Low Cost Slimming Meals

[Ann]

Following on from Carolegif's thread on Jamie Oliver's Low Cost meals programme, I would like to know how to make simple budget meals for 2 but which are slimming as we are both on diets. Given the high cost of fruit, salad and vegetables these days, I find it nigh impossible not to spend a lot. Any suggestions for meals please?

[Jeza]

High fibre low fat. Frozen veg is much cheaper than fresh and just as nutritious.

[ck1]

Make something in bulk, a slow cooker of vegetable soup for example. Lentils, barley, couscous can bulk a meal out whilst keeping it healthy and cost effective

[carolegif]

Eat veggies that are in season. Fruit is expensive, but frozen is cheaper. Ck is right, bulk,up with dried pulses and pasta.

[Ann]

But I thought pasta was fattening?

[ck1]

Pasta fattening... A common misconception, carbs are essential as part of a healthy balanced diet. You do need to combine with regular exercise though, diet alone can only achieve so much

[hc4361]

This is the time of year when veg is cheap and plentiful. Those bags of reduced veg because the sell by date is near are still good. This is a great, filling, cheap soup that is very low on calories, fat and carbs.
http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/type-of-dish/soups/slow-cooked-root-vegetable-soup.html
(It is zero points on the Weight Watcher plan but excellent for all diet plans)
Make in bulk and freeze the surplus in individual portions.

Spaghetti bolognese is good if you are prepared to forego the garlic bread. Wholewheat pasta is much better than white and once you've tried it you'll not go back. For two people I would use at leasxt half a pound of lean mince (or leftover beef, finely chopped). I put two chopped onions in a saucepan with the lid over a very low heat for 20 minutes. This makes them go soft and translucent without added oil. Add the beef, turn the heat up and cook for a few minutes. Drain the fat off. Add a tin of tomatoes (the cheapest are just as good), a pepper, mushrooms, tomato paste (cheapest tube you can find), salt, pepper, more oregano and basil than you'd expect to use - two heaped teaspoons of each.
Cook over a very low heat for at least and hour and serve with the wholewheat pasta.
If I have some courgette lying around I'll add that, too.

[Ann]

Thanks for your suggestions :)

[hc4361]

It is possible to make a low fat curry. Curry is all about flavour and spices.

Put chopped onions and garlic in a large pan with the lid on. Cook over a very low heat for 20 minutes until translucent and soft. No need to add fat.
If you are not used to spices, stir in two tablespoons of curry paste. If you prefer to use spice add it to the onion and stir over the heat.
Add stock (an oxo cube or two will do, Marigold bouillon is good, home made veg stock is even better). Throw in the veg - carrots, peppers, potatoes, cauli florets, ochra, aubergine, swede, anything you have - and meat or poultry if you wish, cut into chunks. Bring to the boil, turn the heat down and cook for at least an hour. (Any left over veg, fresh or frozen, can be used up, as can left over meat and poultry).
I do serve rice with curries but I also serve small florets of plain boiled cauliflower. It is a wonderful accompaniment as it absorbs the curry flavours and cuts down the amount of rice you need.