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Original poster

Skipping meals

20 replies

Haywebb2021 · 17/12/2022 18:11

I'm not really sure why I'm writing this and I'm seriously hoping I'm alone in this situation but with the economy and the way the world is at the moment I fear this may not be not the case.

With the cost of living and making sure my daughter eats full and nutrional meals I'm finding myself skipping meals in order to be able to afford what she needs.

I'm now finding I'm eating so little that I hardly ever actually feel hungry even when there is food avalible to eat I just don't want it.

I'm only ever eating when I absolutely have to. In other words when I feel physically sick and dizzy or have the shakes.

I'm starting to worry about the amount of weight I'm loosing and the effects this will have on my health and wellbeing. I just don't know what to do anymore.

OP posts:
GrazingSheep · 17/12/2022 18:12

Can you get a referral to a food bank?

myfatisgettingfatter · 17/12/2022 18:16

Please look after yourself .. you can do this without making yourself unwell ! For example I have cut out the extra biscuits , crisps and treats .. more veg , smaller portions of meat and potatoes.. own label brands etc

Loving Aldi porridge 90p , previously bought the boxed one £3

You must eat , imagine if you felt dizzy and passed out , banged your head . Not worth it

MintJulia · 17/12/2022 18:21

Don't be silly, your daughter needs you to stay on your feet. You're making yourself weak, and that makes you vulnerable to illness.

I've started using every shelf in the oven if I have it on, so I always have plenty of left over roast veg.

Or I make large pots of veggie soup with the addition of well-boiled dried cannellini beans or lentils (lots of protein). Go to the nearest market at 4.30 on a Saturday, you'll get piles of cut price veg. Add whatever meat you can afford (frozen chicken thighs are probably cheapest) and wholemeal bread for a healthy & filling hot meal.

Original poster
Haywebb2021 · 17/12/2022 18:24

It's something I'll have to look into x

OP posts:
Headoutofplace · 17/12/2022 18:24

Would you feel able to share some of your monthly costs here for help? I'm well aware bills are high but something else should be giving instead of you barely eating, even if it's running up utility debt etc (there's help available for that).

Draconis · 17/12/2022 18:29

Get a referral to a foodbank.
Make yourself cheap nutritional food.

Who's going to look after your drug you're ill?

MintJulia · 17/12/2022 18:32

As a penniless student I learnt to survive on almost nothing. The veggie soup above has endless variations, just buy whatever is going cheap. If you don't have meat, stir in some yoghurt or grate in some cheese.

Or buy a 2kg bag of porridge oats, add water and a handful of chopped fruit or sultanas or a tablespoon of jam. Whatever flavouring you have, even a few chocolate buttons, and microwave for 2 minutes on medium power.

You can feed yourself for pennies if you need to. PM me if you need more suggestions.

OriginalUsername2 · 17/12/2022 18:33

Its definitely taking a toll on our health. My DP and I were eating nightly big salads before the energy prices went up. Since then it’s been a lot of skipping meals, 39p crumpets, beans on toast, egg sandwich, weetabix and too much sugar..

hoowhoo · 17/12/2022 18:35

Please refer yourself to a food bank and look into local church larders, community super markets and apps like olio where people give away surplus food they have for free. If you don't eat you will get ill and can get osteoporosis ect. Your daughter needs you to be well to look after her, by depriving yourself you're putting her well being at risk. Please look after yourself and don't be afraid to ask for help, it's out there x

closingscore · 17/12/2022 18:36

Search for "food share" in your area. We have a community food share in our town where volunteers collect excess food from local supermarkets to stop it being binned, they bag it up and you can buy a bagful for a small donation (they use the donations towards the community cafe they run). Also check out the olio app, and "too good to go".

SandysMam · 17/12/2022 19:00

I don’t buy this. Porridge for breakfast, a banana, beans on toast for lunch and tomato pasta for tea, not ideal but enough to function and probably could be done for about a fiver. There is still cheap food available plus community pantry’s and food banks and no one needs to miss meals. Not saying this is right but food can be obtained.

SandysMam · 17/12/2022 19:01

A fiver a week I mean, not a day

PlantDoctor · 17/12/2022 22:19

You don't feel hungry because your body is in starvation mode. You must eat. As above, you can eat very cheaply if you're careful.

Babyroobs · 17/12/2022 22:21

Can you get cheap bread that's reduced. I regularly get loves that are 30p and can be made into toasties or beans on toast etc. Also Lidl has bags of veg for 19p this weekend - carrots, potatoes, swede you could make a big batch of veg soup for next to nothing.

Luredbyapomegranate · 17/12/2022 22:23

I am really sorry you are in this situation OP.

You need a referral to a food bank and access to a community larder asap. You also should download the Olio food app (cafes and supermarkets giving away leftover food.) There are lots of threads on here about cheap cooking.

You need to prioritise keeping yourself healthy for your daughter.

Original poster
Haywebb2021 · 18/12/2022 11:34

I understand what people are saying regarding cheap foods at certain supermarkets. Unfortunately right now I have no access to transport other then my feet and do not live remotely close to any supermarkets. So I rely on deleiveries from asda and tesco until I can afford the minimum order I have no choice but to rely on an extorinationatly expensive village shop. I will have to contact our local council tomorrow regarding a foodbank voucher and pray they can bring it to me.

Thank you for all your replies.

OP posts:
MintJulia · 18/12/2022 12:13

If you are in a village is there a farm where you can buy some veg? Anyone who keeps chickens?

Is there a church? Or a parish magazine? Our village church organises a weekly minibus run to the nearest supermarket. Call the vicarage and ask.

Someone else will be going in to town, can you ask around for a lift?

Orangesandlemons77 · 18/12/2022 16:15

Iceland is a good option for delivery if you are on a budget, and need online delivery. They often do money off codes too, if you give them your email address.

flowerycurtain · 18/12/2022 21:02

A lot of villages have funds from historical times for families in hardship. Email the vicar and the parish clerk. I would be amazed if there's not a fund they know about that can help you. Do not be ashamed to ring them - they will be glad to help and keep it to themselves.

Blondeshavemorefun · 19/12/2022 08:11

As others said you need to eat or will make yourself ill and be no use to your dd

What she is she @Haywebb2021

Porridge
Beans on toast
Pasta and Tom sauce with cheese

Very basic but cheap filling meals

Please contact your local church /food bank

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