€7.50 for three chicken fillets

FreshKnickers · 30-09-2013 11:02PM

Seaneh wrote: »

If you ingrain it early enough, peoples habits will change.

Teach nutritional information from a young age, teach cooking skills and budgeting from adolescence, and over time peoples attitude to food will change.

Agreed. Nutrition should absolutely be taught in the schools. It's so important, you could argue that it's never been more important, and it doesn't come naturally to people. You're not born knowing how much fibre and how much riboflavin you need so it should be taught.

I betcha we'd then have the kiddies showing the parents a thing or two.

Ah, when you get to the point where there are kids that are no longer expected to outlive their parents you know something has to change. That's devolution. We're heading backwards.

Stheno · 30-09-2013 11:03PM

Eight Ball wrote: »

Oh look another thread on boards bashing people with no work. Who would have thunk it huh.

mhge wrote: »

Nothing to do with work or the lack of it. She could be working and still ignorant about cooking and budgeting.

Exactly, I earn a decent enough wage, but like to budget well and save where I can hence my posts above about getting three months meals out of €100 worth of meat or less actually I was being realistic.

I just could not believe someone claiming it cost them that much to buy three chicken fillets, when you could get two whole chickens for that and with a bit of initiative feed a family on those two chickens for at least three days.

BattleCorp · 30-09-2013 11:04PM

IvySlayer wrote: »

She has 4 kids, where the fcuk is the dad(s)

Having 4 kids without the financial support is entirely her fault.

Eh, I'm not exactly her biggest fan but I think you need to row back on that comment a little bit. We don't know her circumstances?

Maybe he's dead? Maybe he just upped and legged it?

Not necessarily her fault.

Guill · 30-09-2013 11:05PM

Proper nutrition needs to be taught, but not just at school, there is no point educating a child when their parents will let be filling the lunch boxes and making the dinners. Children will pick up on their parents eating habits and it can be very difficult to break free from junk food. Children learn by association, so will associate dinner with whatever they see happening at home.

I come from a home where dinner took an hour to prepare and half hour to eat and chat but I can only imagine that If you grew up in a house where dinner was pulled from the freezer and fired into the oven without a second thought then that's what you will associate dinner.

It is so much cheaper to make your own dinners and it can be much healthier but it does take more time, but that shouldn't be seen as a bad thing. It should be an enjoyable experience and not a chore.

I make all my dinners with my 3 year old so she can learn to associate good food is the result of good work and good fun.

My wife is a teacher and they have implemented a healthy food policy in school, some of the stories she could tell you are shocking.

Parents complaining that their kids should be allowed bring in fruit shoots as they don't like water and the like. It's a battle to be had with parents, schools can only do so much.

Smidge · 30-09-2013 11:06PM

Stheno wrote: »

The Irish Times have been doing their usual pre Budget articles, but I was shocked by todays article.

A single mother of four claims she cannot feed her kids healthy food as it is too expensive with 3 chicken fillets costing €7.50 and two baskets of strawberries €5 and it's easier to "It’s cheaper to buy a packet of 10 chocolate bars for a euro than give them some healthy snacks."

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/the-kids-are-going-to-starve-then-they-have-health-problems-1.1544207

I was shocked as I can buy two whole chickens which would feed a family of five for 2-3 days as main meals for that price, and if you shop in Lidl/Aldi (to which this woman has access, there is a large Lidl not far from her, there is plenty of good value, low cost fruit/veg. My local butcher does ten fillets for ten euro and three pounds of mince for 7.50

Is this an indication that investment in basic budgeting, and cooking skills may be worthwhile?

Where are you getting 2 whole chickens for 7.50 if I can ask?
Cheapest chicken I can get locally is 5 euro(eurosapr, the butchers charge 6) and is a sparrow.

I don't mean even the slightest bit of disrespect but am genuinely curious how
you can possibly feed five people for 2-3 days on that?
I cook and I can only say that the portions within that would be absolutely miniscule.
We are 2+2(with one who doesn't eat chicken)and one 5 euro very small chicken would just about scrape ONE dinner.

