Category Archives: frugal food frugal weightloss

Let the ‘eat down’ commence

frugal food frugal weightloss







Hello Dear Reader,


I have an odd combination of food in my freezer. It’s come about by buying the best offers in my butchers. My local butchers is, I am sure, one of the cheapest butchers in the country. Consequently, I end up buying really good cuts of meat that I could never afford if I went to the supermarket. So this in my freezer is: 2 packs of meat balls ( one pork and one beef) 2 packs of cod fillets ( bought them on offer from Waitrose where they sell MSC sustainable fish - one smoked and one not) one duck, 5 packs of bacon, some streaky and some back, 5 sirloin steaks (ridiculously cheap - 5 for £25 ) 6 rib eye steaks, which were £10 for the pack, 2 packs of sausages and one pack of burgers.

That does mean we have a degree of repetition so I’m going to try and make things a bit more interesting, I mean what does a woman do with a mass of bacon?

Here’s the ideas I’ve come up with…

Minestrone soup - added bacon
Bacon and pea risotto
Bacon and veggie frittata
Bacon wrapped sausages, roast potatoes, veggies and gravy - alternative Sunday lunch.
Diced bacon sprinkled on salad.

Meatball casserole
Meatballs in tomato sauce

Steak with mushroom and whole grain mustard sauce
Steak and onion sandwich
Beef and broccoli stir fry
Steak and guacamole wrap


I’ll think some more on this and get together a three week menu plan to see us through until we go away. I’m hoping not to shop for very much at all and even though I’m off my food there’s still DB to feed.

Now, I’m sure you can help….any ideas of how to shift this lot?

Until tomorrow,

Love Froogs xxxc

Meatballs and tomato Sauce on shredded Savoy

frugal food frugal weightloss

Hello Dear Reader,

If you expected to see a whole heap of pasta, then think again! This is my low calorie and low carb supper. I crammed as many vegetables onto my plate as possible, with savoy cabbage instead of pasta and leeks in the tomato sauce. I swapped my suppers around and I moved the meatballs forward a night. I hope this is liked by my frugal faithful as this is another low cost frugal supper.

To make this for 2 you will need: (Calories stated are for each portion)

1/2 savoy cabbage shredded and steamed.28 calories

To make the tomato sauce
1 onion finely diced - 11p - 23 calories
4 garlic cloves finely diced - 4p
4 sprays of frylight - or use any oil if you are not watching calories
1 leek - finely diced - 22p - 25 calories
2 tins of chopped tomatoes - 90p - 76 calories

Total cost of sauce per person - 64p - 124 calories

1. Finely chop the onions, garlic and leek and saute
2. Add two tins of chopped tomatoes
3. Simmer for 30 minutes.

To make the meat balls you will need:

300g of minced beef - £1 - wholesale butchers price - 186 calories
1 finely chopped onion - 11p - 23 calories
1 slice of bread - (gluten free in my case) 15p - 38 calories
1 egg - 17p
1 tbsp parsley - measured after being finely chopped - 25p
Sprinkle of garlic salt and ground black pepper
Total calories 247

This made 14 meatballs and we had 7 each - Total cost £1.68 - 84p per person.

To make the meatballs.

Mix all of the ingredient together and form into balls in your hands. Fry with no oil at all in a non-stick pan. Keep turning until evenly cooked all over.

Steam the cabbage and ladle the tomato sauce on top. Arrange the meat balls on top of that and sprinkle each dinner with 10g of freshly grated Parmegiano cheese which adds another 15p and 39 calories per person.

Here is my review of this recipe. It was really delicious and filling without being heavy or leaving us feeling sluggish. We could eat gluten free pasta but it’s so expensive that a pile of greens is a cheaper and healthier option. The whole meal cost £1.63 and had 399 calories. You can make this much more cheaply by adding more bread and by omitting the leeks or cheese. I’m trying to eat as healthily as I can with as few calories and as much nutrition. I think I succeeded here! My secret to cheap and healthy eating is to pile my plate with simple veggies and eat less meat.

Over to you Dear Reader. Who is sticking to their resolution of losing weight, or eating healthily, or not drinking, or giving up caffeine? Whose resolve is wavering? Who needs to write down and remind themselves of their personal goals and desires to live a better life? If you are sticking to your resolve then keep going as you will thank yourself in the end. If you have fallen off the wagon then just get back up on it and remind yourself that every new tomorrow is a fresh start!

Until tomorrow,

Love Froogs xxxx