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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this lady lives a depressing existance

228 replies

ImWithHer · 28/07/2016 20:43

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-3710734/UK-s-thriftiest-great-grandmother-reveals-make-dinner-scratch-just-47-PENCE-s-healthy-too.html

I Know its a Failonline like but please read.

The food can't be healthy and looks like vomit. Why would one want to live like this. I understand that people are on budgets but I think I would rather starve.

I honestly don't get this frugal lifestyle you only live one life if you have the money spend it on living comfortable you could be dead tomorrow.

OP posts:
Onedaftmonkey · 28/07/2016 22:00

I'm with your just a nasty troll I wouldn't be suprised if you wrote the article yourself.

If that was a Jack recipe I bet you'd be first off the bat to sycophanticly suck up.
So what if it doesn't look appetizing I think mashed sweede and carrots look like vomit but thousands eat it with their roasts.
Go do your occado shop and fuck off.

TwentyCupsOfTea · 28/07/2016 22:01

shedone I would really recommend 'Veg Everyday' by the guy from river cottage - the 'store cupboard dinners' section is fab, the more you make the cheaper the portion is, and the vegan alternatives are so cheap to make. It's bloody hard but there are great resources out there :)

crutches I suspect you are right, and already regret getting so riled by this!

Didyoumeantobesorude1 · 28/07/2016 22:04

The food in the article looks fine and so do her other recipes. OP it sounds as if you are a bit obsessed with MEAT. In the West we all eat much more protein than we need, and consumption of red meat has been linked to a number of serious illnesses. The recipes in the article are far healthier than all these roasts and sausages OP is advocating.

DailyMailEthicalFail · 28/07/2016 22:04

Looks good to me!

MadamDeathstare · 28/07/2016 22:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pestilence13610 · 28/07/2016 22:16

Well now you mention it Madam, this thread seems to be the natural place to discuss stupider and less environmentally aware versions of humanity.

LoreleiGilmoreIsMyBFF · 28/07/2016 22:18

Not everyone can afford to buy from their local butchers/fishmongers, and while I agree that supermarket meat products can be overly processed, I tend to eat more veg-based meals simply because they are cheaper to make. If you can afford to add meat, great. Personally, I think she's rather inspiring & will check out her other meal plans (even if I did have to go on DailyMailyOnline to find her (needs a shower).

hollieberrie · 28/07/2016 22:23
robinia · 28/07/2016 22:25

Protein content, amounts as per her recipe, which it seems does for two meals:
Swede 0.8g/100g
Squash 1.1g/100g
Cabbage 2.6g/200g
Double cream 1.35g/90ml
Garlic 0.6g/10g (I personally would use more)

Total protein: 6.45g
Protein in one large egg: 6g
So really not too bad on the protein front. Throw in a handful of beans, nuts or seeds if you're worried about protein.

dailymaillazyjournos · 28/07/2016 22:31

looking at the chart showing how she feeds her family for the week, it looks pretty good. OK I'd be swapping the double cream for yoghurt or creme fraiche and bunging in more green veg and some tinned sardines/tuna etc, but I've seen a hell of a lot worse. Where I live you'd be surprised how many parents consider a Greggs sausage roll a decent lunch.

Why should her life be depressing? I don't get it.

practy · 28/07/2016 22:31

Most of us eat far too much protein, and not enough vegetables.

seahorse106 · 28/07/2016 22:42

Actually it's the sort of thing I like and it's a good way of eating plenty of vegetables

CrownofStars · 28/07/2016 22:51

It looks lovely to me. I cook something very similar with swede, broccoli and onion, dash of cream, some garlic and a handful of cheese on top.

A few years ago, when we had no money at all coming in, dishes like the ones she's suggesting were absolute life savers.

georgetteheyersbonnet · 28/07/2016 22:57

The food looks fine - I'd probably grate some nice cheese over it, and I'm not that fussed about dauphinoise dishes anyway, but it looks perfectly appetising. I don't get it? If it was made just with potato it would be a classic French side dish, not depressing at all?

You'd hate an organic celeriac or kohlrabi, OP: a dauphinoise is just about the only palatable thing to make out of them.

ginorwine · 28/07/2016 23:09

I don't think it's depressing - it's creative ...

PickAChew · 28/07/2016 23:10

I'm doubting whether the majority of obese people in this country got that way simply by eating vegetables in a bit of cream.

CoolToned · 28/07/2016 23:14

Well it's vegetables and cream. I don't see what's wrong with that. It's healthier than Mac and Cheese.

Sosostris · 28/07/2016 23:18

She has done her maths wrong.

Also these things annoy me. It may only be 9p for the swede, but only if you make 10 portions. When feeding her and her partner they would have to have 5 meals the same to make it that price. Over 48 hours so the food doesn't go bad. Hardly a healthy balanced diet.

Sounds nice though. My issue is with the numbers.

Pestilence13610 · 28/07/2016 23:23

I've never seen a swede go off in 48 hours and there are other ways to cook the rest of it.

PlentyOfPubeGardens · 28/07/2016 23:31

She does sausages Grin

Pestilence13610 · 28/07/2016 23:36

Mmmmm, I have just got a new delivery of sausage skins.

Bogeyface · 28/07/2016 23:39

Depressing to you because it isnt your thing, but it makes her happy. We all find daily "wins" in little things that other people dont get. I get stupidly obsessed over the MPG of my car and drive to get the absolute most out of it. I probably save pence per week but for some reason I cant let it go. She gets her buzz from making her money go as far as possible.

Its not harming anyone and seems to be actively helping people if she has so many hits. The Fail are probably only running this to "prove" that people who need food banks are just lazy feckers who CBA to put any effort in.....Angry

Sosostris · 28/07/2016 23:49

Of course I wasn't suggesting swede goes bad after 48 hours. But cream would. And cooked veg. I more meant that 47p is unrealistic (and also wrong due to bad maths) as you can't buy 1/5 of a swede or cabbage or whatever. Attention grabbing low costs don't make for a feasible reality unless you have the same/strikingly similar meals for the whole week, so not very healthy or balanced.

CoolCarrie · 28/07/2016 23:53

I think it looks good! All of you who have a problem with people eating like this lady should come to Africa, just see how people live here. You westerners have no bloody idea how the poor, desperately poor have to live, NOT A FUCKING CLUE!!!! I am so angry that westerners can be so sneering about food, some of you make me sick, i hope none of you have to starve, really starve to appreciate how others have to live without choices!

Bogeyface · 28/07/2016 23:54

The Extreme Couponers get my goat because their maths is fucked up too. "Saving" $500 on things that you give away or dont use is not a saving! BUt its their thing and it does hurt anyone. In fact it often helps as they donate these goods to food banks etc, but their maths does grind my gears!