Slash your grocery bill instantly with this advice from Jamie Oliver!
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It's safe to say saving money is at the forefront of many Australians' minds – but how can we save?
Well, it turns out celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has passed along his expertise in the kitchen (and supermarket aisles) so that you, too, can save a bit of extra money on groceries in the long run.
Since becoming a household name with his hit cooking show The Naked Chef, Jamie's gone on to open numerous restaurants all around the world, including Jamie's Italian on Royal Caribbean Cruises, where he recently visited Sydney to celebrate its nearly 10 year partnership.
Uniquely, the star chef does not come from a wealth of experience in the kitchen like most, but he instead learned the skills from his parents who ran a pub restaurant.
'I grew up in a pub and I lived above the pub restaurant. Mum and Dad worked very, very hard and every now and again we used to go on a cruise — it was one of the things that we did as a family until I was about 13/14,' Jamie explained to a news source.
News.com.au asked Jamie during his time in the country what food he thinks people are wasting their money on, his answer was music to our ears. 'No one would believe me but it’s processed food,' he said.
'It might seem convenient and cheap but actually it doesn’t really help. If you can cook, if you can batch cook, you can make food for like a tenth of the price, half the price easily.'
But wait – it doesn't stop there. Not only should you be cooking from scratch to save on the budget, but Jamie also revealed what meal he would make if he only had $10 to spend:
'Probably it’s going to be some pasta, isn’t it? It’s going to be some tomatoes, it’s going to be some herbs, it’s definitely going to be a little bit of chilli, and of course some olive oil.'
Buying pre-made meals or frequenting fast-food restaurants may feel like the cheaper, quicker way out, but the reality, as Jamie has pointed out, paints a stark contrast. The reason lies in economies of scale – when you cook at home, you're effectively producing meals in bulk. You're making enough pasta for several servings, slashing your cost per meal significantly.
It isn’t just about the basic maths of splitting the cost of your ingredients over several meals. Consider how purchasing processed foods might wind up with you spending more money than you'd expect. Those microwave meals might look inexpensive, but they often leave you unsatisfied, leading to snacking and extra spending. Meanwhile, home-cooked meals, chock-full of nutrients and made at a fraction of the price, often keep you fuller longer.
Additional savings can be found in buying raw ingredients in the form of store-brand staples and wisely using your freezer to store leftover ingredients or meals for another day. It's all about smarter shopping and being resourceful with what you purchase – like Jamie reiterated, the rewards of doing it all yourself can be both sumptuous for your taste buds and your pockets.
We do, of course, acknowledge that convenience sometimes calls for the occasional pre-made meal. And there are different situations out there that may necessitate pre-made meals. But, for those who can, some honest-to-goodness home cooking can trim your grocery bill considerably and surprisingly.
Jamie also took the opportunity to expand his culinary skills during his trip to Australia, with a little bit of a local twist – or, more specifically, an introduction to the iconic Tim Tam, which he'd never tasted before. 'What's Tim Tam? What is it? I, it sounds like some terrible rash,' Jamie joked during an interview with The Today Show.
But tasting the chocolate-coated biscuit for the first time, Jamie said: 'This is the moment of truth – this thing I have never had before. Very, very nice … I will never forget this moment.'
If you're looking for further tips, we recommend you always check out the sale aisle in your local supermarket and keep an eye out for specials! Or, if you don't mind waiting in a queue, why not check out your neighbourhood markets? Do you have some alternatives to have a healthy and affordable way of eating? Share your tips in the comments below!
Well, it turns out celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has passed along his expertise in the kitchen (and supermarket aisles) so that you, too, can save a bit of extra money on groceries in the long run.
Since becoming a household name with his hit cooking show The Naked Chef, Jamie's gone on to open numerous restaurants all around the world, including Jamie's Italian on Royal Caribbean Cruises, where he recently visited Sydney to celebrate its nearly 10 year partnership.
Uniquely, the star chef does not come from a wealth of experience in the kitchen like most, but he instead learned the skills from his parents who ran a pub restaurant.
Celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver visits the Land Down Under! Image: Facebook / @Royal Caribbean International
'I grew up in a pub and I lived above the pub restaurant. Mum and Dad worked very, very hard and every now and again we used to go on a cruise — it was one of the things that we did as a family until I was about 13/14,' Jamie explained to a news source.
News.com.au asked Jamie during his time in the country what food he thinks people are wasting their money on, his answer was music to our ears. 'No one would believe me but it’s processed food,' he said.
'It might seem convenient and cheap but actually it doesn’t really help. If you can cook, if you can batch cook, you can make food for like a tenth of the price, half the price easily.'
But wait – it doesn't stop there. Not only should you be cooking from scratch to save on the budget, but Jamie also revealed what meal he would make if he only had $10 to spend:
'Probably it’s going to be some pasta, isn’t it? It’s going to be some tomatoes, it’s going to be some herbs, it’s definitely going to be a little bit of chilli, and of course some olive oil.'
Avoid processed foods, cook at home for affordable meals, says Jamie Oliver. Image: Freepik.
Buying pre-made meals or frequenting fast-food restaurants may feel like the cheaper, quicker way out, but the reality, as Jamie has pointed out, paints a stark contrast. The reason lies in economies of scale – when you cook at home, you're effectively producing meals in bulk. You're making enough pasta for several servings, slashing your cost per meal significantly.
It isn’t just about the basic maths of splitting the cost of your ingredients over several meals. Consider how purchasing processed foods might wind up with you spending more money than you'd expect. Those microwave meals might look inexpensive, but they often leave you unsatisfied, leading to snacking and extra spending. Meanwhile, home-cooked meals, chock-full of nutrients and made at a fraction of the price, often keep you fuller longer.
Additional savings can be found in buying raw ingredients in the form of store-brand staples and wisely using your freezer to store leftover ingredients or meals for another day. It's all about smarter shopping and being resourceful with what you purchase – like Jamie reiterated, the rewards of doing it all yourself can be both sumptuous for your taste buds and your pockets.
We do, of course, acknowledge that convenience sometimes calls for the occasional pre-made meal. And there are different situations out there that may necessitate pre-made meals. But, for those who can, some honest-to-goodness home cooking can trim your grocery bill considerably and surprisingly.
Jamie also took the opportunity to expand his culinary skills during his trip to Australia, with a little bit of a local twist – or, more specifically, an introduction to the iconic Tim Tam, which he'd never tasted before. 'What's Tim Tam? What is it? I, it sounds like some terrible rash,' Jamie joked during an interview with The Today Show.
But tasting the chocolate-coated biscuit for the first time, Jamie said: 'This is the moment of truth – this thing I have never had before. Very, very nice … I will never forget this moment.'
If you're looking for further tips, we recommend you always check out the sale aisle in your local supermarket and keep an eye out for specials! Or, if you don't mind waiting in a queue, why not check out your neighbourhood markets? Do you have some alternatives to have a healthy and affordable way of eating? Share your tips in the comments below!
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