Pj! · 30-09-2013 11:07PM

Can remember being in a bit of a hole in a foreign country for a few weeks and surviving on pennies on numerous days. Packet of biscuits was 29c. I could go from hungry to full for just 29c.
I know now I could have probably filled up on healthier carbs for similar. But biscuits cure hunger outside the shop door. No cooking, no cooking utensils required.

But that's a different story to the woman mentioned. She can do a lot better than nuggets, hot dogs and burgers for her family without overspending.

Stheno · 30-09-2013 11:08PM

Electric Sheep wrote: »

Anyone remember how our mothers' fed us in the 80s recession? No junk, but good nutritious food cooked from scratch. Might be the cheapest cuts of meat, and the more basic of root veg, but we were well fed and healthy. My mother could get three meals out of a single chicken. It DOES take time and effort, however the lady in the OP is not working so should have the time on her hands to shop around and cook. She just doesn't want to.

I grew up in the eighties, and it was much the same, good meals that took time and effort.

The likes of a chocolate bar were a rare treat

Guill wrote: »

Proper nutrition needs to be taught, but not just at school, there is no point educating a child when their parents will let be filling the lunch boxes and making the dinners. Children will pick up on their parents eating habits and it can be very difficult to break free from junk food. Children learn by association, so will associate dinner with whatever they see happening at home.

I come from a home where dinner took an hour to prepare and half hour to eat and chat but I can only imagine that If you grew up in a house where dinner was pulled from the freezer and fired into the oven without a second thought then that's what you will associate dinner.

It is so much cheaper to make your own dinners and it can be much healthier but it does take more time, but that shouldn't be seen as a bad thing. It should be an enjoyable experience and not a chore.

I make all my dinners with my 3 year old so she can learn to associate good food is the result of good work and good fun.

My wife is a teacher and they have implemented a healthy food policy in school, some of the stories she could tell you are shocking.

Parents complaining that their kids should be allowed bring in fruit shoots as they don't like water and the like. It's a battle to be had with parents, schools can only do so much.

My father was the cook of our parents, and made most of our meals supplemented by my mother baking (both worked). They both ensured I have a love of cooking and enjoying good food

fussyonion · 30-09-2013 11:08PM

Smidge wrote: »

Where are you getting 2 whole chickens for 7.50 if I can ask?
Cheapest chicken I can get locally is 5 euro(eurosapr, the butchers charge 6) and is a sparrow.

I don't mean even the slightest bit of disrespect but am genuinely curious how
you can possibly feed five people for 2-3 days on that?
I cook and I can only say that the portions within that would be absolutely miniscule.
We are 2+2(with one who doesn't eat chicken)and one 5 euro very small chicken would just about scrape ONE dinner.

Obviously you don't frequent Aldi. They do whole chickens for €3.99/€4.49.

strandroad · 30-09-2013 11:09PM

Smidge wrote: »

I don't mean even the slightest bit of disrespect but am genuinely curious how
you can possibly feed five people for 2-3 days on that?
I cook and I can only say that the portions within that would be absolutely miniscule.
We are 2+2(with one who doesn't eat chicken)and one 5 euro very small chicken would just about scrape ONE dinner.

Meat only maybe, but you can also make casseroles, soups, skewers, fajitas, risottos... I suppose this is what the poster meant, rather than just roast chicken.

WoollyRedHat · 30-09-2013 11:09PM

In order to save money and promote more healthy and ultimately more satisfying food, people should be encouraged and taught how to grow their own food where possible.

Seaneh · 30-09-2013 11:11PM

Smidge wrote: »

Where are you getting 2 whole chickens for 7.50 if I can ask?
Cheapest chicken I can get locally is 5 euro(eurosapr, the butchers charge 6) and is a sparrow.

I don't mean even the slightest bit of disrespect but am genuinely curious how
you can possibly feed five people for 2-3 days on that?
I cook and I can only say that the portions within that would be absolutely miniscule.
We are 2+2(with one who doesn't eat chicken)and one 5 euro very small chicken would just about scrape ONE dinner.

I was in tesco Artane about 2 hours ago and they had a twin pack of 1300g (i think) Irish chickens for €8.

I've often seen while 1500g birds for €3.50 in supervalu too.

