Hands up if you're feeling that 'rise in the cost of living'? Oh yah, that's all of you then. *Big intake of breath* it's a lot, right? It's not just our energy and fuel bills that are going up - the cost of food is on the rise by 5.2%. Eating healthy has a reputation for being expensive which it can be if you get sucked into marketing from wellness culture that we need to only eat organic superfoods but if we stick to the basics then it really doesn't have to be. And while an Acai Smoothie Bowl makes for a beautiful meal (and a great photo for your insta) it's likely not that much more nutritious than your budget scrambled eggs on toast. The boring and the very unsexy reality is that keeping it simple and sticking to the basics is a) cheaper and b) much more sustainable so let's jump in to eating well, for less.
1. Plan your weekly meals - I know it's hard and honestly it makes my brain hurt every week when I do it but it's SO worth it. Planning meals = less food waste, less last minute decisions when you've already used up all your brain power for the day and ultimately less money spent. It's easier the more you do it and once you've got a solid routine under your belt you'll wonder why you didn't start doing it sooner. It doesn't have to been anything complicated. I literally just draw a grid and fill in dinners and 2-3 lunch/breakfast ideas. If you want you can make it a group project and get each member of the family to choose a meal - delegating at its finest. Persevere through the first couple of weeks teething problems - it'll be so worth it. (I'll do a post of meal planning tips soon!)
2. Write a shopping list (even when you're doing an online shop) - seemingly obvious but how many times have you gone to the shop because you ran out of food and end up buying all sorts of random things and nothing really useful?? In my household this usually happens when I don't plan the menu (hint hint) and Matt decides to go to Tescos to get something for dinner and comes back with drain un-blocker and a packet of ham! However, if I send that guy with a list... he comes back with drain un-blocker, a packet of ham AND the stuff on the list ;)
3. Plan your dinner leftovers into your menu to use for lunches in the week or freeze for emergencies/can't be arsed moments. If you're already cooking a bolognese, for example, it's much easier and cheaper to make more in one go than it is to make it separately. Using up the entire kilo of minced beef, mushrooms or a whole onion is much more cost effective than having little random ingredients floating around that won't really make a proper meal and are likely to end up in the bin. It also saves your brain power from having to be clever about when you'll use the rest of that pack of mushrooms in the week. Get it done, don't think about it again. It's also more cost effective when it comes to your energy consumption.
4. Don't go shopping hungry. Don't do it girl - you know those primal instincts make us feel feral are going to draw you towards the types of foods that will give you a quick hit and fast fuel. And hey you and I know that all foods fit in a healthy diet but a trolley full of chocolate, crisps and doughnuts and nothing else isn't going to be very helpful when you need a solid meal after a long day at work or a heavy lifting session. So make sure you get a proper meal in you before you hit the shops so you can make decisions with a clear head.
5. Join any loyalty or points scheme your local supermarket has going. Every little bit helps - as they say!!
6. Consider using a different supermarket altogether. There are some great comparison websites out there so here's the latest April 2022 comparison. Aldi coming in HOT at number 2 so local ladies - have I converted you yet??? Not convinced you can hack Aldi? Asda and Sainsbury's deliver to our area so it's worth shopping around. (Tescos... get it together down there at #5!)
7. Hit up the own brand products at your local. They're pretty dang similar when it comes to quality and taste in comparison to your favourite branded products for which you are quite literally paying for the pretty packaging. And yes I know there are some picky kiddos (and partners!) out there and you might get some push back but... they either won't notice (think about decanting into plain containers) or... won't have a choice and they'll eventually just deal with it! ;)
8. Stock up on frozen fruit and veg. It's cheaper, lasts longer and is frozen straight away after harvesting so it is also nutrient dense. Nowadays we can get almost anything frozen from your classic peas, carrots and broccoli to peppers, aubergines, courgettes, swede, parsnips and even avocado.
9. Buy the imperfect or wonky version of fresh fruit and veg. Supermarkets like to streamline their products and have certain 'standards' but just because a carrot doesn't measure up doesn't mean it actually tastes any different. They are not starting to stock packs of weird and wonderful veg for a low cost so get in there girl - give a wonky veg a good home.
10. Hit up the reduced section and grab cheap as chips produce that's going out of date in the next couple of days. Make sure you get things that will fit in to your menu and use up what you can within 1-2 days. Or freeze suitable items straight away and plan them into your next week's menu.
Oh MY there really are so many more but I'm going to save them for another post in the future. Got some you'd like to add? Share them in the comments! xx
Comments