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A good diebetic diet doesn't half cost a lot, doesn't it?

U

Useless Pretty Boy

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I was just looking at the contents of my fridge. Wow.

Then I checked the last weeks receipts from Tesco. Ouch.

Does anyone else have this problem? I'll admit, I always tried to be healthy enough even before I was diagnosed. But since being diagnosed and changing my diet I've noticed that things are even more expensive.

Even just replacing 'normal' rice, bread, pasta and noodles with less refined, or 'whole' varients jacks the price up a few pounds a week. (and ok, so I don't low carb as much as some, but even the evangelists have got to give me the fact that 'whole' varients are better for a diabetic that 'white' sorts)

Then you're looking into replacing a percentage of your cheap carbs with alternatives. That means more meat or fish, nuts (which vary from pretty cheap to 'OMFG - you've got to be kidding me') and a whole set of others. You replace your cornflakes with fancy-dan breakfasts that you only ever used to see your parents eat. Instead of cheap beer, you have to go for something like Michelob (which, with only 2.5g of carbs per bottle is actually pretty good!), which is more expensive again. And suddenly, all the little indulgences that you used to have are replaced with more savoury ones, which always seem to cost more! I'll admit to a 'treat' for myself now comprising of some smoked salmon and really dry white wine instead of a bar of toblerone or something (at least... most of the time).

It's obviously a known problem, as when I was at uni and got diagnosed, I was suddenly receiving another £800 a year in support for 'dietary requirements'.

I'm just wondering if anyone else has noticed this or found it a problem, and does anyone have any good calls for some cheaper meals which aren't going to kill me?
 
No one here will disagree - a healthy diet IS more expensive. It's just a case of shopping around more and finding cheap(er) sources...
 
My household eats a lot of organic foods, and usually from the likes of M&S, or good quality butcher/grocer (and it's worth it). It's usually all fresh meats, veg, etc, and few ready meals. Expensive indeed.
 
... and higher priced restaurants' menus are more likely to have things you could choose.

But on the other hand, think of all the rubbish that you might have bought, but that you no longer spend your money on.

Apologies for repeating myself - but I see it as swapping children's treats for grown up ones, ie no sweeties and confectionary, but top quality food and the occassinal bottle of good wine instead.
 
I'm just wondering if anyone else has noticed this or found it a problem, and does anyone have any good calls for some cheaper meals which aren't going to kill me?
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some ideas off the top of my head, whether they work for you depends upon what you like and your personal definition as to what isn't going to kill me!.

Fresh berries can be expensive, frozen fruits of the forest are often very cheap (same nutrients)

Other veg are also often cheaper frozen Fresh seasonal fruit and veg sould be cheaper and better than that flown in from the othe side of the world . Buy lots and fill up on them. At the moment tomatoes, courgettes, peppers, aubergines can make the basis of lots of dishes.

Make stirfries, the packets of shredded veg aren't always expensive but you can sprout your own beansprouts and use this and cabbage as a base ,adding smaller amounts of more expensive veg. If there are lots of veg in your stirfry , you don't need so much meat/protein (my biggest problem if cooking for more than 2 is a big enough wok!)

Use legumes/pulses as the basis for some meals high protein, low gi (often very cheap , as are spices in 'Asian' shops)

Try herring, mackerel, pollock, coley, whiting. Buy whole salmon when on special offer, cut up and freeze use or cook whole (in foil) and freeze surplus as poached fish or in made up dishes.Even buying large pieces is often cheaper : those beautifully trimmed salmon steaks are very expensive. Canned salmon is also high in omega 3 (though I understand canned tuna isn't) As with other things frozen fish can work out much cheaper.(though its not that easy to find it unprocessed/coated in some UK supermarkets)

Use whole chickens and use it all, buy thighs with skin on rather than breast, you can always remove the skin yourself if you want. If you do buy breasts of chicken, watch the weight of them... some of those in British supermarkets seem to me to be large enough for 2 people.(certainly as part of a stir fry as above)

Don't buy expensive pseudo foods targeted at diabetics
 
phoenix said:
Use whole chickens and use it all, .....
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That's what we do and cut it into portions (legs, wings & breast). If we roast one whole, the carcass goes into a pot with a few veg (or veg trimmings), to make stock or soup.

Buying a whole chicken is much cheaper than buying pre-prepared stuff.
 
Having cut down portion sizes and ,not being so hungry, I find that my food bill is not any more than it used to be .
 
Quality costs, however, it does not cost as much if you shop around.

