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Food/recipes

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Original poster

Sainsbury's "5 great family meals" portion sizes. Are they big?

14 replies

PureBloodMuggle · 05/04/2011 17:17

or do my family eat bird size portions? I've been following this for the last three weeks

www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/value/value.jsp?pageRef=Meal-planner2.page

And whilst I love the fact i don't have to think too much about what I'm going to have to cook for the week I've found that there is loads left over each day!!

There are four of us, granted I can count the two boys are one adult portion but even with DH, me and the two of them eating in the evening and then DH taking in a portion for lunch there is still leftovers!!!

I've taken to either reducing the amount of freezing half if it's freezable (and himself having a sandwich of lunch instead of leftovers)

So this post is really a long winded way of asking if the portion sizes are big?

OP posts:

hairypotter · 05/04/2011 17:33

Huge!! Gigantic in fact. I always thought we were gannets, but loads leftover from every meal I've tried so far. I chuck leftovers in freezer and it comes in handy when I cant be arsed cooking

Original poster

PureBloodMuggle · 05/04/2011 17:43

Phew!!

Thought maybe I'd be underfeeding everyone all their lives

Just made the chicken, pea and leek pie and taken half of it away for freezing and still think there might be some left over (that's my fault though as I'm actively trying to reduce my portion sizes!!

OP posts:

HannahHack · 07/04/2011 20:09

Umm, me and DH eat them between the two of us. And they are for four. And we have to supplement it with extra garlic bread. We are a healthy weight, but we have had the size of our appetities commented on.
Maybe we need to start eating less....

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 07/04/2011 20:14

they look about the size I'd do for me and my DS's who are 10,7 and 3............

coastgirl · 07/04/2011 20:16

400g of pasta is four large adult portions, so no wonder you've got plenty left over.

Original poster

PureBloodMuggle · 07/04/2011 20:16

oh dear - i am underfeeding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OP posts:

coastgirl · 07/04/2011 20:19

Also that pie has 600 (!!!) grammes of peas in it for four people. That's loads!

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 07/04/2011 20:26

I use just under 500g of pasta (penne/twist etc) when I'm cooking for the 4 of us!! 4 large adult portions?????

Original poster

PureBloodMuggle · 07/04/2011 20:28

I didn't think the pea amount was a tad mental

Put in less than half the amount

OP posts:

coastgirl · 07/04/2011 20:31

I eat loads and DH is 6'2 and works out all the time, and 100g of pasta each is plenty for us. I started doing it when I was doing Food Focus and working out calorie counts for meals - it's easy to cut down on white carbs without feeling deprived in the slightest. I could eat more, sure, but when I finish 100g it's not like I'm still hungry. I think 50g is actually the recommended portion size but that's too titchy for me!

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 07/04/2011 20:42

50g? That's tiny! Even DS3 (the smallest eater in the family) would be asking for more if it was just 50g.

notapizzaeater · 09/04/2011 10:19

Ooh the chicken leek pie thing looks fab - will make this this week - have 1 DH - 1 x 8yr old DS who is like a stick insect and I cannot fill him up and he eats tons ....

Sainsbury · 20/04/2011 11:33

Glad to hear so many of you have given our meal planners a go! We?ve just launched the last of the meal plans, offering 5 family meals for £20. If you've given any of the plans a go, we'd love to hear what you think - did they help you out in the kitchen?

MilaMae · 20/04/2011 16:51

I thought they were really good,quite healthy and all 3 of my kids on the whole ate them with no complaints.My dc are 7,7 and 6.Two of them will eat anything but one is quite fussy,he actually seemed to moan far less than usual and I'd go as far as saying he enjoyed them. which I was quite surprised at.

One thing though it did take quite a bit of searching for some of the ingredients in store but stock levels were good. Would help if you listed what section they are stored in on the shopping list.

Didn't like the last one much(toad in the whole week),bit too school dinner like as a menu.It was such a help just being able to print it all off and not have to think though. Are you going to do anymore?As a family we like a lot of variety so may get a tad bored with just 5 menu options.

One thing though although the meals only came to £20 I still spend far more in Sainsburys than Asda.I prefer Sainsburys but paying £30 or £40 extra a week means I can only afford to shop at Sainsburys once a month. Do watch your bills,you go in thinking great I'll only spend £20 but obviously it doesn't work out like that as you'll be buying other things too.

I don't know how Asda does it but Mr Sainsburys if you're listening could you lower your prices on things families buy?Honestly I'd be in there weekly if you did.

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