When the phrase ‘Food Poverty’ is used, we immediately think
of third world countries and disturbing images shown by Oxfam and World Aid
adverts on the TV. However, sadly, the reality is that it is a lot closer to
home. An estimated 18% of the UK were forced to skip meals, ask friends or
family for food, rely on a food bank or simply go without so there kids could
eat, and with millions of tonnes of food being thrown away and wasted in the UK
a year this really shouldn’t be happening.
A recent TV programme showed celebrity chefs showing how to
cook meals for less. One question I had whilst watching, was why are they
cooking the food for fellow celebrities? Why not in a Food Bank or in areas
where Food Poverty is rife? Use the opportunity to teach! The people were also
very quick to point fingers at big supermarket chains and the government, which
seems to have become second nature to us now, to blame someone else. But the
fact of the matter is, cooking and money skills are learnt in the home. My
mother taught me how to cook and stretch one meal into three, and her mother
taught her. With the loss of the family meal time, and learning about food,
this is where our money is being wasted.
So here are some tips and recipes for saving money, and
cooking delicious meals without anyone being the wiser.
Money saving tips:
1.
Meat and
fish substitutes– meat and fish are among the most expensive items to buy
in the weekly shop. They are fantastic sources of protein and omega 3 oils, but
they can be a luxury in some households. Firstly, these are not the only
options for good sources of protein. Try pulses, beans and legumes as part of
your meals. They are options that can be bought dried or tinned, so not only
are they far less expensive, they last a lot longer as well. Have a look at the
recipe section for ideas
2.
Buy
frozen – To keep the costs of living alone down, I often buy my meat and
fish from the frozen section in supermarkets, you’ll find it is a lot cheaper,
and is frozen in portions, so just defrost as and when you need. Frozen chicken
or turkey breasts and frozen fish portions and raw prawns are a particularly
good money saver! Also try buying from the discount aisle; you can great deals
on individual portions of meat and joints. Just because you won’t eat it today
or tomorrow, it doesn’t mean you can buy for a huge discount, separate into
portions when you get home, and freeze for use at your convenience. Just jot
down the date frozen on top, and defrost thoroughly.
3.
Cook in
bulk – If you’re a single person living alone, or even if you’re not, cook
a large meal, adding in lots of cheaper vegetables or pulses to bulk up the
flavour and volume, then after everyone has had their fill, separate into
portion appropriate containers and freeze for use at your own convenience.
4. Soups – ‘Left over salad soup’ was one
of the many surprisingly delicious tasting recipes where my mother has made
something out of nothing. Soups are incredibly versatile, and a great way to
use up leftover vegetables or salad after a meal. To save waste at the end of
the week, roughly chop up all your left over veg, and roast in the oven. Once
cooled add to a tin of chopped tomatoes (only about 17p per tin!), pop on the
stove for a while, and then blitz in a blender until smooth. You can season
with stock cubes and herbs for your particular taste, and once split into pots,
it will make a delicious soup for lunches the following week. Preventing waste
and saving you money.
5.
Try your
local – If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere that has a market, by all
means, use it. The deals you can get at the end of the day, for example a
carrier bag of veg or fruit for a pound is fantastic. Don’t be afraid to
barter, the people who run these stalls are experts and will expect a bit of
negotiating. You will also be helping out local farmers.
6.
Stretch
your meals – This is one of my favourite tips, it’s one my mother and
aunties are pros at. Before everyday supermarket convenience came about, it was
common practice in a family household to have a big roast dinner on a Sunday
night, then have cold cuts the following night, and then soups or stews the
next day. Turning one meal, into three.
Alternative protein
source recipes – balanced meals that won’t leave you missing meat/fish
Sweet Potato and
Lentil Stew
1tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, diced
2 sticks of celery, diced
1 red pepper, diced
I large sweet potato, cut into small cubes
4 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 tbsp. of Cumin
1 tbsp. of Salt
1 tbsp. of Pepper
1 tsp. Oregano
1 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
1 cup of Lentils
½ cup of Quinoa
6 Cups of vegetable stock
1.
Add all of the ingredients together in a large
pot and cook on a low heat until potatoes and lentils are soft.
2.
Serves about 4-6 people
A Meal stretching
recipe – one meal stretched out into three
Meal one: Roast
Beef – take a large joint and either roast it or slow cook it, and serve it
with plenty of veg
Meal two:
Meatballs – take your left over beef and grind it up, add some breadcrumbs and
seasoning and make into meatballs. Serve with a marinara sauce and some pasta.
Meal three:
Meatball subs – Cut the leftover meatballs in half and lay flat side down onto
some bread. Next, pour over a little of the tomato sauce made the night before
and top with cheese. Now pop under the grill to melt the cheese, and serve with
salad.
And there you have it, three meals out of one!
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