0:00:02 > 0:00:04- One of them?- You really shouldn't let the three-year-old
0:00:04 > 0:00:07do the shopping for you.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10Gregg Wallace and greengrocer Chris Bavin are on a mission to
0:00:10 > 0:00:14help families get their food spending under control.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18Weekly shopping over the course of a year about £13,000.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Ah, oh, my God!
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Finding out when you should save your pennies...
0:00:22 > 0:00:24This is cheaper than what we usually buy
0:00:24 > 0:00:26and we'll definitely buy it again.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28..and when you might need to splash the cash.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31I don't think the cheaper stuff tastes very nice.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34They're challenging families to try new foods...
0:00:34 > 0:00:35HE YELLS
0:00:35 > 0:00:38..by transforming their kitchens...
0:00:38 > 0:00:39Should I open it?
0:00:39 > 0:00:42Ah! SHE LAUGHS
0:00:42 > 0:00:44It's like a science fiction set.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46..and investigating every day food.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48Well, I certainly wouldn't fancy that
0:00:48 > 0:00:50with some mash and onion gravy for sure.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53The Great British public have their say...
0:00:53 > 0:00:55That is a budget bean.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59..will Gregg and Chris prove that you can eat well for less?
0:00:59 > 0:01:02A healthy saving of £2.25.
0:01:02 > 0:01:03If they don't like the food swaps,
0:01:03 > 0:01:06then it's all going to go belly up.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11This week we're with the Stanton Family...
0:01:11 > 0:01:12Well done.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14..who have a guilty secret...
0:01:14 > 0:01:17I feel very wasteful throwing all of that food away.
0:01:17 > 0:01:18..and a fear of the freezer.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21It doesn't look very appetising when it's frozen.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23- Looks too cold to eat?- Don't they? THEY LAUGH
0:01:23 > 0:01:25There's a lot of laughs...
0:01:25 > 0:01:27HE SCREAMS SHE GIGGLES
0:01:27 > 0:01:29..but not everything goes to plan...
0:01:29 > 0:01:31- I quite like it.- I don't.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34..as Gregg and Chris try to get the family back on track.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37- You can do something about it... - Yes!- ..and we can help.
0:01:37 > 0:01:38- That's what we want, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41BAR CODE SCANS CASH TILL CLOSES
0:01:45 > 0:01:48We're in Maidstone with the Stantons who are desperate to
0:01:48 > 0:01:52change their ways and save money on their food shop.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55If we saved loads of money and spent it better when we go
0:01:55 > 0:01:59shopping, what would you like to buy, or what would you like to do?
0:01:59 > 0:02:02I would like to buy chocolate.
0:02:02 > 0:02:03Go!
0:02:03 > 0:02:07Dan is in the building trade and Zoe is an accounts assistant.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09Go on, baby. Go, go, go, go!
0:02:09 > 0:02:12They have two daughters, three-year-old Sofia
0:02:12 > 0:02:14and six-year-old Ava.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16Family's the most important thing to us,
0:02:16 > 0:02:19we do most things together. We spend a lot of time together
0:02:19 > 0:02:23and we're really grateful that we have the opportunity to do that.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27When it comes to buying food, Zoe and Dan are spontaneous shoppers.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30- We don't plan our shopping trips. - Don't plan our shopping trips,
0:02:30 > 0:02:31whatsoever.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Sort of a spur of the moment, isn't it?
0:02:34 > 0:02:37- It's like, "OK, you go or I'll go."- Yeah.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39- I might phone you if I'm at work and say...- Yeah.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41"..what are we having for dinner tonight?"
0:02:41 > 0:02:44And you'll say, "Well, there's not really a lot, do you want me
0:02:44 > 0:02:46"to go to the shops?"
0:02:46 > 0:02:49It's not just their lack of planning that bumps up their food bill,
0:02:49 > 0:02:51their love of pre-prepared fruit
0:02:51 > 0:02:53and veg is leading to a huge amount of waste.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55This is probably the worst thing that we throw away
0:02:55 > 0:02:59cos you get quite a big bag, and it...it goes off
0:02:59 > 0:03:02before you get to eat it. So, this one is the 23rd June,
0:03:02 > 0:03:06so we definitely won't eat that one now.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10I would say we're probably chucking away £30 to £50 a week,
0:03:10 > 0:03:13which is obviously quite a lot of money.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15That's over £2,000 a year.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18I feel very wasteful throwing all of that food away.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21That was just waste we just got out of the fridge.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23Zoe and Dan aren't alone.
