An average ready-meal lasagne can cost £3.99 at the supermarket, and one portion can contain up to 632 calories. Add a cheesy garlic bread and a bottle of coke, and the cost rises to £6.36. But the total cost of this convenience meal may be as bad for your waistline as your wallet, clocking up around 967 calories.
If you swap your microwave meal for a home-cooked alternative, you can save in calories and cash.
Method
Fry 100g of lean beef mince with half an onion, one garlic clove and a grated carrot. Stir in a tin of tomatoes and 100g of cooked pasta, sprinkle 30g of cheese on top and bake for 20 minutes.
For just £4.28 you can buy enough ingredients to feed four people, just over £1 a person, and the calorie content per portion is just 703.
You save:
£5.29 and 264 calories
Top tips
Follow these tips to make sure your diet is good for your body and your bank balance:- Buy only enough fresh fruit and vegetables for the next couple of days, so they won’t end up going off in the bottom of your fridge.
- Remember when it comes to fruit and veg, dried, frozen and canned (in juice, not syrup) are just as good as fresh.
- Grow your own ingredients: if you live in a flat, plant some herbs in a window box. They're easy to grow and a great way to add some quick and easy flavour to your meals cheaply. If you have a bigger garden, try planting low-maintenance vegetables, such as potatoes and carrots.
- Shop at local markets. They're often cheaper than supermarkets and offer a wide variety of fruit and vegetables.
- Buy fruit and vegetables that are in season: this usually makes them cheaper. For information on what’s in season, see the Eatwell site of the Food Standards Agency (links to external site).
View More >>
No comments:
Post a Comment