Crossed Grain

WWW.COELIAC.ORG.UK 13 Keep your food budget in check In the run up to the festive season there can be so much expense: from gifts to entertaining and eating out. So we’re here to help with some recipes and top tips to help maximise the food budget without compromising on flavour. GF MEAL PLAN DAY 7 NEW MEAL PLAN Plan smart Planning ahead is the best way to avoid being drawn in by offers and impulse buying food you don’t need. Write a list and stick to it! That way you can avoid popping out to small convenience stores for expensive extras. Finding gluten free on the go isn’t always easy and it costs a lot more than homemade. So make sure you prepare packed lunches for work and school and keep a stock of snacks in your bag. Shop smart Shopping smarter and broadening your supermarket horizons can help save on costs – for example, if you’re a habitual meat eater, try incorporating more pulses into your diet. Beans and lentils are good sources of protein, low in fat and Download our seven day meal plan now These recipes are just a snapshot of what’s available in our new seven day meal plan. We've got even more hints and tips to help you plan, shop and cook smart, more recipes for you to try and it's packed with nutritional information too. Visit www.coeliac.org.uk/gfmealplan to get yours now. high in fibre to boot. If you always buy name brand products, you could save lots of money easily by switching to own brand alternatives. Strategies to reduce food waste can also save on costs. Try buying imperfect vegetables – what they lack in appearance they more than make up for in nutritional value and flavour. Plus opting for frozen, tinned and dried foods reduces the chance of them spoiling and can be cheaper than fresh. Just make sure you choose unsweetened fruit and vegetables tinned in water. Cook smart Use the same ingredients in a range of meals throughout the week – you’ll reduce the foods you’re buying, saving on costs and food waste too. Cooking in bulk will save you time and money’ – make a big batch of mince to use as a base for gluten free lasagne, Bolognese or chilli con carne. Or why not roast up a load of mixed vegetables with herbs and a bit of oil? These can be added to gluten free pasta, used as a pizza topping, or rolled up in a wrap.