Stheno · 30-09-2013 11:13PM

Smidge wrote: »

Where are you getting 2 whole chickens for 7.50 if I can ask?
Cheapest chicken I can get locally is 5 euro(eurosapr, the butchers charge 6) and is a sparrow.

I don't mean even the slightest bit of disrespect but am genuinely curious how
you can possibly feed five people for 2-3 days on that?
I cook and I can only say that the portions within that would be absolutely miniscule.
We are 2+2(with one who doesn't eat chicken)and one 5 euro very small chicken would just about scrape ONE dinner.

My local supermarket does two chickens for €5 (1300g) or 2 for €7.50 (1800g)

My local lidl and aldi would be similiar.

On that and meals for five.

1st day roast, loaded with veg.
2nd day stir fry using left over roast and portions of second chicken
Third day fajitas from second chick.

Need veg obviously but I'd not find it hard to feed 4-5 from two large chickens at that price range for three days.

MadsL · 30-09-2013 11:13PM

WoollyRedHat wrote: »

In order to save money and promote more healthy and ultimately more satisfying food, people should be encouraged and taught how to grow their own food where possible.

...but what if the potatoes get blight, we'd starve!

dxhound2005 · 30-09-2013 11:14PM

Stheno wrote: »

The Irish Times have been doing their usual pre Budget articles, but I was shocked by todays article.

A single mother of four claims she cannot feed her kids healthy food as it is too expensive with 3 chicken fillets costing €7.50 and two baskets of strawberries €5 and it's easier to "It’s cheaper to buy a packet of 10 chocolate bars for a euro than give them some healthy snacks."

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/the-kids-are-going-to-starve-then-they-have-health-problems-1.1544207

I was shocked as I can buy two whole chickens which would feed a family of five for 2-3 days as main meals for that price, and if you shop in Lidl/Aldi (to which this woman has access, there is a large Lidl not far from her, there is plenty of good value, low cost fruit/veg. My local butcher does ten fillets for ten euro and three pounds of mince for 7.50

Is this an indication that investment in basic budgeting, and cooking skills may be worthwhile?

Something else not right with that article. She says she gets €250 per week Lone Parents allowance. But I looked up the rates and its is Basic €188 plus €29.80 per child, doesn't add up. And she would also qualify for €530 per month Child Benefit. That would give her a weekly income of about €428 probably tax free.

Smidge · 30-09-2013 11:14PM

fussyonion wrote: »

Obviously you don't frequent Aldi. They do whole chickens for €3.99/€4.49.

My nearest aldi is a 36 mile round trip so would offset the 2 euro saving somewhat.

Stheno · 30-09-2013 11:15PM

dxhound2005 wrote: »

Something else not right with that article. She says she gets €250 per week Lone Parents allowance. But I looked up the rates and its is Basic €188 plus €29.80 per child, doesn't add up. And she would also qualify for €530 per month Child Benefit. That would give her a weekly income of about €428 probably tax free.

I actually wondered about that but was too lazy to work it out, and when they listed her outgoings they omitted a lot of items.

So she is struggling on over 20k a year tax free

MadsL · 30-09-2013 11:15PM

Stheno wrote: »

My local supermarket does two chickens for €5 (1300g) or 2 for €7.50 (1800g)

My local lidl and aldi would be similiar.

On that and meals for five.

1st day roast, loaded with veg.
2nd day stir fry using left over roast and portions of second chicken
Third day fajitas from second chick.

Need veg obviously but I'd not find it hard to feed 4-5 from two large chickens at that price range for three days.

No chicken soup from the carcasses? Tut tut. Day 4 right there...

Smidge · 30-09-2013 11:18PM

Stheno wrote: »

My local supermarket does two chickens for €5 (1300g) or 2 for €7.50 (1800g)

My local lidl and aldi would be similiar.

On that and meals for five.

1st day roast, loaded with veg.
2nd day stir fry using left over roast and portions of second chicken
Third day fajitas from second chick.

Need veg obviously but I'd not find it hard to feed 4-5 from two large chickens at that price range for three days.

Which supermarket is this?
On a rare occasion the local Supervalu do the special on the whole chicken but it will be sold out within minutes(I kid you not).
They have also seen the demand for it and not the offer is much less on than it used to be.