I shop in my excellent local street market. I find the cost of the fresh veg I buy there is about 1/2 to 2/3 what I would pay in the big chain supermarkets :D and you get to talk to the stallholders, a much pleasanter shopping experience than a supermarket even if the vegetables come in a range of sizes instead of the perfectly shaped and uniformly coloured vegetables found in supermarkets. If I bought the same quantity in M&S I expect I would need to take out a mortgage to do a weeks veg shopping :| :shock:

I am probably eating better than I have done for years now :D Since I cleaned up my dietary act and cut the carbs I am not eating anywhere as near as much as I was before, and what I do eat is much better quality.

To be honest, I notice the finacial "ouch!" when I buy things like nuts or decent cheese. However, I shop around and try to make good use of offers to stock up :mrgreen: Overall, there isn't much difference and I'm not throwing food away like I used to since I have planned menus more efficiently.
 
hi useless pretty boy .you should try shopping in the republic of ireland.its way more expensive than the uk.it didnt get the name rip off republic by accident.anything that is outside the norm the price only rockets up.

dermot
 
mullaneder said:
hi useless pretty boy .you should try shopping in the republic of ireland.its way more expensive than the uk.it didnt get the name rip off republic by accident.anything that is outside the norm the price only rockets up.

dermot
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Hey, Dermot.

I'd definitely consider it. But I don't think the plane ride back and forth would make it particularly practical, I'm afraid. :wink:

And the problem with buying so much meat is that the lady of the house is a vegetarian. And hell, there's no way I'm downsizing my portion sizes. I have a tough enough time not losing weight as it is!

I like the market idea though, I might have to see if there are any local ones where I live. Probably wouldn't hurt to up my organic produce intake either. Though there goes another price hike!
 
I was jsut thinking this today. I don't know if I can keep this up. It's early days right enough and it might settle down, but we are spending more and more and yet I still forget things. I live remote and only get one shop a week, sometimes online. if I forget something then we do without until the next week. Is always hard changing your habits isnt it ! :mrgreen:
 
Not buying rubbish saves a lot as does knowing how to cook and plan a week's menus.
 
Like mentioned before, I find I'm actually eating less in a day so my food bills are actually lower than before. I found I was buying all the **** from newsagents or local shops in addition to my weekly shop bringing up the bills to nearly double. Now I spend a little more than before on the weekly shop and no extra bought from corner shops. I also end up throwing far less food away in comparison so I'm not throwing money to the bin every week either.

I have discovered that supermarkets have more offers on veg now, Morrisons have beriies for a pound as well as numerous veg so you can get a lot for a fiver. But I'm kind of counting my food as a part of my medication and it is the last thing I will skimp.
 
That's the basic problem, that it's cheaper to buy a manufactured fish pie than make your own, easier to bulk out expensive meat by filling up on spuds and pasta, to gulp down fast food on the run. In the Western world our diet is dominated by heavily processed food. Now we are paying the price. It feels wrong,that the healhiest food is the most expensive,generally speaking.

I'd say that having a freezer helps and if you can grow the pricier veg/fruit in garden/allotment.
 
saz1 said:
Like mentioned before, I find I'm actually eating less in a day so my food bills are actually lower than before. I found I was buying all the **** from newsagents or local shops in addition to my weekly shop bringing up the bills to nearly double. Now I spend a little more than before on the weekly shop and no extra bought from corner shops. I also end up throwing far less food away in comparison so I'm not throwing money to the bin every week either.

I have discovered that supermarkets have more offers on veg now, Morrisons have beriies for a pound as well as numerous veg so you can get a lot for a fiver. But I'm kind of counting my food as a part of my medication and it is the last thing I will skimp.
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God, I wish I could eat less without the weight dropping off me. My entire family has a metabolism that just burns everything in about two seconds. I have a completely different diet from my cousins, but none of us can keep weight on.

I mean double cream in my coffee, four or five eggs for breakfast, big lunch, dinner, protein shakes in between. It's a curse being thin! :mrgreen:
 
Do you have a local Aldi ? I find the quality to be far superior to our local Tesco and Asda and a lot cheaper. Besides a lot of the brands are actually made by the same people who supply M&S !!

My wife will not shop there, but I don't care I am not a shop snob. :D But she does agree its cheaper and better quality. :? Can't live with them, Can't kill them. :mrgreen:
 
Useless Pretty Boy said:
God, I wish I could eat less without the weight dropping off me. My entire family has a metabolism that just burns everything in about two seconds. I have a completely different diet from my cousins, but none of us can keep weight on.

I mean double cream in my coffee, four or five eggs for breakfast, big lunch, dinner, protein shakes in between. It's a curse being thin! :mrgreen:
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Oh my gosh, you lucky boy...! :lol: I wish I would have the same problem but am a classic overweight type 2.... I'm still looking for my metabolism, I think it's gone missing in Alaska or Siberia and frozen to hibernation.... :twisted:
 
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