To think the cost of food is rising significantly?

[NotWithABang]

Or is it just me? The last few weeks/months when I've been food shopping, I've noticed the cost appears to be going up and up.
I shop mostly in Lidl and Aldi too, so it's not as though I'm shopping in M&S or Waitrose (where I would expect my shop to be costly). It cost me nearly £1 for a pack of six small, unbranded fromage frais. I spent nearly £40 for three of us (one of whom is 3) and it won't last us more than probably the weekend, that was with only buying one pack of meat. No nappies or cleaning products included in that, nothing from the 'magical middle aisles'. All just basic food, some fruit and veg for meals and lunches this week. I used to be able to get away with spending £25 on the top up shop a week/every 10 days, after doing one big monthly shop for about £70. Now it's more like £100 for the monthly shop, and about £40 a week topping up.

Fizzy pop is not food!
petit Filous are never good value for money, unless they are reduced to 10p at 7pm. Cost per gram is extortionate, why not buy a family sized pot of Greek yoghurt and add some fruit.
Yes, prices are increasing but we need to think outside the box and stop buying what we have always bought. Select food which offers value for money, look at the weeks offers and buy accordingly.

I've noticed the same thing. I feel like I'm buying less and paying more - not helped by DS's voracious appetite and exotic tastes.

Things like trout and apples used to be dirt cheap but now I wince when I buy them.

Love that this thread has divided into one about politics/ economics and one about growing potatoes :-)

Call me a sceptic, but I really am not convinced that governments care that much about the morality of certain issues, when there is the more pressing issue (for them) of holding on to votes and staying in power. Keeping votes looks like caring sometimes, I suppose.

Also the only obligation/ driver for a society to keep everyone fed is simply to prevent civil unrest. A basic level of state sponsored social support is a luxury that exists in times of relative affluence I think. If you're confident that you can out-fight the starving masses then in times of strife I doubt that many 'haves' would give that many hoots about the have-nots.
Not saying it's right, btw, just that human nature is such that you only care for others when it benefits/ doesn't harm you.

We can't stop the food price inflation

We can:

-Stop buying things we don't need

• buy short dated products

-reduce food waste and think of creative ways to use leftovers -freeze anything approaching its use by date which isn't going to get used immediately

• shop the discounts (if its things we need)
• bulk buy essentials when they're on offer
• grow our own where possible
• drop down a brand. With brand names we are paying for the advertising etc.
• cut out junk and focus on more filling/nutritional items

Also the only obligation/ driver for a society to keep everyone fed is simply to prevent civil unrest

A decent society populated by people who vote about things that matter should care about those things. But even a society that wants to continue to grow its wealth off the back of the working classes needs them to be in good health. Providing the basics like food and medicine do that.

This is where I show my extreme cynicism: I don't think we really live in a decent society- I think there is a thin veneer of civility that would not take much eco/Geo/political manipulation to remove. History has proven as much repeatedly. We should care, yes, and most of us do when the going is reasonably good, but when the chips are down? Ain't nobody gonna give you a second thought unless you're worth something to them I suspect

Lentils and pulses are only a substitute for meat if you add e.g. cheese.
Or am I outdated about first class and second class protein?
Happy to hear I am but pretty sure that you don't get adequate protein and amino acids from just lentils and pulses.

The cooking of lentils and pulses are labour intensive unless you buy tinned and you may as well buy cheap sausages and basic veg as a filler if buying tinned. Plus you need to factor in the cost of electricity, gas, wood/fuel to cook it.

I grown my own veg and have a sizeable plot of garden, but it would still not be enough to feed me for a year. No way!

The price of food has gone up. There is no doubting this. Endless threads about it here.

It means a readjustment of budgets for many households.

gussy Second class proteins are now outdated. However, in order to provide meat derived proteins in the future, globally it's insects.

