Boring thread alert. How do you manage shopping when you’re on your own and trying to eat healthy?

[Datingandnoideahowto]

Just wondering if there’s something obvious I’m missing

I live alone or with one DC (adult) most of the time.

I’m trying to get healthy and eat more fresh food. Salads etc. I hate iceberg lettuce so I buy the salad bags. (I know - but I really hate iceberg!)

I live rurally and the local shop is pathetic for fresh stuff and doesn’t always even the dreaded iceberg lettuce.

What way would you manage your shopping? I try not to go more than once a week but the fresh stuff especially the salad leaves doesn’t stay fresh.

And it wouldn’t be worth doing a delivery for such a small value shop it would have the additional basket top up added on and cost a bomb! Used to have the Tesco pass that let you order up to lunchtime for same day delivery but I don’t think they do that anymore.

I’m just wondering if there’s something I’m missing?

Apologies for boring thread!

Do you go near other shops at all while out at work etc so you could pick up a few fresh bits? Any farm shops? Hello Fresh/Gousto?

Eat vegetable based meals as well as salads and use frozen veg and longer lasting veg like peppers and onions etc.

Could you grow salad leaves? Do you have any neighbours who you could share a delivery with to meet the minimum order requirement.

Does you DC ever go anywhere where a fresh shop could be picked up?

bagged salad won't stay fresh once it's opened because the leaves have been cut/bruised and enzyme activity, that was halted as inert gases are pumped into the bags, suddenly go into overdrive and your salad is mush before you can say shredded lettuce. Cos or romaine lettuce keeps well in the fridge for days and tasty better with the addition of salad dressing of some kind. Tinned pulses like mixed bean salad are good for mixing with mayo and will keep for a couple of days. Tomatoes will keep better in the fridge but take them out a few hours before eating or they will be cold and tasteless.

Do you have a garden or yard? If so, you could plant some salad leaves, much more economical than buying. Rocket does well in a small patch or pot, wild rocket is very fertile & will usually self seed if you let it. (Beware, it will self seed everywhere if you're not careful!) Other salad leaves do well too. I had a brick paved yard, 2 small planters with a total area of about 18 inches by 4ft were sufficient for my greedy salad habit. I eat a lot of salad! I used the cut & come again type.

No I work from home or I would. I do try to double up and go for stuff if I’m out in town.

Dc do pick up stuff but again it’s variable depending on their work and plans. It can’t be relied on.

Don’t have a lot of freezer space and tend to use that for freezing portions but have intentions to get a bigger freezer in a few months when kitchen and utility are being remodelled.

No farm shops.

Hello fresh etc is a good idea but how would it work when I’m on my own eating for one a lot of the time? Also don’t always know what DC is doing til last gasp - thought I’d have none here this week and had 2 here Monday and last night.

I just can’t help thinking there’s something really obvious I’m missing, you know?

I had rocket and cut and come again last year and I ended up throwing loads of it out because it went mad - hence not doing it this year but I suppose I could get a small pot? Is it possible to grow it all year?

Thanks all. I do know this is such a dull thread!

When you say it went mad - do you mean it bolted (went to seed) or did you just grow too much?

Both!!

With Hello Fresh you have the second portion for lunch the next day. Or you just cook half the food and do the rest in the next couple of days if that works.

Will be a lot easier with a decent sized freezer. Those steam fresh bags of veg are also an easy way to add a variety of veg without having to buy lots of fresh.

That’s good to know about hello fresh. Thanks.

Yes I only have a tiny freezer right now and it’s a pain trying to manage with it

Huh?

Can't you just go to a supermarket in town after work?

If it went to seed, it probably needed more water. They will go to seed very quickly a) at the end of their natural growing season but also b) if they don't have enough regular water. If they feel they are likely to die imminently, they put all their remaining energy into making seeds. Hence, more water will result in better salad leaves & less seeds on your lettuce plants.

@Bryonyshcmyony

Huh?

Can't you just go to a supermarket in town after work?

No. I work from home. Town is 12 miles away. So a 25 mile round trip. I’d rather avoid that if I can.

@LegoCaltrops

If it went to seed, it probably needed more water. They will go to seed very quickly a) at the end of their natural growing season but also b) if they don't have enough regular water. If they feel they are likely to die imminently, they put all their remaining energy into making seeds. Hence, more water will result in better salad leaves & less seeds on your lettuce plants.