0:03:23 > 0:03:28Every year in the UK, we throw away seven million tonnes of food,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31the equivalent of six meals per family per week.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33I feel really terrible,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36there's quite a lot of nice fresh food that could have been eaten.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40And it's not just fresh produce that ends up in the bin.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44Zoe worries that food kept in the freezer for four weeks is no
0:03:44 > 0:03:45longer fit to eat.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47Chicken, leek and bacon pie,
0:03:47 > 0:03:50we wasn't going to eat it by the use by date so we've frozen it,
0:03:50 > 0:03:52but then when I'm looking at it I'm thinking,
0:03:52 > 0:03:55"Well, it's still been in there for a month,"
0:03:55 > 0:03:58so I'm not sure if it would be that appetising or not.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08We're wasting money and wasting food.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10I do think we need to change.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18Us Brits are splurging more money on our food shop than ever before,
0:04:18 > 0:04:23as 55 pence in every retail pound is spent in the supermarket.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25Many of us hand over more cash than we intend to as we're
0:04:25 > 0:04:30tempted into impulse purchases and multi-buy deals.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34There's one thing that's guaranteed to increase the cost
0:04:34 > 0:04:37of your shop and that's when the kids get involved.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41Sometimes, it's really difficult because they're constantly
0:04:41 > 0:04:43asking for things that have caught their eye.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45We'll end up buying things that I didn't really need to buy or
0:04:45 > 0:04:49want to buy because they really like the look of it.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52Gregg and Chris have arrived at the local supermarket
0:04:52 > 0:04:55and are waiting for the family's next big shop.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58Some of the best-laid plans go out of the window with the introduction
0:04:58 > 0:05:01of the lovely little people. You know, when you're bringing kids
0:05:01 > 0:05:04shopping that really cranks up the pressure. You're on a budget,
0:05:04 > 0:05:06you're up against the clock,
0:05:06 > 0:05:08and they start to influence your decisions.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11When you're shopping with kids it's stressful, you want to be in and
0:05:11 > 0:05:12out the shop as fast as you can,
0:05:12 > 0:05:14you don't always make the right decisions.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17Especially when things are down here aimed at the kids
0:05:17 > 0:05:20and the kids are grabbing and screaming, "I want, I want."
0:05:20 > 0:05:22Brightly coloured with characters, it's the perfect storm.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25And look at the price of this cheese spaghetti for the kids.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27£26 a kilo, mate, you can buy Roquefort for that.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30You know Roquefort? No, you probably don't.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32No, that's beyond me, cheese and pickle, Gregg, I am.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35GREGG LAUGHS
0:05:35 > 0:05:38The Stantons have arrived at the supermarket to do the family
0:05:38 > 0:05:42shop, and along for the ride is youngest daughter Sofia.
0:05:42 > 0:05:43Get in the trolley, then?
0:05:43 > 0:05:46HE GROANS You in?
0:05:46 > 0:05:47Moments into their shop
0:05:47 > 0:05:50and true to form they're drawn to the pre-prepared fruit.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52- Want some mango?- Go on, then.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Do you want some pineapple?
0:05:54 > 0:05:57It might be convenient, but you're paying for the privilege.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01Those pineapple pieces cost twice as much as a whole pineapple.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03As the family top up their trolley...
0:06:03 > 0:06:06- Do you want peppers? - Do you like peppers, Sofia?
0:06:06 > 0:06:08- SOFIA WHINES - No.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10..they don't notice two new sales assistants
0:06:10 > 0:06:12watching their every move.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15- Do you want to get some lettuce, darling?- Yes.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18Here we go again, this time pre-prepared salad.
0:06:18 > 0:06:23To get a closer look, Gregg and Chris are hiding in the store room.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25- Them ones?- Yeah.- Yeah?
0:06:25 > 0:06:28We've got packets of pineapple rather than whole fruit.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30We've now got packets of chopped vegetables.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32We've got packets of chopped salad.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34The good thing is that, you know, there appears to be quite
0:06:34 > 0:06:37a lot of nice healthy produce going in the trolley.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40It's certainly healthy, but all this convenience is going to add up.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43I'll get some coriander.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46- What are you going to use it for, though?- A curry.- OK.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50It doesn't look like either of them are in possession of a shopping
0:06:50 > 0:06:52- list.- Oh, they've got no list, you're absolutely right.
