I'm originally from the USA, but I've relocated to the UK to live with my Fiance, and I've hit a huge bump in the weight loss process.

I dont understand British food. I dont even know the basics like...for example:

How do you store vegetables and fruit so they dont go off 48 hours after you buy them? I'm from a country where salad comes in a bag and the crisping drawers in the fridge actually work. I've bought vegetables and fruit here, but they never keep for more than 48 hours, and I've tried buying from different places as well! I just dont get it!

I have a picky eater at home (the fiance) and he refuses to eat healthily, even for my sake. He's a bit stubborn. I get a disgusted look off him everytime I go for some soup products or even ask if he wants any fruit. (that might also be due to the fact that we're poor as dirt and cant afford it) I personally want to eat more salad and vegetables and fruit, but I cant find ways to incorporate them into my fiance's life and I cant figure out how to store them!

I'm trying to go low calorie, my goal intake is 1400 a day, and I can usually find myself satisfied eventually within my range, but I'm sick of only having cereal to eat. I want salads and other options too! Can anyone help me?

Hey Cassandra

I'm not in the UK, but I'm originally from the US and live in the Netherlands and have similar issues (or at least HAD them; I've been here for 13 years now).

Something about veg, fruit, milk products, bread... you have to buy these in smaller quantities. I'm no expert about the UK, but I know here in NL we use less "chemicals" on the agriculture so those things have to be consumed pretty quickly after you've bought them.

Fruit can be put in a freezer - do you have a freezer in your fridge (sounds like a dumb question, but I can hardly put anything in mine it's so small!)? What about buying frozen veggies as well? They are not as bad as we used to think since most is frozen fresh. Other things you just have to buy smaller quantities of and on a more regular basis.

Are there local markets in your area? Fruit and veg seems to be cheaper from the market than at the supermarket (don't know if you shop Tesco's or ASDA or ???) and it's generally good quality.

As for the picky finacé; that's a tough one! You'd have that problem no matter what country you were in I imagine!

I hope some of the UK girls can help you further - but I just wanted to say I have experienced what you are currently experiencing and it just takes adjusting and getting used to.

Lots of success to you!

Hi Cassandra,

Have you got an aldi or lidl supermarket near you? they are both really cheap and do sell veg and fruit, I find that salad does go off quickly even in the fridge, the bags of salad leaves are the worst, you are better off buying lettuce etc... seperately and making up your own. Tinned veg are cheap too and some are ok, sweetcorn, green beans and tinned tomatoes are all good. Tell fussy fiance he has to eat what you say!!!

Cassandra, I spent a year in England (2000-2001) and also noticed differences in the food, but not really in a bad way, at least after I got used to it. I noticed that they didn't drown everything in preservatives the way we do in the US, so you can't expect things to stay fresh as long. That's a good thing! I noticed a focus in organics over there long before it became a hot topic here. I also noticed that everything was sold in smaller sizes and quantities, so I shopped more often instead of stocking up the way we tend to do here. That was a hard habit to break!

So as far as freshness goes, you'll need to buy smaller quantities and shop more often.

Hi Casandra,
Some branches of supermarkets can be very poor for fruit and veg - especially smaller ones, things seem to sit around on the shelf until they get up and walk out by themselves!
Larger supermarkets with a higher throughput, or a local fruit and veg merchant with a bit of pride in their work will probably give you fresher, longer lasting veg.

Those pre-prepared salad bags are a bad idea if you need things to keep, and a much worse idea if you are on a budget! Most economical and better lasting will be the loose fruit and veg you can bag up for yourself, and you have the added bonus of being able to check the quality of each item. I bought a whole iceberg lettuce and a bag of loose carrots from Asda last Wednesday, they are both still good - what's left of them - I've eaten most of it!

If I were you, I wouldn't worry too much about feeding your fiancee healthy stuff, just focus on yourself and let him eat what he wants.

I wish it were just that simple with the fiance. He's the kind that can eat what he wants when he wants it and not gain an ounce, so I dont really want to be cooking two meals every night at dinner. I've also got money issues right now as I'm finding it well hard to get a job (or start one even).

I think that is the main reason why i'm overweight right now. I cant afford a healthy lifestyle! Sure, you can throw together a salad but you'll probably pay around £5 for all the fixings, when you could pick up a pack of pot noodle for 50p!

its so tough here!

