Low Cost Alternatives to Processed Foods

[Currywurst1]

Like many people at the moment we are trying to cut down on processed foods but I am also conscious of keeping costs down. I also don't have the time to make everything from scratch so looking for suggestions for low cost and quick/easy to make alternatives to processed foods.

I eat a lot of natural yogurt and have been meaning to try it myself so I think that could be a good point to start.
I also eat a lot of porridge and have recently heard about a lady who makes her own porridge oats which could be something I would be interested in but I am asking myself if porridge is something that is worth the effort as I can't imagine that shop bought porridge is something that has been massively processed.

Main processed foods that we have at home are:
Breakfast cereal
Self raising flour
Biscuits
Canned lentils/chickpeas
Bread
Wraps

Op wants to roll her own oats, make her own yogurt and thinks flour is too processed. While thinking lentils are too much bother.
These do not add up to a normal thought process.

She asked a question, probably musing about it, while acknowledging that its probably not worth it because porridge oats are not that processed

We all have contradictory thoughts about the same subject at times, its not necessarily indicative of an abnormal thought process.

Nothing wrong in making your own yoghurt either, where have you got this idea from? Yoghurt is expensive, if you go through a lot of it making your own is a good idea

Ive made my own almond flour before, why? Because its bloody expensive. Not something I could be bothered to keep up with though unfortuantely.

I have a very fast, no- knead sourdough method, shown me by a friend.

So....in the afternoon, "wake up" your sourdough starter- take it out of the fridge, add about equal amounts of organic rye flour and warm water to bring it up to 200- 300ml, give it a shake, leave in a warm place.

Before bed, chuck some flour (I honestly don't know how much- about 500- 700g I reckon) in a big bowl, add salt (I also add pumpkin seeds), add NEARLY all the sourdough starter (remember to keep a bit back for the next batch!), a bit more warm water if you need it (you want a fairly stiff dough though), and fold it all in well with a big spoon. Cover

In the morning, dollop onto a floured tray, shape into a vaguely loaflike form and bake at 200-220 C for about an hour.

Purists will hate it, but I love my bread.

You can also bake it in the afternoons if you have to rush out of the house in the morning, in which case it will be sourer and may have got a bit wetter (not sure how this happens 🤔), so you may need to fold a bit more flour in.
You can also make lovely sourdough flatbreads- a good alternative to wraps, which often have an alarming list of ingredients.

Nothing wrong in making your own yoghurt either, where have you got this idea from? Yoghurt is expensive

Is it? I buy a big tub of plain natural yoghurt from the Sainsbury's value range...it's 35p!

Well Im fussy (probably got orthorexia, I'll book myself in for therapy), I do not like tangy yoghurt, I like very very rich fatty creamy yoghurt, so only buy full fat genuine greek yoghurt, not greek style yoghurt, proper greek yoghurt. Not only is it not reliably found in local supermarkets round here, its very expensive (well I am tight, so I see it as expensive)

I make my own labneh too (double booking at the therapist please), I cannot find this very often in shops and when I do, its expensive. I make it out of said greek yoghurt

And just as contradictory as the OP, I dont really mess about with red lentils from scratch, I make the odd batch of tarka dhal and freeze into portions but I wouldnt use them ad hoc in dishes because getting the balance of liquid to lentil I find a faff and balancing out with other ingredients I find is unpredictable as to whether I end up with a thick dish or masses of a more liquid dish. I dont follow recipes by the way

So I too, would make my own yoghurt and certainly my own cheese, but not be bothered with the perceived faff of a red lentil.

Having said that I havent eaten yoghurt for a while, its giving me acid at the moment.

Who knew 😂

I buy organic rolled (not flaked, very important) Waitrose brand. Bit more expensive but the box lasts for ages. Also, if you know anyone going to Germany you can get a bag of nice rough rolled wheat/spelt flakes there, dunkle-something.

You can get spelt / wheat flakes without going to Germany

https://www.healthysupplies.co.uk/cereal-flakes.html

or

https://hodmedods.co.uk/collections/flakes-puffs

no, there isn't at all... there is none. It's just oats, oat flour & vitamins.

@soupfiend don't you find it difficult to make nice, creamy (and not sharp) Greek yogurt? I've tried making it using a scoop of Fage but it's not the same at all, I find.

Well OH had a yoghurt maker and saw to it. But, unreliable and unpredictable at times, other times we would sit there looking smug. If you can get it right and its thick then its great.

Thank you. I have a Lakeland yogurt maker. I've found it hot and miss too. It can be hard to fathom why. I suspect it's got something to do with how fresh the Fage is.