The cost of a meal

I rarely use chicken breasts either and have noticed that Waitrose thighs are much bigger than the equivalent Sainsbury's product or those i can get from the butchers.

NotSpaghetti

Really the UK food is very cheap compared to many other countries.

It doesn't mean that everyone has enough money though.

Really? Very cheap?

There are several things I have just had to stop buying. Fresh fish, decent good quality fruit, the odd bit of lamb.

All the cheap stuff now, carbs, mince and so on.

Well we are vegetarian and find this to be true. Scandinavian countries seem to be expensive and so is America. I suppose the wages may reflect this.
Italy seems to be more than here for many things - not (say) tomatoes of course - but certainly the more unusual items... if you want capers by the kilo however, Southern Italy is a good place to look!

Organic dairy products are I'm certain cheaper here than anywhere else I've looked for them.

Spain we found to be expensive for lots of our everyday things... I expect pork may be cheaper though as there's even pork fat in the local breads...

I suppose we only look at the things we tend to buy, lafergar. I was amazed at how pricey Southern Ireland was too.

I haven't found fresh fruit to be a problem. Perhaps if you eat meat and fish you find that IS expensive...

Of course much of Europe eats a wider range of fish than we do anyway.

I think we are very lucky to have lots of choice here at lots of different price points.

Maybe time to try more vegetarian meals.

lafergar

NotSpaghetti

Really the UK food is very cheap compared to many other countries.

It doesn't mean that everyone has enough money though.

Really? Very cheap?

There are several things I have just had to stop buying. Fresh fish, decent good quality fruit, the odd bit of lamb.

All the cheap stuff now, carbs, mince and so on.

The fact that you say you cannot afford fresh fish, good fruit or lamb does not contradict NotSpaghetti 's assertion that food in the UK iss cheaper than in other countries, where often incomes are lower as well. That includes European countries. You also need to take into account other aspects of household bills like housing heating etc If housing is very expensive, food bills are going to be a struggle no matter how low.

Here's my assertion. Some people on this site are very smug. They may own several propertes, have numerous holidays and so on.

When I tell you I can't afford fresh fish or decent meat, that's how it is. I'll adapt.

I don't think people are necessarily smug here - or disputing that you can't buy fresh fish or decent meat.

We just all live differently and have different preferences as well as different incomes.

Having multiple holidays and/or several properties isn't relevant to watermeadow who was struggling to be able to feed her cat.

We have one home, don't have regular holidays, and rarely buy new things for the house but my husband's pension does allow us to largely buy what we want to eat.
I know this is a privilege many others don't have.
I wish everyone had enough income to eat well, according to their taste.

I do think young people obsess about sell by dates. I host young people from around the world and apart from a Chinese girl who was here recently and was good at using leftovers, as a general rule my visitors want to clear my fridge and cupboards never checking to sniff or taste but chucking out everything which has a best before label. Grr.

Why do honey and pickles have dates on them?

I'm sure I mentioned the community fridges before, but I will mention them again.

You can fill a bag with food for a donation, much of it fresh, right on date but perfectly fine.

Why do honey and pickles have dates on them?

No idea. The honey found in Egyptian tombs was perfectly fine but could not be sold because it was 3,000 years old.

NotSpaghetti

I don't think people are necessarily smug here - or disputing that you can't buy fresh fish or decent meat.
Maybe it’s galling those on a lower income to read that buying what they can afford, implies that they are not so good as those who can afford to buy organic or other “I had a wonderful life” products, or that if they can’t afford those, they should buy smaller quantities of what they can afford.
But we all do our best.

I think many of us have been through tough times financially, especially when we had young children, and we don't forget what it was like then.

Turkey drummers, anyone?

If I was one of the smug sounding posters then I offer no apology for eating well when I can.
I last had a holiday when my H was in respite care for two weeks seven years ago.
I do not have a car, I go many weeks not leaving the house for many days as I can only go beyond the end of my road when I am taken.
I do not smoke although enjoy a glass of wine and eat out on average once a month.
I choose to spend my twilight years, 88 in 3 weeks, on enjoying what I want to do if I can.

kircubbin2000

I make a lentil tomato and aubergine bake which is pretty cheap. You can add cheese and more veg to bulk it up.M and S often have tins of beans and tomato for about 60p.

