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Strictly Cheese Sandwiches

(361 Posts)
LadyHonoriaDedlock Wed 17-May-23 20:16:14

Ann Widdecombe, sometime Conservative MP, Brexit MEP and star of Strictly Come Dancing, says that if you can't afford the ingredients for a cheese sandwich, don't eat cheese sandwiches.

Sometimes, when I've been on my uppers, cheese sandwiches are what I have eaten.

Is there anywhere lower these people can go? Are we in an age of political limbo dancing?

MaizieD Wed 24-May-23 12:23:05

Dinahmo

MaizieD

Where do all the paper bags come from? They're not exactly common these days..

We get them in the veg departments of supermarkets here in France.

I doubt if the very poor could afford a paper bag buying trip to France grin

growstuff Wed 24-May-23 12:23:42

So what else would you recommend besides chick peas (not grains)?

I watch everything I eat and they're an inefficient way of getting the nutrition I need.

Norah Wed 24-May-23 12:30:11

growstuff

Norah How many times does this need saying? Chick peas, pulses and lentils are not an efficient way of getting enough protein if people are limiting carbs.

It's because so much processed food has "fillers" made from grain that so many people in the UK, USA and other countries are overweight/obese.

You may say it as often as you wish - regarding your health status.

We, however, are very slim and healthy. We eat vegan, we exercise often, we push back from the table and avoid sweets.

We do get enough daily protein - I keep count.

The thread is not just about me or you - wider world eats as well.

Ann Widdecombe comment, people have opinions. Mine is different to yours. Easy to see that Indian food is not likely your choice.

Norah Wed 24-May-23 12:31:33

MaizieD

Dinahmo

MaizieD

Where do all the paper bags come from? They're not exactly common these days..

We get them in the veg departments of supermarkets here in France.

I doubt if the very poor could afford a paper bag buying trip to France grin

Point taken!

Amazon will continue as my source.

Dinahmo Wed 24-May-23 12:32:00

growstuff

Incidentally, diabetics are advised to limit pulses, lentils and fruit.

I've just checked on the Diabetes UK website and they include beans and pulses as food that form part of a diabetic diet. They give a link to a stew containing red lentils and borlotti beans.

Here's examples of the fruit that can be eaten:

sliced melon or grapefruit topped with unsweetened yogurt, or a handful of berries, or fresh dates, apricots or prunes for breakfast

try avocados, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, plums, peaches and watermelon for lower carb fruit options.

Admittedly most of the above are expensive.

Germanshepherdsmum Wed 24-May-23 12:33:03

This seems to have become all about your dietary requirements growstuff. You know how to manage your diet I’m sure. My husband is in remission from T2 diabetes and has not had to eat such a limited diet as you. Norah makes sensible suggestions which would benefit many.

Dinahmo Wed 24-May-23 12:34:09

MaizieD My point was that they are supplied in the supermarkets for your fruit and veg.

Dinahmo Wed 24-May-23 12:36:44

Some of you mentioned keeping veg fresh. Sometimes a recipe will include 2 or 3 sticks of celery. So I don't buy because I haven't been able to keep it fresh. Bit I found a method that works very well. You need to separate the stalks and cut to fit a food box, which you then fill with water. They will keep like this for a long time - over a week sometimes.

Germanshepherdsmum Wed 24-May-23 12:38:24

Or standing in a glass of water.

M0nica Wed 24-May-23 13:56:26

Could someone explain to me the difference between 'vegan' food and food which happens to not include any animal products.

Anyone eating a mixed and varied diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables is bound to have dishes, meals even whole days when they happen not to eat any animal products. That is what a mixed diet means.

I often eat plant based meals, I have never knowingly eaten a 'vegan' food. I have no idea what one is.

choughdancer Wed 24-May-23 13:56:53

Germanshepherdsmum

This seems to have become all about your dietary requirements growstuff. You know how to manage your diet I’m sure. My husband is in remission from T2 diabetes and has not had to eat such a limited diet as you. Norah makes sensible suggestions which would benefit many.