I’ll remember that for next year. Thank you 😊

Ah. Well I'd go twice a week, once after work or try and get to a local veg market.

What are you eating now that doesn't go off?

If you buy unwashed salad leaves then take them out of the bag and put them in a tight fitting tupperware they last longer (tescos do it)

If you're not keen on iceberg lettuce, have you considered Little Gem and/or Romaine lettuce, whole? They tend to keep longer than bagged salads, I find. We eat those at the beginning of the week, and move on to things like frozen spinach, fresh butternut squash, peppers etc. later in the week. I eat a lot of lentils (because I like them, am not veggie or vegan) and beans - which are pretty good in the healthy stakes, and keep forever :) Courgettes and aubergines last around a week without refrigeration, in my experience, as do tomatoes. Fruit, not so much - we eat strawberries and raspberries on the day we get them - but melons last longer, and there's always tinned pears, pineapple, peaches etc. if necessary! If you go by these guidelines (which I do) you can keep the fridge space for meat and dairy - I have a tiny fridge, and no room in the freezer most weeks, and this works for me :)

No local veg market within 12 miles.

I’ll try the Tupperware thanks!

@Inextremis

If you're not keen on iceberg lettuce, have you considered Little Gem and/or Romaine lettuce, whole? They tend to keep longer than bagged salads, I find. We eat those at the beginning of the week, and move on to things like frozen spinach, fresh butternut squash, peppers etc. later in the week. I eat a lot of lentils (because I like them, am not veggie or vegan) and beans - which are pretty good in the healthy stakes, and keep forever :) Courgettes and aubergines last around a week without refrigeration, in my experience, as do tomatoes. Fruit, not so much - we eat strawberries and raspberries on the day we get them - but melons last longer, and there's always tinned pears, pineapple, peaches etc. if necessary! If you go by these guidelines (which I do) you can keep the fridge space for meat and dairy - I have a tiny fridge, and no room in the freezer most weeks, and this works for me :)

Thank you! That’s really helpful.

I just feel that by the end of the week there’s not much fresh stuff left, you know? And yes to berries etc being eaten on the day or next day otherwise they’re mush.

I have exactly the same problem so not a boring thread at all!! I also wfh and nearest town with a (small and expensive) supermarket is a 20 mile round trip.

I tried HelloFresh a few months ago and would eat one portion and keep the rest for the next day or freeze if I had other plans. But I found it expensive. I was also working long stressful hours at the time and genuinely did not have time to cook so ended up not making some of the meals.

I like the idea of growing rocket in pots or a small patch as i love rocket and hate lettuce, and didn't realise it was so easy to grow.

Not many suggestions from me as I end up buying frozen veg so reading the replies with interest!!

I do fruit and veg rather than salads. Both tend to last longer and you can get them frozen. I get a Tesco delivery once a week and use what I get in that. It means im not popping to the shop to get stuff which means im less likely to be tempted by unhealthy stuff and its easier on the wallet too!

This is why I shop daily. I can't see a way around it. Luckily the supermarket's 2 minutes away. If you have to drive, I have no idea.

@Inextremis you mention eating lots of lentils and beans which keep well, sorry for the dumb question but are they fresh? My mum used to soak dried lentils but that seems like a faff. What kind of beans, and again are they fresh, tinned or dried?

Have you thought about growing microgreens indoors instead? They're super easy and you can just sow the amounts you need for a steady supply without any wastage.

Perpetual spinach in pots will keep you going with salad leaves all summer and longer. Tumbling cherry tomatoes are fairly easy ro grow in pots/hanging baskets. Jars of beetroot. If to vinrgary then just rinse in colander. Dont forget red and white cabbage to make coleslaw. Along with carrots and onions they keep for ages. Vary the dressing it does not need to be mayo. I love adding apple and walnuts to mine. I roast a load of peppers, onions and courgettes and they keep a week in the fridge.

Eating healthily doesn’t have to entail lettuce at all. There are all sorts of ways to make healthy dishes with lots of veggies and pulses and legumes. I like roasted Mediterranean vegetables with garlic and Rosemary or a balsamic dressing. You can serve with salmon or chicken and cous cous / rice/ quinoa etc. For lettuce Cos or Romaine are good but you can buy “ keep fresh” bags from places like Lakeland which extend the life of all fresh foods. You just need to clip them closed.