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EWmums

EWfood

ewmoda

Food prices :-(

121

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 28 September 2011 - 16:20

Is it jut me or have food prices rocketed recently. I remember mushroom punnet being 5 dirhams, is now 6 or 7. Capsicum were abt 18 aed per kilo, its now 25!! Now paying 10 dirhams more per kilo for cheese! The list goes on and its soo painful! Trying to keep to a budget but finding it so hard!! Sorry rant over,any tips on how to feed a family on a budget, (just thinking out loud but perhaps eat more legumes as going veg is expensive too!!)..thanks!

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Nosey Norah43259

196

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 30 September 2011 - 08:38

I love cooking one pot dinners that can be bulked up like chilli with loads of local veg and chick peas, medames (sp?) Also soups with pasta, rice n lentils. A good vegetable curry is also very cheap to make and can be made in big batches and frozen.

Madame Banoffee48321

57

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 30 September 2011 - 08:22

here you go Spongie http://www.ripeme.com/

spongemonkey980

4329

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 30 September 2011 - 08:15

Does anyone have a link for that new vegetable box thing starting up out of Dubai Garden Centre?

spongemonkey980

4329

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 30 September 2011 - 08:15

In theory would like to buy 'local' (UAE, Arab countries, Africa, Pakistan) veges but due to dubious farming methods (recycled sewage water) and soil quality.....little (if any) modern regulations for the use of pesticides.......long term effects is unknown. Saw some veges for sale once in Union Co-op from Bangladesh - which has one of the highest rates of arsenic poisoning (from contaminated groundwater) in the world. No thanks - don't care how cheap they are! One of the reason for so many various stomach complaints & health issues against residents is because of eating local produce.:( Agree with you on that! Would never buy e.g. Chinese carrots...or anything edible out of China come to that...I just said carrots because that is what you always see here....

Pomegranate35436

867

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 29 September 2011 - 23:57

I would have thought the primary cause of stomach complaints and health issues among residents is poor diet choices in the first place, too much starch, fast foods, processed foods, sodas and sugary drinks and not enough fruit and veg, deep frying anything that moves and of course alcohol comsumption. Could you point me in the direction of the source of your arsenic poisoning etc. news Pomegranate - I'd be very interested to read up on this - thanks. I don't have a specific link but I watched a documentary which mentioned this a while back - just google 'arsenic poisoning Bangladesh' or similar and you'll get loads of articles. Yes, the poor diet choices are the cause for many, but loads of healthy people often complain of stomach issues here which could be a possible parasite infection or worms - a friend had one which her Dr at home believed it came from eating produce grown here.

940

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 29 September 2011 - 06:57

It is true the ground water in some areas of Bangladesh contains high level of arsenic. I did work with a faculty professor here who was working on a cheap way to measure the levels of arsenic in the well water. He used to receive samples from Bangladesh and was mapping out the bad areas in the country. Now I am not sure if the plants do absorb the arsenic. That could be an interesting follow up to his research!!!!

1759

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 29 September 2011 - 06:41

I would have thought the primary cause of stomach complaints and health issues among residents is poor diet choices in the first place, too much starch, fast foods, processed foods, sodas and sugary drinks and not enough fruit and veg, deep frying anything that moves and of course alcohol comsumption. Could you point me in the direction of the source of your arsenic poisoning etc. news Pomegranate - I'd be very interested to read up on this - thanks.

3220

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 29 September 2011 - 06:22

In theory would like to buy 'local' (UAE, Arab countries, Africa, Pakistan) veges but due to dubious farming methods (recycled sewage water) and soil quality.....little (if any) modern regulations for the use of pesticides.......long term effects is unknown. Saw some veges for sale once in Union Co-op from Bangladesh - which has one of the highest rates of arsenic poisoning (from contaminated groundwater) in the world. No thanks - don't care how cheap they are! One of the reason for so many various stomach complaints & health issues against residents is because of eating local produce.:( Didnt know that. Very interesting.....and scary too!

