Just returned from work and doing the weekly shopping! I’m pleased to say I got it to £12.06 this week, not bad! Here’s how I did it.
I had the following in the cupboards & fridge: rice, puy lentils, barley, 1 lemon, cheese, peas, punnet of plums, 1 apple, 2 servings of grapes and 3 nectarines.
I purchased
small ball of mozzarella (£0.79)
small bag of cherry tomatoes(£0.99)
small bag of lettuce on sale (£0.69)
1 small zucchini/courgette (£0.44)
1 carrot (£0.09)
1 small pack of organic hummus (£0.98)
2 veggie burgers (£1.99)
1 small pack of beets (£.50) (on sale)
2 small yogurts (£0.69 x 2)
Mango & Peach juice (£1.45)
Pasta (£1.99)
4 whole wheat rolls (£0.59) (sale)
8 brussel sprouts (£0.18)
Total cost: £12.06
Dinners for the week:
Pasta with salad (lettuce, beets, cherry tomatoes) and 4 brussel sprouts
Brown Rice and Lentil Stir fry with peas (I will have this meal twice!)
Veggie Burger on a roll with grilled courgettes/zucchini (I will have this meal twice!)
Cherry tomato & mozerella salad with barley
Homemade soup (lentil) with roll and salad
Lunches:
Homemade soup (lentil), piece of fruit (I will have this lunch twice)
Roll with hummus, piece of fruit
Cut up carrots with hummus and fruit mixed in with yogurt (I will have this lunch twice)
Barley, tomato and beet salad
Lentils with grilled brussel sprouts dressed in balsamic sauce
Breakfasts:
juice mixed with protein & flax seeds & cheese
or
fruit & cheese
I still can’t believe that I used to spend £60 a week on food!!!
And I’m very happy to report by the end of this week I should have one of my 101 things done! Yippee!!
Hi there-wow, you’ve done great on the groceries front-very well done indeed!
By: sharon rose on October 7, 2008
at 7:50 pm
I love how healthy you are – wish I were as good as you! I just haven’t got the willpower
x
By: jade on October 7, 2008
at 7:55 pm
I can’t believe how organised you are – and how less hungry than me you must be – I would be starving if that’s all I ate!
By: My Eco Self on October 7, 2008
at 7:57 pm
you eat so healthfully. i love reading about your frugal dinners. we still spend quite a lot of money on food ($100/week) but we did eliminate 50% of our food spending since we went on a budget. part of it is just that my husband eats a lot… and he is still losing loads of weight , ever since we went on a budget and cut out all that fatty restaurant food! that is what vegan does to you, i suppose. grocery shopping it is one of the areas where we still splash out a little. also, i love that you say ‘punnet.’ i had never heard that before
By: neimanmarxist on October 7, 2008
at 7:59 pm
You totally amaze me! I’m afraid I wouldn’t be happy with those meals though – the carnivore in me would be screaming by the end of the week.
By: Sharon J on October 7, 2008
at 8:09 pm
Well done, I was pleased with getting ours to £36 this week, got to go some to equal you!
By: apieceofwood on October 7, 2008
at 8:36 pm
Love the lunch idea – Lentils with grilled brussel sprouts dressed in balsamic sauce
I am going to have to do some of these wonderful meal ideas of yours. I would love to always eat healthy and vegetarian, but my kids and carnivorious husband of mine make it difficult.
By: Money Funk on October 7, 2008
at 9:10 pm
You might enjoy this site on your vegan journey: http://www.veggiemealplans.com/
Love the food she has on this site.
By: Money Funk on October 7, 2008
at 9:18 pm
Wow…There is literally no way that I could ever do a shop that small. Prices just aren’t that low here.
That’s truly amazing!
By: Annie on October 7, 2008
at 10:19 pm
Sharon – Thanks!
Jade – It’s a work in progress re will power!!
By: Frugal Trenches on October 7, 2008
at 10:36 pm
My Eco Self – it has been a journey! I think the fact the food is low GI helps me not feel hungry!
Nieman – that is brilliant, reducing by 50% well done you!
By: Frugal Trenches on October 7, 2008
at 10:37 pm
Sharon – I used to eat meat, don’t think I could do it now. I’m sure many of these would work with meat!
By: Frugal Trenches on October 7, 2008
at 10:38 pm
apieceofwood – WELL DONE YOU!! £36 is brilliant!
By: Frugal Trenches on October 7, 2008
at 10:38 pm
Money Funk – the lentils & brussels is FAB!
Thanks for the site!!
By: Frugal Trenches on October 7, 2008
at 10:39 pm
Annie – I should highlight our portions are sooo much smaller here. For example our peppers are about 1/3 the size of those in Canada and our PB jars are about 1/2 the size.
You are very right that food prices vary so much by region & country. I think what helps me is I never buy “what I want” at a store, simply what gives me meals and is economical.
By: Frugal Trenches on October 7, 2008
at 10:40 pm
12 pounds is fab!
But I can’t go without meat
By: Fabulously Broke on October 7, 2008
at 11:19 pm
lol FB I wonder if someone needed meat if they could use the £2 I spend on veggie burgers plus another £3 and do the shop for £15!
By: Frugal Trenches on October 8, 2008
at 6:24 am
“part of it is just that my husband eats a lot…”
Good Lord I know that one, even though I’ve cut back alot on my portion sizes I’m still not losing weight. I think it’s becuase I tend to snack too much, no, it is becuase I snack too much!
By: Rob in Madrid on October 8, 2008
at 9:31 am
Terrific!
By: Daisy Steiner on October 8, 2008
at 12:10 pm
[...] are some nice things on her list, too. Don’t worry: she isn’t on tap water sandwiches for the rest of the [...]
By: ...Still on supermarkets | Miss Thrifty on October 8, 2008
at 7:24 pm
I admire you’re determination but those meal choices are definitely not for me. Good food is one of my life’s great pleasures, I couldn’t survive on your menu plan!
By: FruGal on October 9, 2008
at 11:28 am
great job! i admit, i eat more than you do. but 12 pounds is like $22 here? that’s about what i spend. love the beans!!
By: deepali on October 10, 2008
at 2:45 am
Impressive!
I’m curious about the “balsamic sauce” – do you just reduce the balsamic? Or add other things to it?
By: Seattle Girl on October 10, 2008
at 11:16 pm
Seattle Girl
I’ll post the recipe/directions next time I make it! It’s very yummy!
By: Frugal Trenches on October 11, 2008
at 6:18 am