Budget meals that are good for Pro Points

[calirose]

I find it's hard being on a diet and being broke as I would love to buy all this lovely lean meat, with these nice wateva else to go alongside but I just don't have the funds for that. Im getting stuck in a food rut, I can't spend loads of money experimenting on different foods, but the foods im eating arent great was wondering if people have any budget ideas/recipes. Problem is as well im a fussy eater, I don't like cooked veggies except potatoes, mushrooms and onion in stuff, and I only eat chicken, beef, cod and duck. Basically i'm useless aha. Any advice would be great! xx

 

[Lovingbeingslimmer]

I love fish and found it expensive to keep being fresh haddock etc so decided to try a bag of young frozen haddock fillets which I got 4 fillets for 3 pounds they are individually wrapped and they taste great and only 3pp. I sprinkled herbs and a tiny tiny dab of butter wrapped in foil and baked! Always keep a bag of frozen veg to bulk out meals, some brands taste ok. A with some tinned new pots or something you can have a few cheap meals they aren't frozen ready meals! I know it's not great home cooking but I'm quite lazy with cooking and it does me fine!

 

[Lovingbeingslimmer]

I find it's hard being on a diet and being broke as I would love to buy all this lovely lean meat, with these nice wateva else to go alongside but I just don't have the funds for that. Im getting stuck in a food rut, I can't spend loads of money experimenting on different foods, but the foods im eating arent great was wondering if people have any budget ideas/recipes. Problem is as well im a fussy eater, I don't like cooked veggies except potatoes, mushrooms and onion in stuff, and I only eat chicken, beef, cod and duck. Basically i'm useless aha. Any advice would be great! xx

Oops just re read and says you only like cod in terms of fish, well the fish portions I was talking about come in cod too!

 

[calirose]

Thats a good idea thanks! The bf loves fish so he will be happy hehe. Meat is soo expensive its annoying im going to look through all the recipe books i have tonight and do some googling for my food shop 2morrow!

 

[KoKo88]

Would you try quorn? You can get 3 bags for £5 atm in asda. As a family of four each bag does 2 meals and we bulk out with veg.

 

[calirose]

Yeh i have had quorn but sadly not a huge fan wish i was!

 

[calirose]

Low Fat Mushroom Risotto - How to Make Low Fat Mushroom Risotto This is actually a really nice meal and it isn't too expensive if u have a bit of white wine around x

 

[calirose]

oh also i made frozen raspberry yogurt which is really good and cheap for puddings x

 

[dragondrop]

Hi, hope you don't mind me posting. I bought some of the ww meals in morrisons for a change cause they were half price. 74p for frozen ones and £1.18 for chilled, and they are dated until the 29th oct x

 

[calirose]

Your more than welcome to post dragon!! Yeah i have some of the WW meals and when they are on a deal at the supermarket they can be really great for lunch/dinner!!! x

 

[galaxy-girl]

My butcher does 3lb chicken or stew beef for £7.99. It is good quality meat as well & I always stock up on both of these. I made a beef mole last night with 1lb stew, tin of toms, filled the tin back up wi water & beef stock cube, 1tsp ground all spice, 2 cloves, 1/4tsp fennel seeds, 1/2tsp peppercorns, 1tsp cumin.
I ground all spices in a pestle & bunged everything in slow cooker about lunch time. By 7 o'clock the meat was so tender & melted in your mouth. Feel free to add chillies & garlic but I'm not keen on either. It served 4 people & served with 2 mini Yorkshire each & the kids & OH had wedges wi theirs. All for 6 PP x
Good luck x

 

[calirose]

Thats sounds yummy thanks!! I will have to look in to the butchers round here and see if they do any good deals on nice meat! I hate buying cheap meat in supermarkets!! I love a good stew..with mash and dumpling and everything....which is why im on a diet ahah. x

 

[galaxy-girl]

I made some yummy herby scone type dumplings 5 PP for 2 & were yummy. I'm not sure if you could find it on 1 of my other threads x if not I'll post it on here x

 

[pugh]

How many do you cook for? I'm always on the look out for recipes on a budget too, I'm feeding 2 adults and 2 children. Whatever I make I save a small portion for my lunch the following day.

How about tuna pasta, I only ever cook this when my husband is working away as he can't stand it! lol. Tuna is so expensive but I now buy the basics from sainsburys. It's only 45p and is just as good. I've tried the asda basics and I don't like it. I also class beans and egg on toast as a meal. It can be cheap and nutritious.

Have you seen the chicken and chorizo jambalaya on here? I cook that a lot. You don't even need the chorizo in it if you can't afford it.

I also think if you can it's better to buy from different shops. We are on a tight budget as I have ME and have had to give up work. Do you have a Home Bargains, Jack Fultons near you? Their branded stuff is so much cheaper. They sell cheaper branded tinned fruit too which is useful.

We have sausages once a week as they are cheaper. If you don't like veg perhaps you could stick this with pasta and a tomato sauce, you can even make that yourself.

Somebody posted some philadelphia recipes which was great, as philadelphia is half price in Sainsburys and Asda at the moment.

 

[pugh]

I made some yummy herby scone type dumplings 5 PP for 2 & were yummy. I'm not sure if you could find it on 1 of my other threads x if not I'll post it on here x

Galaxy-Girl, I can't find where you;ve put this. Would you mind posting when you have a minute?

Thank you.

 

[pugh]

also, have you thought about getting your veggies in a soup? I buy a big cheap bag of carrotts a week and make a quick carrott and coriander soup with it. It's really easy.

 

[galaxy-girl]

Galaxy-Girl, I can't find where you;ve put this. Would you mind posting when you have a minute?

Thank you.

200g sr flour
1 tsp bKing powder
Good pinch mixed herbs
15g low fat spread
150ml skimmed milk.
Mix flour, baking powder herbs together. Rub in butter. Mix in milk wi blunt knife. Dust work surface wi flour & roll out mixture. Cut 8 rounds wi cutter & bake on top of stew at 200c for 15 min.
Work out at 21 points per recipe so 5 points for 2. Delicious x

 

[calirose]

Thanks for all the suggestions Pugh! Im cooking for two of us..he will eat anything so thats good, but im fussy which doesnt help. I have found the past few weeks that i have been sticking to my points but no losing anything..so im worried im having too many carbs..think i need to start on the idea of soups and stuff more! I like carrot and coriander so i will have a bash at that.
Thanks for the recipe galaxy, looks good!

 

[Loser85]

Also buy a few different types of veg. I use leeks, carrots, swede and a wee drop of potato sometimes. Chuck em in some stock and you've got a soup. I like mine chunky but blend it so its a bit smoother for my daughter. Aldi have good deals on their veg. Also try markets and things too. Good value meats, fruit and veg.

 

[cathyo]

bulk buy

I brought a lot of cheap veggies and use them to bulk out meals. I bake a chicken breast and then use a dolmino sauce on the top, only 1 point for tom and basil or tomato chilli. Easy to cook as you just microwave them. I then have a salad or steamed veggies. I also weigh out my rice so 30g is more than enough. When I go shopping I use my shop book and write on packs the points so it makes my life easier in the long run. It is expensive dieting but I find eating the 0 point foods makes my life easier...and stops my cravings.