That sounds like something I'd like.....

Any chance of the recipe please....?

Debbi58

A friend of mine buys Iceland meals , I believe they are a £1 each. She bulks them out with veg. Iceland deliver free if you soend £45 , I think

I believe Iceland gives a 10% discount for over 60s on Tuesdays, you have to have their Bonus Card and valid ID. If you buy in store they deliver free if your shopping is over £25. When I have been in our local store I have seen people do this. The online order has to be over £40 for free delivery.

M0nica

You can only write of what you do. If others think that honesty is virtue signalling, then that is their problem, not mine.

Ever since CJD, I have gone for quality, not quantity where meat is concerned and I know we eat a lot less meat per head than the average in the UK. It also means being virtually vegetarian when eating out.

We all make all our decisions in life based on income and what matters to us. It is not a competition it is meant be an open exchange of information and explanation among equals.

I would tend to agree with that. As someone who has always been single and low-paid = I had to eat as cheaply as I could for literally decades. I was a meat-eater way back along and yep...there would be faggots and bacon scraps and cheap mince amongst it and it was never what I wanted to buy - it was the cheapest I could get. Remember those Golden Delicious apples - ugh - they were always the cheapest though - so thats what I got. Instant coffee - which is what Britain was basically drinking still at that point - but I'd already lived in Denmark for a while and so was looking longingly at real coffee (that was THE first thing I swopped over to once I could start spending a bit more on food).

I'm vegetarian these days - so meat is no longer on the menu. In my early 70's - but it's only the last couple of years I've been able to buy "my food" (ie organic, best possible, etc, etc and trying out freely whatever I decide to try). It only took about 70 years !!!!!! before I could eat "my food" at long last. So I'm making the best of it - as I've waited long enough/far too darn long to be able to do so. Try being a foodie on a budget - and it sure does lead to frequent frustration.

So - yep - on ALL the threads here it is supposed to be an "open exchange of information" and not sniping (though I'm learning who the "usual suspects" for that are now......).

An open exchange is great. There is a cost of living crisis. Many people simply cannot afford the same style of shopping that they enjoyed previously.

A little understanding is helpful.

I now find myself using the same services I helped for years, food banks, food share and so on.
That's just how it is.

Yes my mother always bought a capon for Sunday roast. I gather it’s illegal now which is why you can see them abroad but not here.

Grammaretto

I do think young people obsess about sell by dates. I host young people from around the world and apart from a Chinese girl who was here recently and was good at using leftovers, as a general rule my visitors want to clear my fridge and cupboards never checking to sniff or taste but chucking out everything which has a best before label. Grr.

Why do honey and pickles have dates on them?

I am eating porridge 3 months out of date

I am not keen on M & S chicken, last one had a rubber texture.

Stansgran

Yes my mother always bought a capon for Sunday roast. I gather it’s illegal now which is why you can see them abroad but not here.

I thought a chicken was a chicken!

Mt61

Stansgran

Yes my mother always bought a capon for Sunday roast. I gather it’s illegal now which is why you can see them abroad but not here.

I thought a chicken was a chicken!

A capon is a male bird which has been castrated

woodenspoon

Somebody asked how much lentils do I put in with my mince in spaghetti bolognese. The answer is two tablespoons and it’s the dried red lentils. I also do this with chilli mince and cottage pie. My DH likes his meat but he’s never raised an objection to the lentils. With the added veg it means a 1lb of good quality minced beef is good for 6 portions in our house. If I add even more veg, it will stretch to 8 portions. Hope this helps.

I always put a really good handful of red lentils in any batch of mince, plus plenty of finely chopped onion, carrot, celery and mushrooms, if I’ve got any.

It’s often a triple-purpose batch - one will eventually have tomato purée and Italian herbs added - Bolognaise.

Another will have tomato purée, paprika, chilli powder and a tin of red kidney beans - chilli.

3rd will be our version of what we call ‘school dinner mince’ - not that it bears much resemblance, but dh still enjoys it. So not much added except perhaps an Oxo cube - served with mash or boiled potatoes, and peas.

I like Bovril with mince. It really brings out the flavour. It’s the only time I use it. Also add grated carrot to mince which just seems to disappear into the mix.