Stheno · 30-09-2013 11:18PM

Smidge wrote: »

My nearest aldi is a 36 mile round trip so would offset the 2 euro saving somewhat.

I regularly do a bumper shop in Newry which is about 70 miles from me, and the savings more than cancel out the petrol cost.

MadsL wrote: »

No chicken soup from the carcasses? Tut tut. Day 4 right there...

Yes I do use the carcasses for stock

January · 30-09-2013 11:21PM

Smidge wrote: »

My nearest aldi is a 36 mile round trip so would offset the 2 euro saving somewhat.

Her local Aldi is less than a 10 minute walk away.

Stheno · 30-09-2013 11:22PM

Smidge wrote: »

Which supermarket is this?
On a rare occasion the local Supervalu do the special on the whole chicken but it will be sold out within minutes(I kid you not).
They have also seen the demand for it and not the offer is much less on than it used to be.

It's a local supermarket where I live.

There are fairly regular offers on whole chickens in most supermarkets tbh as has been posted.

Lidl and Aldi are good, but if you check Dunnes etc they have good offers.

Local butchers also tend to be good, mine does 3lb of mince for 7.50

That's 16 meals for us between spag bol, lasagne and shepherds pie
Total cost about €25 which for eight nights dinners is just over €3 per night

Seaneh · 30-09-2013 11:24PM

MadsL wrote: »

No chicken soup from the carcasses? Tut tut. Day 4 right there...

Nah, make a stock and then reduce it, let it set in icecube trays (it will naturally gelify) and freeze it, and you have fantastic "stock cubes" for soups, sauces, stews, casseroles, curries, and whatever else ya fancy.

Protip

30-09-2013 11:25PM

Seaneh wrote: »

I was in tesco Artane about 2 hours ago and they had a twin pack of 1300g (i think) Irish chickens for €8.

I've often seen while 1500g birds for €3.50 in supervalu too.

I do the majority of shopping in supervalue and the 1300g ones are a 5er usually very rarely I've seen them cheaper.

Stheno wrote: »

My local supermarket does two chickens for €

Need veg obviously but I'd not find it hard to feed 4-5 from two large chickens at that price range for three days.

They must be pretty crap chicken to be honest at the that price.

As I said its usually a 5er for a 1300g chicken in supervalue and there meat is superior to all the other supermarkets.

Also you must be only using the smell of chicken in them meals to get 3 days for five people. A 1300g chicken would do me for two dinners and a lunch just and that's with veg or salad etc. l like plenty of meat with my dinners though.

I only get a whole chicken an odd time, they are nice but you get as much value of of 5 breasts for a 5er and you don't have any of the hassle of cutting up the chicken.

Guill · 30-09-2013 11:26PM

There's 4 in my family.

This is a typical week:

Day 1: Roast chicken/beef/pork
Full chickens are cheap. We usually buy free range because our budget allows for it. Spuds and veg are cheap as spuds and veg.

Day 2: Chicken curry, soup, casserole, pie, stir fry, pasta.
Leftovers with more cheap veg and rice or pasta or home-made chips/wedges. Almost a free meal...

Day 3: fish, usually smoked coley or whiting fillets
Depending on what's on offer.

Day 4: Mince so Bolognaise, Shepherds pie, burritos, nachos...
Kids love the Shepherd Pie or Bolognaise and get their lunches for the next day out of it too.

Day 5: Pork/Beef with anything

Day 6: Eggs
Kids choice as to what way they wants them, scrambled, fried, boiled, ommlette etc etc etc.

Day 7: Rest, Dominoes, Chinese, Italian, Indian....
Don't judge me...

Excluding the Take away our spend is limited to 60 euro a week. This can go slightly up if we run out of the 'basics of food', usually spices or sauces.

We eat pretty well, not a healthily as we could that's for sure but the nutrician is there. I have a sister in law that has money to burn and her kids eat crap all day. Chocolate spread, cereal cause they don't want dinner, biscuits whenever they want. It drives me nuts...:mad:

MadsL · 30-09-2013 11:26PM

Seaneh wrote: »

Nah, make a stock and then reduce it, let it set in icecube trays (it will naturally gelify) and freeze it, and you have fantastic "stock cubes" for soups, sauces, stews, casseroles, curries, and whatever else ya fancy.

