We survived our 4-day impromptu processed food diet. Just.
Time to go back to basics.
This is an experiment I’ve had planned for a while. Looking for the ideal week to try it out, this week seemed as good as any. Better in fact, as we had just emptied a fridge of ready-meals.
Having recently reduced the weekly grocery spend by 50%, I’ve been very impressed with the quality and price of products at the supermarket I’ve been using.
But, there’s been a nagging doubt in the back of my mind. I’d like to eat more local produce whilst supporting local farmers.
Reusable bags in hand, I whipped round the farm shop I’d visited a couple of weeks ago. I didn’t tally up prices as the items hit my trolley. Instead I stuck to my grocery list of the basic ingredients I’d drawn up to feed the family for the next 6 days.
I’m getting pretty good at this. My bill came to £49.94.
I resisted all temptation to pop the produce in plastic bags, and even remembered to take a container for the minced beef. Although the server insisted on plastic wrapping the container (?), which I thought a little strange. There’s no getting away the obsession with plastic wrapping cucumber, even here. Once again it came wrapped. I may stop buying it.
Overall I was pleased with my purchases and my shopping experience. The butcher gave me some time to chat through the meat products and their heritage. And above all I got to meet Lucy. Check out Facebook!
I did have to pop elsewhere on the way home to buy a few items that are a must here at Chez Wright.
This increased my bill by a further £3.74. And I’ll need additional milk also.
How basic am I going? I’d say 80% basic with some shortcuts such as cereal, cordial and chocolate. I’ll be making meals from scratch, as well as baking bread, cakes and biscuits. I will, however, be saving hand-making pasta and yoghurt for another week, when I’m feeling more confident. And I doubt I’ll ever be a dairy farmer, so it’s a given I’ve purchased milk, butter and cheese. As for flour…you get the picture!
I’ll be posting more about the experiment on Tuesday (plus a giveaway). It’s going well so far. The Kids love getting stuck in…
There are added benefits to making from scratch – I even managed to turn baking biscuits into a maths lesson.
Looking good so far Jo! And how was the other Plan B?!
Thanks Sarah! As far as Plan B..B went …well at the risk of dispelling any illusion that I might be even slightly civilised, I not only consumed dry cider via a camping mug on a muddy field, but also went moshing in the pit. On the way back to the car my welly stuck in a paper cup that has been abandoned and I ended up face down in the crowd… I had a great night!
Looking good so far Jo! And how was the other Plan B?!
Thanks Sarah! As far as Plan B..B went …well at the risk of dispelling any illusion that I might be even slightly civilised, I not only consumed dry cider via a camping mug on a muddy field, but also went moshing in the pit. On the way back to the car my welly stuck in a paper cup that has been abandoned and I ended up face down in the crowd… I had a great night!
That’s looking much more like a Wright shop, looks lovely in fact.
I took all of my produce out of their plastic wrappers (bought loose where I could) as soon as I got it home this week. All decanted into plastic tubs and stacked neatly in the fridge now. Next stop is glass containers!
Thanks Lauren… I had a few pyrex containers but one by one they all broke. It’s on my to-do list to repurchase. The farm shop was surprised but accommodating about me using my own, so onwards and upwards eh?
Oops Lauren – for some strange reason I typed Laura and pressed send! No idea why realised my daft error immediately and edited! It’s all that talk about moshing above!
That’s looking much more like a Wright shop, looks lovely in fact.
I took all of my produce out of their plastic wrappers (bought loose where I could) as soon as I got it home this week. All decanted into plastic tubs and stacked neatly in the fridge now. Next stop is glass containers!
Thanks Lauren… I had a few pyrex containers but one by one they all broke. It’s on my to-do list to repurchase. The farm shop was surprised but accommodating about me using my own, so onwards and upwards eh?
Oops Lauren – for some strange reason I typed Laura and pressed send! No idea why realised my daft error immediately and edited! It’s all that talk about moshing above!
Lovely looking food and it sounds like the show was ace!
Thank you, and yes it was!
Lovely looking food and it sounds like the show was ace!
Thank you, and yes it was!
Well done Jo! Looks far more satisfying than your grocery shop last week – and more fun too!
Cheers Clare – p.s – your link to the blog isn’t working for some reason?
Just testing that link out Jo – I think I fixed it…
Well done Jo! Looks far more satisfying than your grocery shop last week – and more fun too!
Cheers Clare – p.s – your link to the blog isn’t working for some reason?
Just testing that link out Jo – I think I fixed it…
Okay, but what was the menu for this week?
Hi Rachel – all will be revealed Tuesday. This post was getting too long so I split it into 2.
Okay, but what was the menu for this week?
Hi Rachel – all will be revealed Tuesday. This post was getting too long so I split it into 2.
Hi Jo,
Doesn’t real food look so good! I love your buying meat using your own container! I’ll have to see if my butcher will do that for me. And the cookies look yum!
Thanks Lili – I’m going to replace my pyrex containers this week and take them along. I also have an idea for the fresh produce, but I’ll save that for a post in the future – if I can pull it off!
Hi Jo,
Doesn’t real food look so good! I love your buying meat using your own container! I’ll have to see if my butcher will do that for me. And the cookies look yum!
Thanks Lili – I’m going to replace my pyrex containers this week and take them along. I also have an idea for the fresh produce, but I’ll save that for a post in the future – if I can pull it off!
Very interesting idea and the groceries look so fresh and appetizing. Do you have a recipe for the chocolate icing on the cookies? Looks yummy!
Hi Sharon – It’s just melted chocolate. How simple!
Simple and delicious! I’ll be trying that for sure!
Very interesting idea and the groceries look so fresh and appetizing. Do you have a recipe for the chocolate icing on the cookies? Looks yummy!
Hi Sharon – It’s just melted chocolate. How simple!
Simple and delicious! I’ll be trying that for sure!
Hi Jo, I’ve been reading your blog for a while and I too thought Aldi really wasn’t for me. I was sure they wouldn’t have some of things we buy. Today I did my first shop and was so so surprised. Yes they had prosciutto and yes they had fresh basil and considerably cheaper than Asda/Sainsbury’s/Tesco’s. I have just cut my grocery spend in half by switching! My husband isn’t totally convinced on some of the Aldi brand stuff but we’ll give it a try. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Mandy… So glad it’s working for you. It did for me. I like quality, and Aldi do provide that. It just takes a while to get your head round it. A game I played with the Hubby was to ask him what he thought of the item without saying where it was from. He would like it, I’d then say – it’s from Aldi and cost …. however much less than the alternative.
Hi Jo, I’ve been reading your blog for a while and I too thought Aldi really wasn’t for me. I was sure they wouldn’t have some of things we buy. Today I did my first shop and was so so surprised. Yes they had prosciutto and yes they had fresh basil and considerably cheaper than Asda/Sainsbury’s/Tesco’s. I have just cut my grocery spend in half by switching! My husband isn’t totally convinced on some of the Aldi brand stuff but we’ll give it a try. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Mandy… So glad it’s working for you. It did for me. I like quality, and Aldi do provide that. It just takes a while to get your head round it. A game I played with the Hubby was to ask him what he thought of the item without saying where it was from. He would like it, I’d then say – it’s from Aldi and cost …. however much less than the alternative.
Yummy cookies!!!super like.. pls share the recipe of cookies..
I will…soon…;-)
Yummy cookies!!!super like.. pls share the recipe of cookies..
I will…soon…;-)