When I was starting my baby on real food I remember the health visitor trying not to laugh when I asked if my babies food had to be organic.

[FourFortyFour]

For a long time I insisted on organic milk and eggs and I bought everything else organic as much as possible. A few years down the line we have more children and money is tight so have changed to free range eggs but still buy organic milk as much as possible.

I have made a change and are managing my money weekly from now on and not doing any top up shops mid week apart from for milk and fruit.

I have dropped down from brands to own brands for some things but really I would like help on what own brand/value ranges are fine and I mean in terms of quality. I would never buy value meat and was told Asda's smart price gammon joint was fine and less salty than a more expensive one. I am very very fussy what my children eat and would rather they went without meat than ate crap; but I also know that I could be buying slightly cheaper things which would mean more money for trips out but I don't know which ones are good quality wise.

You have probably guessed by now that I have food issues. (And that is the problem, not that I am a snob.)

Any help would be great, thank you.

It's very understandable that you want to give your children the best you can afford, and also that you want to live within your means.

Do you have an Aldi nearby? I buy their beef mince - an unbelievable £2.40 per kg and it's better that other supermarkets'.

They also sell free-range chickens for £4.99. Their ham and cheese is very good quality and their fruit and veg is CHEAP with special offers every week. Maybe not organic, but really good value for money.

What about your local market, especially at the end of the day when produce is often reduced?

Veggie meals? Lentils are really versatile, as are beans - tinned or fresh. And planning for the future, what could be better than growing your own if you have a garden or allotment?

Oops, sorry for all the ??s, didn't mean to interrogate you

We don't have an Aldi but we do have a Lidl which I tried once. No market either though there is a farmer's market once a month that I do like using but seemed expensive.

I grew some herbs last year and definitely want to grow more and some salad leaves and maybe some veg. That reminds me I have a book for what I do. I need to find that.