finding that meat substitutes that are on special offer e.g. quorn is often on half price or a third off in our local supermarkets. Replacing some meat dishes with quorn stretches my food budget further. I then just buy meat for Sunday lunches and always look for the special offers. A slow cooker or pressure cooker can also tenderise cheaper cuts of meat. Frozen meat packs are often good. Plus you can buy good quality meat direct from the suppliers e.g. Muscle foods.

Hope this is useful.

[Hidden]

OK Guys who replied to this status. I have a bit good news but not celebrating just yet. I have an interview for domestic assistant in a care home next week. full time hours as well. I was looking into going into care home work as carer so at least this cleaning job (if i get it) will help me learn a bit more. Fingers crossed.