Diabetic Living Australia – March-April 2019

AVOID PACKAGED MEALS

AND READYMADE FOOD

Once you’ve stopped buying takeaway food, it will

give you that little boost of confidence you need to

take the next step, which is to stop buying readymade

meals or partly processed ingredients. The simple

reason is that you spend a lot more for something

you can easily do yourself, and it really adds up.

items

that you

should

always

buy

generic

1 Olive oil

2 Flour

3 Sugar

4 Butter

5 Milk

6 Cheese

7 Tinned tomatoes

and beans

8 Frozen vegetables

9 Cereal and grain

products (oats,

puffed rice, etc.)

10 Fresh fruit and

vegetables

10

BUY GENERIC-

BRAND STAPLES

Buying generic brands is
a key principle of the $50
weekly shop challenge.
In the past, people tended
to look down on generic
products. Thank goodness
times have changed. We
all want quality at a good
price, and generic brands
are usually 15-25 per cent
less than the branded
items. Many generic-

brand staples (flour, sugar,

oats etc) are made in the

same factories as the

branded ones and contain

the same ingredients,

although this doesn’t

apply to processed foods

such as biscuits, cakes,

pies and pizzas, which

are not only unnecessary,

but usually don’t taste

anywhere near as good

as the real deal.

Sometimes it’s hard

to choose between the

generic and name brand,

even for staple items.

We might feel attracted

to pretty colours or cute

images on the packaging,

or we might like the idea

that our favourite celebrity

uses the same item. Or we

might be swayed by words

such as ‘organic’ or ‘low-fat’

or 'gluten free’.

Each supermarket chain

has its own generic brand,

but I personally prefer Black

& Gold from IGA. The only

way to find the one you

like is to try them all.

Generic

brands are

usually

15-25%

less than

branded

items

diabetic living MARCH/APRIL 2019 81

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