I agree wit GSM; I'm sure your diet is perfect for you Growstuff, but Diabetes UK (quoted below) does not recommend avoiding pulses for instance, as they only recommend a LOW carb diet, rather than a NO carb diet for most Type 2 diabetics
.
But we are all different of course, and you have found what suits you and your blood sugar levels, which is wonderful!

At no point have I seen Norah suggesting that you adopt a vegan diet; nor have I or anyone else. We have simply responded to your questions about protein and carbs in plant foods, and Norah has made suggestions for eating well at a low cost, responding to the OP. I have see no criticism of you or your diet.

"But how low is low-carb? There are different types of low-carb diets. Generally, low-carb eating is when you reduce the total amount of carbs you consume in a day to less than 130g."

"A low-carb diet isn’t for everyone. The evidence shows they can be safe and effective in helping people with type 2 diabetes manage their weight, blood glucose (sugar) levels and risk of heart disease in the short term.

But the evidence also shows they can affect growth in children, and so should not be recommended for them."

I am so pleased that you and GSM's husband have been able to find an effective way to control your blood sugar levels and hopefully to avoid the long term complications.

choughdancer Wed 24-May-23 13:59:25

M0nica

Could someone explain to me the difference between 'vegan' food and food which happens to not include any animal products.

Anyone eating a mixed and varied diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables is bound to have dishes, meals even whole days when they happen not to eat any animal products. That is what a mixed diet means.

I often eat plant based meals, I have never knowingly eaten a 'vegan' food. I have no idea what one is.

They are one and the same MOnica! The vegan label on foods is just a shorthand way of saying they have no animal ingredients.

Germanshepherdsmum Wed 24-May-23 14:03:35

Thank you choughdancer.

Norah Wed 24-May-23 14:16:01

M0nica

Could someone explain to me the difference between 'vegan' food and food which happens to not include any animal products.

Anyone eating a mixed and varied diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables is bound to have dishes, meals even whole days when they happen not to eat any animal products. That is what a mixed diet means.

I often eat plant based meals, I have never knowingly eaten a 'vegan' food. I have no idea what one is.

I suspect you know what vegan food consists of.

Food which purposefully includes no animal products. All other sources of carbs, protein, fat, fruit, veg - are typically consumed.

Norah Wed 24-May-23 14:16:33

choughdancer

M0nica

Could someone explain to me the difference between 'vegan' food and food which happens to not include any animal products.

Anyone eating a mixed and varied diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables is bound to have dishes, meals even whole days when they happen not to eat any animal products. That is what a mixed diet means.

I often eat plant based meals, I have never knowingly eaten a 'vegan' food. I have no idea what one is.

They are one and the same MOnica! The vegan label on foods is just a shorthand way of saying they have no animal ingredients.

THIS ^

Oreo Wed 24-May-23 14:40:08

Dinahmo

Oreo

Do they?
Thanks for explaining foodstuffs but really think you have no idea what most people eat who are on budgets ( or off them)😂

I am rather surprised at your lack of knowledge. Maybe you're not a foodie?

Perhaps you don't read the Guardian either? For some while they have running articles with recipes for cooking meals costing £1 per head. Tom Kerridge has given 2 recipes using chicken.

Have you heard of Jack Monroe? She has been in and out of the media for the last few years talking about cooking on a low budget, aimed at those people with low incomes.

Chick peas are a source of protein and often used in diets for diabetics. They are also used in a lot of Italian dishes and they are cheap to buy. As Norah said they are used to make hummus and nearly everybody will have eaten that at least once in their lives.

Condescending post.
No am not a foodie as I have neither the time or the money to be one.I don’t read the Guardian either, shock horror.
I have not eaten hummus even once in my life as yet either.
I am not so poor as to need to eat a meal at a £1 a head.
I do need to budget tho, and do that very well making tasty casseroles, stir fries and so on when I have the time, and cooking things like an omelette and salad when I don’t. Normal non vegan meals.

Oreo Wed 24-May-23 15:23:28

Must tell the OP that the title of this thread is fabulous darling😂

growstuff Wed 24-May-23 15:26:49

Germanshepherdsmum

This seems to have become all about your dietary requirements growstuff. You know how to manage your diet I’m sure. My husband is in remission from T2 diabetes and has not had to eat such a limited diet as you. Norah makes sensible suggestions which would benefit many.

