Tuesday 3 March 2015

Planning...

I really enjoy the simplicity of preparing my shopping list according to the menu, it seems to get easier each time. Herewith our meals for the next fortnight:

Bratwurst, potato wedges & beans
Courgette pasta
Impossible quiche over 2 days
Fish
Chilli
Vegetable Thai curry
Pork with prunes
Vegetable Fritters
Mushroom Risotto
Chicken & Chickpea curry
Toast x 2 (walking days)!

We never have to think about lunch as it will always be soup, or a sandwich, or crackers and most things for those come out of the general shop.Things to think about after the menu shop are oats for breakfast, tea, coffee, toiletries etc.

We spent £24.98 in Lidl and what we couldn't get there, bought in Morrison's for £18.53. That is a total of £43.51 for 2 weeks, including making a batch of faggots for later use and which are not part of this particular menu! Not too shabby is it?

Herewith the shopping, minus some freezer bags and 3 x 2 litres of milk already put away in the freezer:
It includes plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, some nuts, a bit of chocolate, wheat-germ and oat-bran for each breakfast added to our porridge.

There was a guy in front of us who we hoped was buying just his weekly pack-up as it didn't look particularly healthy. It came to nearly £19 and consisted of two French sticks, a tub of ham, a jar of chocolate nut spread, crisps and biscuits. £19 - goodness me, we fed two of us for 3 meals and supper each day for a whole week for £20 - twice!

18 comments:

  1. You are a sensible shopper, I know what we will eat for the next two weeks, I see you have a bag of wheatgerm there, I have had some in the cupboard for a while, I bought it for something but never used it, what do you use if for ?

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    1. We sprinkle it on our porridge or cereals every day. Otherwise it gets added to bread, cake, biscuits. We ate it as children when it was called Bemax!

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  2. It's fascinating looking in other peoples trollies and imagining their lives! A bit like us and our bloggers bookshelves!

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    1. Very true but is does worry me that people don't seem to be eating properly.

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  3. A great shop. Yes if you buy the snack bits it really adds up.
    Rosezeeta.

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    1. It can do but this was our entire shop for all meals, snacks etc for 2 weeks. Only a can of tuna from the store cupboards to add to it.

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  4. I agree what other people buy always fascinates me as well.

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    1. They could of course just be doing a top up but even then, a lot of money to spend on rubbish food.

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  5. Prepacked or ready prepared means more expensive. Cooking from scratch and preplanning is the best way to save money. Some people waste hundreds of pounds on their food shopping buying things they could easily prepare at home.

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    1. True and also shopping in season also helps. We don't eat salad generally between November and June as it doesn't taste so nice.

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  6. Not related to this post - but I was reading about the wedding and thought, I recognise that venue looks like Bartley Lodge! We went to a wedding there last August (not so long a journey for us though we live in Winchester!) - it's a lovely venue!

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    1. It is lovely and the staff were nice and helpful.

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  7. Thats a lovely heathy shop, we love the mixed nuts from Lidl too. The last couple of shops we've done at Aldi and Asda but I prefer Lidl and Morrisons, I suppose it depends which direction we are going for other stuff.
    Since Christmas I have got back into menu planning and shopping accordingly and you are right it does get easier and the list gets shorter. We do still eat salad all year round but in winter add veggies to it for a flavour boost.

    I like a nosey in other peoples trolleys and some are shocking!! :-)

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    1. It is interesting isn't it, 'trolley' shopping. I am also amazed at the amount of junk food in those of a similar age or slightly older than us. I thought they might have grown up cooking from scratch but obviously not.

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  8. Wowzer, I think you are marvellous to keep your shopping price so low. And like you I'm amazed the amount people spend on junk food, fizzy drinks, pre-made pies and desserts, things I'd never buy nor wish to buy. We love Lidl's nuts, not only their mixed nuts, but also their cashew nuts and walnuts. Banana and walnut bread is our staple 'cake', which is fairly nutritious for a 'cake'. I also make nut roast, made with Lidl's mixed nuts and that can last us for three meals, one hot and two cold. A new Aldi is currently being built fairly close to where we live, but I've heard that most people prefer Lidl to Aldi, but no doubt we will try it out. We also shop in Waitrose but my goodness and make sure we get our 'free' paper and coffee, but of course, one pays for these things because the prices of many things are so much higher. Bought flowers in Lidl's this week, tulips £2 a bunch for 8 tulips, which I think great value. Waitrose was £5 for two bunches (of 8 flowers to a bunch), so a whole £1 more for two bunches for exactly the same thing, no larger, no fresher. OK, you can't eat flowers, but for me they're an essential part of shopping.
    Margaret P

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    1. Nuts aren't necessarily cheap though if they form some main meals are they, probably similar to our meat spends? We prefer Lidl but also top up in Aldi, pretty much similar pricing.

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  9. PS What is "impossible" quiche? Fascinated by this!
    Margaret P

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    1. You can find the recipe for it on my recipe tab above. It is basically an all in one mix which once cooked gives a very thin base similar to pastry. Certainly less calorific and a little cheaper. I do however love a treat of a crust based one!

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