Cost of Living: Supermarket Nightmares...
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| Courtesy of Pixaby: © Copyright Steve Buissinne tand licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence |
It's a teensy bit unnerving shopping right now because at times like these, some food producers are tempted to sell substandard food, mislabel products or just generally lower standards.
It's almost inevitable when times are tough. Remember the horse meat scandal?
We're not there yet but we are seeing stories of cheap imports (Polish eggs, anyone?) sneaking onto the shelves in disguise. Some of the cucumbers in the 67 basket recently have been such poor quality, they've been instantly binned.
What to do?
67 believes the trick is to only shop at supermarkets you or your circle of friends know and trust.
Is the produce fresh? Is the meat of decent quality? Are the bargains truly worth buying and eating? Or are they just so bad you bin them and chalk it up to experience?
The everyday items on the shelves - are they good value or are they an afterthought, to fill in the spaces between the weekly specials?
Don't be afraid to look around at places you think are beyond the range of your budget.
Even the best ones have weekly specials that are difficult to resist.
Last week, 67 enjoyed 3 beautiful crisp, juicy Braeburn apples for just 85p at M&S, when normally they're purchased individually at one of Belsize's posh greengrocers. (Whose prices, to be fair, are excellent for small purchases.)
There are plenty of meat bargains available at middle and top tier supermarkets. Waitrose usually has at least one weekly special on fresh meat including Angus beef; the meat is in large pieces but that's easily fixed with a knife, a chopping board and a freezer. M&S has terrific permanent offers on chicken and minced beef. Sainsbury's often sells lovely cuts of pork and beef steaks, and usually has a stunning offer on fruit or veg. (Avos at 50p each, anyone?)
Can I still be vegan in these difficult times?
Yes, but it will be harder to make sure your daily meals include all nine essential amino acids. Luckily, we no longer have to have the foods on the same plate, just on the same day.
But one worries that would-be vegans will focus on fruit and vegetables, eating less (expensive) vegan protein. If they're not careful, that could cause problems.
It's hard shopping now when we've got used to buying more vegan products but they are expensive and often over-processed.
Is it retrograde to return to animal products? Or to go half-way and become vegetarian for a while?
Eating an egg or piece of cheese alongside vegan protein is a small price to pay to avoid malnutrition.
A good supply of all 9 essential amino acids is essential for good health. And we all need to be strong and resilient now.
Whatever animal protein is consumed, keep portions small, serve them alongside plenty of cooked and raw veg. Good carbs include brown rice, cold cooked potatoes, sweet potatoes and pasta.
Be sensible and we'll be fine until the crisis is over.
And then, if you want to, re-think being vegan.
What with one thing and another at home and abroad, we are all frazzled. It seems a lot of effort to get organised and to find the shops you trust. Even reading the labels is aggravating, despite knowing that we mustn't give up on being healthy, either.
If the quality of the food purchased isn't good, let the shop know. Most need/want to know if food producers are falling down on the job and will respond.
(67 recently complained about the quality of minced turkey on offer at several supermarkets, including the best ones. Very swiftly indeed, M&S changed its turkey supplier and the turkey mince sharply improved. 67 hasn't had a chance to check the others yet but bets that if they haven't fixed it yet, they soon will.)
Shoppers are being careful with their food shopping now but no one gains if cheaper prices mean we're being fobbed off with the dregs of fruit & veg: soft instead of crisp, bruised or battered, even packaged with bleach to keep it looking fresh (I'm looking at you, corn on the cob!). Too much of that and we'll start looking elsewhere, whatever the supermarket's reputation.
And then there's the question of how best to cook your food...
67 suspects consumers are scrambling to create a stash of interesting easy recipes which will please the household AND stay within the budget.
Help is at hand.
67goingon50 has started a post called Pensioners' Delights for main courses or 3 course meals, for 4, at well under £10. They are based on supermarket bargains of the week.
The posts include prices of individual items, for example: small whole chicken £3.50 (2022 spring 2024 sadly hard to find), sauce £1'ish; carbs £1; apple crumble £2.50'ish = Total £8.00.
Pensioners Delights will be a weekly feature until further notice.
Also have a look at the blog's... wallet-friendly/budget recipes under the classification Frugal in Recipes 1 on the nav bar (above). And keep a eye on Twitter (blee@BrightSunEnter1) for recipes linked to food bargains the blogger has clocked during the weekly shop.
If you have any Comments or requests, let 67 know.
In the meantime, good luck shopping, cooking and eating!
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B Lee/Bright Sun Enterprises accept no liability for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.
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