Protip

I tend to do this more with bacon fat.

Mmmmmm....bacon.

C14N · 30-09-2013 11:28PM

I remember when I first moved out of the house to go to college 2 years ago. My parents gave me a budget for the month for food for the month and it was the first time I ever had to do shopping for myself. I remember being worried that I would end up spending it all on cheap rubbish because I had heard it was so much cheaper to buy the crappy stuff. Bollocks. Fruit was well cheaper than chocolate for me, to the point where I only had a bit of chocolate at the end of the day to treat myself. I don't know where she's coming up with that €7.50 chicken either, that would have gotten me loads of the stuff last year.

Also, where is she getting 10 bars for a Euro? I felt like I hit the jackpot if I found a few for 50c each.

It's just laziness. People get used to buying one thing and don't want to check prices around different shops and brands or learn how to cook new meals.

Smidge · 30-09-2013 11:28PM

Stheno wrote: »

It's a local supermarket where I live.

There are fairly regular offers on whole chickens in most supermarkets tbh as has been posted.

Lidl and Aldi are good, but if you check Dunnes etc they have good offers.

Local butchers also tend to be good, mine does 3lb of mince for 7.50

That's 16 meals for us between spag bol, lasagne and shepherds pie
Total cost about €25 which for eight nights dinners is just over €3 per night

I was just wondering if it had a name because that's fantastic value for local supermarket(I assume its a small independent one)that can offer better deals than a larger one like Supervalu.

Stheno · 30-09-2013 11:30PM

Ford Deep Barn wrote: »

I do the majority of shopping in supervalue and the 1300g ones are a 5er usually very rarely I've seen them cheaper.

They must be pretty crap chicken to be honest at the that price.

As I said its usually a 5er for a 1300g chicken in supervalue and there meat is superior to all the other supermarkets.

Also you must be only using the smell of chicken in them meals to get 3 days for five people. A 1300g chicken would do me for two dinners and a lunch just and that's with veg or salad etc. l like plenty of meat with my dinners though.

I only get a whole chicken an odd time, they are nice but you get as much value of of 5 breasts for a 5er and you don't have any of the hassle of cutting up the chicken.

Or you are shopping in supervalu which is overpriced compared to most supermarkets/butcher?

I once bought a supervalu chicken and never did again, what I can buy locally is better.

I get far more value out of a whole chicken than breast fillets, I end up with stock, legs for casseroles, etc after a nice roast dinner.

Maybe you are over eating?

Stheno · 30-09-2013 11:31PM

Smidge wrote: »

I was just wondering if it had a name because that's fantastic value for local supermarket(I assume its a small independent one)that can offer better deals than a larger one like Supervalu.

Yep it's JCs in Swords. Regularly do 3 for a tenner offers, and two fro 7.50 on chickens.

Cheapest chicken there iirc is about 4 euro

20 euro on meat there would feed us for about 10 days

ezra_pound · 30-09-2013 11:32PM

Stheno wrote: »

The Irish Times have been doing their usual pre Budget articles, but I was shocked by todays article.

A single mother of four claims she cannot feed her kids healthy food as it is too expensive with 3 chicken fillets costing €7.50 and two baskets of strawberries €5 and it's easier to "It’s cheaper to buy a packet of 10 chocolate bars for a euro than give them some healthy snacks."

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/the-kids-are-going-to-starve-then-they-have-health-problems-1.1544207

I was shocked as I can buy two whole chickens which would feed a family of five for 2-3 days as main meals for that price, and if you shop in Lidl/Aldi (to which this woman has access, there is a large Lidl not far from her, there is plenty of good value, low cost fruit/veg. My local butcher does ten fillets for ten euro and three pounds of mince for 7.50

Is this an indication that investment in basic budgeting, and cooking skills may be worthwhile?

Most ironic is that in today's Irish times price watch buys the same amount of chicken breast for 3.50 in aldi. I read one article after the other.

€7.50 for three chicken fillets

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