Cassandra, as for the fiance - tell him if he doesnt want to eat what you want to eat then he has to make his own meals! You'll soon have him converted to healthy eating and if not then at least you won't be making two seperate meals!

I find Tesco to be very good for fresh fruit and veg and don't really have any problems with it lasting 5-7 days. Also Tesco offer at least five fruit and veg at half price every week to enable you to eat more healthily on a small budget.

Also, if you're buying soup in a can (and veggies for that matter) watch the salt content. It might be worth making up your own soups when the fruit and veg looks like it only has a day or so of life left in it and then you can freeze it for later, which will save money.

I'm not sure about you but when I started eating healthily the cost of food shopping went down by at least 20 pounds per week.

I feel for you, I really do. It's SO expensive in the UK, even moreso than here in NL. I know part of the reason I just keep maintaining the same d$%@ 5KG WL is because for about 3 months we had VERY little money and I just couldn't buy all of the fresh stuff I wanted.

You don't have to cook two meals though, do you? I mean, I don't want to sound harsh or anything, but if you are cooking, he should be eating what you make. Can you not secretly change some of the ingredients or is he wanting fish and chips or sheppard's pie every night? It might be time to sit down and have a serious talk with him and let him know how important it is that you are healthy and making healthy meals for both of you.

I'm sorry you are struggling. I really do understand the money thing (and the job thing!!! I was unemployed for 6 months here in NL and it SUCKED!).

Hang in there and at the very least you can just make sure that you get your water and your exercise in and keep an eye out on your portion size.

I know when I was dieting before we found it really expensive but hubby was happy to spend extra as losing weight meant so much to me. This time round we are spending the same amount on shopping as when i wasn't on the diet. Hubby is even willing to try new things. At the moment we are addicted to a new yogurt drink. He hates yogurt though. I keep my veg in a dark cupboard, seems to last about 3 days in the summer and a bit longer in the winter.

That's the thing though, my fiance doesnt see me as fat. He's always on about how he loves every inch of me two times over! lol

He doesnt think I need to lose weight, and (when I'm wearing clothes at least) I have spot on proportions!

I got my fiance to drink the Actimel yogurt drinks but he wont buy them anymore because they're a good £2.79 for 4. So I got him to take a bite of my Nutri-Grain bar (always has to be strawberry though) and he loved it!

He refuses to touch a casserole. He's ok if different foods touch on his plate, they just cant overly "mingle" lol.

Does anyone know of a website where I can find british comfort food recipes? Crispy roast potatoes...etc?

Also does anyone know of a good home economics site, where I could learn how to do laundry and cook in a more "british" way? I'm used to having everything done for me or everything simplified to extreme extents so I have absolutely no idea how to wash silks in the machines here or even cook a simple roast.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Cassandra, I am a Brit who used to live in the US, so I can answer the veggies thing. Your stuff tends to have to travel much greater distances and is routinely irradiated. This doesn't seem to be common knowledge over there, although it was a New Englander told me. In the US most apples are covered in wax as well. That's not something Europeans generally accept, so our food is more perishable. (on the plus side it's also much fresher and we can get organic food easily which I couldn't in the US!)

We don't have stuff like high altitude flour - and cornflour is a very different thing in the UK to the US! You can find loads of good cook books in any supermarket really - most 'tv chefs' have something or other out. Delia Smith is probably one of the most respected British cooks, and I think she has a very active website, but I've never been there! Also look out for Anthony Worrall Thompson as he does a lot of Low GI stuff.

http://www.deliaonline.com/

You measure in cups, and we use grams (or people my age still use pounds and ounces!) 25g is close-ish to 1 oz, so that's my rough and ready guide. All you need to follow a UK recipe is a cheap pair of scales. I remember being equally stumped by cups as who knows how big any cup is, but I just bought measures in the end! You will also find a bewildering range of cooking oils etc here, than in the US - also infinitely more wine, etc. Just experiment and find out what you like! So if you want to make a healthier roast, you can find a low GI oil like rapeseed, or use one of those flavour-less olive oils if you want the health benefits of olive without the taste. Or a load of other choices! Just have fun experimenting!

I'd check out the sugar content on them Nutrigrains - you'd prob be better off with a Mars Bar! (Ditto the Actimels).