Bread made from crickets being rolled out in Finland

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42101700

Lentils aren’t labour intensive!! Cooking pulses aren’t either they just require soaking first

Elendon I’m glad using insects is being rolled out, I think it’s a great idea. I would have no problem using insects as a protein source.

I grow expensive stuff that comes back every year with little effort so

Strawberries: started off with 4 plants and now have a big bed full
Raspberries; autumn ones that kick in when the strawberries are over, the canes were a reduced bargain at the garden centre.
Rhubarb: end up freezing loads and makes gorgeous chutney
Gooseberries; again end up freezing loads
Asparagus; ditto
Artichokes; more trouble that they are worth. Sometimes we eat them tiny but mostly just have them because they look nice
Tons of herbs, chives etc

This year i'll probably add some salad leaves and maybe some runner beans, both very easy for lazy gardeners.

I've a pal who did a whole thesis on insects for protein.
Still don't know where a vegetarian gets their full whack of protein from.
Growing chick peas for an experiment this year - eating sprouted seeds too.

This is where I show my extreme cynicism: I don't think we really live in a decent society- I think there is a thin veneer of civility that would not take much eco/Geo/political manipulation to remove. History has proven as much repeatedly. We should care, yes, and most of us do when the going is reasonably good, but when the chips are down? Ain't nobody gonna give you a second thought unless you're worth something to them I suspect

You might be right, I hope not though.

Still don't know where a vegetarian gets their full whack of protein from.

I think we overestimate how much protein people really need (is there a Big Sausage lobby? . People who eat less meat or no meat live longer than regular meat eaters.

Would people really prefer to eat bugs over lentils?

I eat less meat etc etc but I still eat meat. It is a genuine question- where do vegetarians get their full whack of protein and amino acids from.

Things like tofu, quorn and lentils are very high in protein. Beans are too (especially things like black beans) and also nuts. Using a spoonful of a veggie/vegan friendly protein powder like the Pulsin pea protein (flavourless) can provide about 10g of protein to a meal too

Definitely. I had a delivery from Sainsbury’s a week ago and it came to £135 for the same shop that a while ago would’ve only cost about £100. I know there are cheaper places to shop but increases are across the board I find.

But lentils, tofu and quorn do not, as I understand it, have the same quality of protein as meat. Quinoa does?

gussy are you saying that vegetarians and vegans are unhealthy and should eat meat? I can’t work out your posts. You just keep repeating that you’ve no idea where they get adequate amounts of protein and amino acids from and yet their are millions and millions of non meat eaters in the world that are functioning human beings. So I’m guessing it’s perfectly possible 😬

Protein is protein. They might not be as high in protein as meat, but you’d be surprised how high in protein they are for non meat/fish products. The only supplement my doctor said I would need to take on a vegan diet is vitb12. Everything else can be found in vegan and veggie produce the same as a carnivorous diet. Eating a plant based diet is very nutritious and I don’t know why you believe otherwise

I'm not intending to insult vegetarians or vegans. Really really sorry if you or others take it like that.
I am asking a genuine question. A vegetarian diet is generally cheaper and is more of an option for those struggling with food bills. However, without supplements or adding dairy sourced protein, I'm not sure about a fully rounded diet.

I have noticed it going up and it is a worry as we have a fairly tight budget. I meal plan, buy yellow sticker stuff when i can, don't opt for lots of brands. I do grow a few things but we don't have much space to do it.

The problem with bulk buying and shopping around for offers is you have to have the money and transport available to do that.

I am not taking it as an insult gussy, I can't tell it isn't meant that way. I'm just a bit confused to be honest. I think you're seeing meat as the "perfect" food so anything that doesn't have the exact same nutrients would seem "less than". But while vegans can struggle if they don't pay attention to their diet (though ime most are very aware of what they need to eat much more so than meat eaters) vegetarianism is actually very easy. I don't believe there is anything the average vegetarian lacks, combined with longer life span less likely to get cancer, heart disease etc I think it's probably much healthier. How is it lacking if we are healthier iyswim?