I'm sorry I've talked about my own requirements. The point I've really been trying to make is about low cost, nutritious food.

If this had been about beans on toast rather than a cheese sandwich, the question of veganism wouldn't have even been an issue. It's about foodstuffs which are basic which have risen in price - cheese 39%, eggs 37%:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65682243

Sorry to say but some of the suggestions about food show no understanding of eating cheaply and nutritiously. I happen to have an additional requirement, as do many other people. The fact remains that the food I've been eating for years - and which has been shown to be good for me - has risen in price. Dairy has been particularly badly affected.

Incidentally, just because your husband's pancreas hasn't been so badly affected as mine doesn't mean that I'm wrong or lying! Presumably his postprandial glucose response is normal - good for him!

growstuff Wed 24-May-23 15:28:52

Norah

growstuff

Norah How many times does this need saying? Chick peas, pulses and lentils are not an efficient way of getting enough protein if people are limiting carbs.

It's because so much processed food has "fillers" made from grain that so many people in the UK, USA and other countries are overweight/obese.

You may say it as often as you wish - regarding your health status.

We, however, are very slim and healthy. We eat vegan, we exercise often, we push back from the table and avoid sweets.

We do get enough daily protein - I keep count.

The thread is not just about me or you - wider world eats as well.

Ann Widdecombe comment, people have opinions. Mine is different to yours. Easy to see that Indian food is not likely your choice.

You're not limiting carbs!!!

Doodledog Wed 24-May-23 15:28:52

Sorry if this is off topic, but can anyone suggest a low carb side that is filling and tasty - basically a suitable replacement for potatoes, bread or pasta, please?

I am having another week away on my own, and can eat meat as Mr D is not there, but I'm a bit stumped as to what to have with it, as I'm trying to cut cages as much as possible. I regularly cook lentils and pulses as main meals, but was hoping to have something a bit different 'because I can', as opposed to just adding chicken to a lentil bake, if that makes sense. Ordinarily I would have something like potatoes dauphinoise, garlic bread or macaroni cheese, but obviously they are out. Any suggestions would be welcome if anyone has them.

Doodledog Wed 24-May-23 15:29:31

I'm trying to cut carbs, not cages, incidentally grin

M0nica Wed 24-May-23 15:31:01

But 'vegan' is a descriptor used for a group of people. vegan food is not special and limited only to vegans, anyone can eat it. Food isn't specially labelled for other groups, for example. I have yet to see food specially named and labelled for those with food allergies - and these can kill.

You just look at the ingredients list on a product to see what the ingredients are and if an allergen is mentioned you put it back. I do this a lot as several members of my family have allergies and carry epipens.. I have yet to see a big label on food to tell me it is soya free, even nut allergies, which are very common, warrant only a warning on small print.

Most people manage to make choices about what food items they buy by reading the ingredients list on the label. Why do vegans need special help with this? Do they have eyesight or cognitive problems that mean they cannot read ingredient lists?

growstuff Wed 24-May-23 15:35:21

Sorry, I can't. I don't eat "sides", if you mean potatoes, rice and pasta.

I do eat quite a lot of home made coleslaw, if that helps.

I eat quite a lot of frittata too - made with whatever veggies and bits of chorizo, ham and cheese I happen to have lying around.

Norah Wed 24-May-23 15:36:42

Doodledog

Sorry if this is off topic, but can anyone suggest a low carb side that is filling and tasty - basically a suitable replacement for potatoes, bread or pasta, please?

I am having another week away on my own, and can eat meat as Mr D is not there, but I'm a bit stumped as to what to have with it, as I'm trying to cut cages as much as possible. I regularly cook lentils and pulses as main meals, but was hoping to have something a bit different 'because I can', as opposed to just adding chicken to a lentil bake, if that makes sense. Ordinarily I would have something like potatoes dauphinoise, garlic bread or macaroni cheese, but obviously they are out. Any suggestions would be welcome if anyone has them.

Cauliflower is your friend. Need recipes?

growstuff Wed 24-May-23 15:40:13

Maybe because it's a good marketing tool MOnica.