Pomegranate35436

867

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 29 September 2011 - 01:43

In theory would like to buy 'local' (UAE, Arab countries, Africa, Pakistan) veges but due to dubious farming methods (recycled sewage water) and soil quality.....little (if any) modern regulations for the use of pesticides.......long term effects is unknown. Saw some veges for sale once in Union Co-op from Bangladesh - which has one of the highest rates of arsenic poisoning (from contaminated groundwater) in the world. No thanks - don't care how cheap they are! One of the reason for so many various stomach complaints & health issues against residents is because of eating local produce.:(

1759

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 28 September 2011 - 18:05

A lot of the veg I buy is from Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Jordan etc. - while it might not always "look" as good as the stuff from Holland etc. - it tastes a lot better because it's grown to eat, not to travel. Tomatoes from Holland are almost always tasteless. Oman also grows melons etc. (which I've found weird as the rainfall here is so low) but the fellas line up at the roundabouts to Hatta with their wares.

2192

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 28 September 2011 - 17:49

In Union Coop al Barsha, they actually label where the items come from.. eg the Mint and Coriander it says UAE - Al Ain I buy as close to here as I can as dont agree with food clocking so many air miles ! its both cheaper and fresher and now Union Coop Al barsha also stock Organic Local. Purchased some lovely capsicums and it said Organic Abu Dhabi. You could tell too as they looked like something that would be on somone window cill. they were really small and wierdly shaped but lovely !

833

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 28 September 2011 - 17:41

It's not just here in the UAE, but also in Europe and also in South Africa (was there over the summer and couldn't ge over the prices, it used to cheap there) I think it has lot to do with the economic turmoil that the world seems to be suffering from... Agree that local is the way to go, although I don't always think the quality is great. Also keep an eye out for specials. C4 had some good ones this week. Legumes are cheap, fill you up and are supposed to be quite good for you too. There are some great budget recipe ideas out there, but sometimes they don't work in this country as the ingredients aren't cheap here. I find that homemade soups are my go to thing when I have a bit of month left at the end of my money :( The basic principle is to fry off an onion and some garlic and then braise whatever vegetable you want to add. Use frozen if you want as it doesn't make a difference. Add a stock cube, some aromatics and water. Blend if you like. Adding a potatoe thickens the soup, adding rice, pasta or legumes makes the soup more filling. You can then always jazz it up my adding a few little bits such as cheese, creme fraiche, smoked chicken, prawns or bacon. These aren't cheap but a little goes a long way.

5452

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 28 September 2011 - 16:55

The local produce (ie from this region / Pakistan / Iran etc) generally seems to be at least half the price of the stuff that's imported from Europe etc. I've always tried to buy as local food as possible (just like I did in the UK). If you stick to local / seasonal stuff, it's much cheaper. I agree. I do the same.

1617

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 28 September 2011 - 16:52

The local produce (ie from this region / Pakistan / Iran etc) generally seems to be at least half the price of the stuff that's imported from Europe etc. I've always tried to buy as local food as possible (just like I did in the UK). If you stick to local / seasonal stuff, it's much cheaper.

5452

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 28 September 2011 - 16:39

Usually you can see where your produce is from. It always says it on the sign above the produce.

Madame Banoffee48321

57

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 28 September 2011 - 16:28

The organic cucumbers are definitely UAE :)

Dame Bubbles48274

35

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 28 September 2011 - 16:26

Muhrooms are either here or Oman. I think 'local' here implies from the region rather than the country.

Madame Banoffee48321

57

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 28 September 2011 - 16:26

yip... cucumbers, capsicums, tomatoes, etc... Some supermarkets are also now stocking organically grown produce from the UAE - the cucumbers are 7 ish AED a punnet!

648

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 28 September 2011 - 16:24

Get locally grown food, it is MUCH cheaper and also hasn't been flown in from the other side of the world... Some supermarkets hide local produce at foot-level rather than trolley level...;) Do they grow food in the UAE?

Madame Banoffee48321

57

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 28 September 2011 - 16:22

Get locally grown food, it is MUCH cheaper and also hasn't been flown in from the other side of the world... Some supermarkets hide local produce at foot-level rather than trolley level...;)

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