I noticed in the US you also have a lot of those top loading washing machines which we haven't had since the 70s here! I never understand the laundry marks either and I grew up with them - just do everything at 30 or 40 degrees works for me! My machine has a 'delicates' option on the dial, that's what you need for silks.

The milk is different here too, eh? I remember you have percentages. Here, the lowest fat is the red top, then the green top. Blue top is full cream milk, the fattiest although actually it's still a low fat food so I'd just have whichever one you like and stick with it!

As for expense, have you discovered farmers' markets yet? I stopped using big supermarkets now and only shop at a small ethical one; and buy everything else on the market, meat from butcher, fish from fishmonger and we found we spend less as you don't impulse buy like in Tescos!

Hi Cassandra,

I do feel for you. I know how hard it is to live with a picky eater. Regarding the actimel, Tesco usually does a good deal...they do 2 6pacs for £4.

But anyway, if your fiance is a picky eater and you want to loose weight, Slimming World might be an idea. My other half a little picky as well (not as picky as yours tho), but he eats all the SW recipes I make and he loves it. And because it's mostly fresh food you can get it quiet cheap. I find the loose veggies cheaper as well, rather than buying the prepacked ones....eventho they are sometimes more convenient.....

Yeah, I went through all that as well. I've been living in Glasgow since 02 and you have to re-learn how to do things over here! I do miss the old top loader!

As for your dude, mine is the EXACT same. I've learned it has to be THEIR idea, rather than yours. I've given up trying to get him to eat healthier and the only thing that does seem to work is trying to make things from scratch rather than ready meals. Things are easier than you think! Mine likes the recipes off of www.uktvfood.co.uk

As for your fruit and veg, they will only last a wee while, so buy smaller quantities or do a weekly shop. I know a pot noodle is more tempting and cheaper but I had to sit down with myself and say: ok, what is more valuable to me?

Diets are never easy, especially on the wallet. Try not to focus on what you can't have (moneywise) and focus on the things you CAN buy. I'm here for you, chica! Good Luck!

Hey there Cassandra sorry you've having such a hard time keeping the fiance happy with the food choices and getting some healthy food on a budget. I hear ya believe me!

Whoever said that about the irradiation and the chemicals we use on fruits and vegetables in the US is right. LOL I've been here for 5 years and I remember when I first moved here being absolutely AMAZED at how fast the bread went moldy! I would buy less if you can - and a market is an excellent place to buy fruit and veg on the cheap.

My first question is do you like to cook or are you interested in learning? Because I also am on a bit of a budget and what I do is make up a couple meals over the weekend or if I have a little bit extra free time. That can actually be a LOT cheaper than ready-meals or breakfast bars etc. At least I find it to be. You could also make some meals that might satisfy Mr. Picky. That's what I do - although actually my boyfriend will eat just about anything (and also annoyingly doesn't really gain an ounce!)

Laundry: the thing that annoys me about laundry in the UK is that it takes FOREVER to do and dryers aren't as commonplace as they are in the U.S. Oh man do I miss a 20-minute wash and then an hour in the dryer and done! Do you have laundry facilities in your house? If you don't go to the laundrette they'll help you out there. If you do all you should need to do is open the machine, put the clothes in, there should be a little tray that you put the detergent in, probably the light needs to be on. Maybe your fiance can help?

Good luck Cassandra! You'll get used to all the changes trust me!

Hi Cassandra

I don't have a problem with fruit/salad stuff lasting as long as I shop the same day each week because by day six I've either run out or it's bitten the bullet in edible terms.

Mostly I shop at Tesco - just personal opinion (and fact that worked for them on and off for five years) but I avoid Morrisons fruit/veg like the plague.

We keep everything in the fridge - veg/salad stuff. Fruit admittedly I slack on as can't seem to get it right (take peaches for example - bought some last week they were like bricks, two days later they were shrivelled - what did I do to miss the 'just right' time - blink?)

I like tesco value stuff - my opinion is that a potato is a potato - still came out the ground etc. I shell out a little more for tomatoes just for personal preference.

Ah I'm rambling - guess what I'm saying is rule of thumb in our house is pretty much everything goes in the fridge.

On a side note - and this may not appeal to you - but have you thought about joining a local library? There are a vast range of cooking books (and healthy eating books and exercise books and everythingelseyoucanthinkofbooks) all on the shelf - would be a good place to start perhaps (or my old favourite of 'google it' but I don't want to seem unhelpful lol)