0:06:52 > 0:06:53What do you fancy? Come on.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56If you come in the shop without a list you are going to buy
0:06:56 > 0:06:57more than you need.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00- SOFIA: I want to get out. - Do you want to get out?
0:07:00 > 0:07:02I can see little Sofia starting to get restless,
0:07:02 > 0:07:03I think she wants to get involved.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06- Are you going to help us do some shopping?- Yeah.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09- GREGG:- Sofia is now out of the trolley. Let's see what happens.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12- Sof, do you want some bananas? - Throw them in, quick, quick, quick.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16- No, but that's too many, we don't need...- That's all right. Oh!
0:07:16 > 0:07:17Oh, OK.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20Do you want to pick some grapes up?
0:07:20 > 0:07:21Do you want some strawberries as well?
0:07:21 > 0:07:24You really shouldn't let the three-year-old do the shopping
0:07:24 > 0:07:26- for you.- No, not if you want to save money.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30Fia, come here. Oh, they're two for a fiver, do you want...
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Oh! She likes that apple juice as well. Yeah.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35They're 'buy one get one free.' Sofia?
0:07:35 > 0:07:40Sofia's done a runner and she's gone straight for the cheese display.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42Sofia's absolutely delighted,
0:07:42 > 0:07:45they had no intention of buying that and then suddenly there it is.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47SOFIA: I want these, Mama.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Lunchables, but you don't eat them all, do you?
0:07:50 > 0:07:52She ate half of them the other day.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54- GREGG:- Mate, that's mad.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56She pointed at the juice, they bought juice.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58While they were doing that, she ran off round the corner
0:07:58 > 0:08:00and picked up something else.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02Do you want some dough balls? She likes them.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06- Does she?- Yeah, she does, yeah. - OK, go on, then.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09- GREGG:- They are buying whatever Sofia points at.- Yeah, yeah.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11I hope she don't point at a new car on the way out.
0:08:11 > 0:08:12CHRIS CHUCKLES
0:08:12 > 0:08:14Mum and Dad might not have a list,
0:08:14 > 0:08:17but Sofia certainly knows what she wants on this shopping trip.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20Do you want to choose some biscuits and some things, Sofia?
0:08:20 > 0:08:22- HE SIGHS - Sofia is out of the trolley
0:08:22 > 0:08:24in the chocolate aisle.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27Do you want them? Yeah?
0:08:27 > 0:08:28Go on, then.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31To be fair to Sofia, she has been as good as gold.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Well, so would I be if you let me buy whatever I wanted.
0:08:34 > 0:08:35- LAUGHING:- That is true.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37And everything is up for grabs.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41- Do you want two packs? - Go on, then.- Yeah?- Put them in.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44One of them?
0:08:44 > 0:08:47- Go on, then, put that in, then, darling.- Good girl.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49Do you want some waffles, darling?
0:08:50 > 0:08:53Ohh, there you go.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57They've bought whatever it is Sofia has put her hands on.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00She must be responsible for about £100 worth of gear that's
0:09:00 > 0:09:01gone in that trolley.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04With Sofia safely back in the trolley, hopefully Dan
0:09:04 > 0:09:08and Zoe can now focus on what they actually need.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11Do you want to get an apple...just a small apple sauce?
0:09:11 > 0:09:13I thought you bought a new jar the other day
0:09:13 > 0:09:15- when we had our parents round? - I don't think we did.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18Just get one, then.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22There is no reference at all to any lists or any meal plan.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25- This is spontaneous shopping. - They don't appear to be too
0:09:25 > 0:09:27sure of what they've actually got at home as well.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29- Get them chicken nuggets?- Yeah.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32- GREGG:- That is a very expensive way of shopping.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36With their trolley fit to burst, the Stantons head to the checkout.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40They've been lured by big brands, multi-buy deals
0:09:40 > 0:09:42and pre-prepared foods.
0:09:42 > 0:09:43What else?
0:09:43 > 0:09:46And let's not forget all of Sofia's goodies.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51But as they empty the trolley, they're in for a surprise.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58- What you got?- Hello, Zoe.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01- Chris, how are you?- Hello. - Hello, how are you?
0:10:01 > 0:10:03How are you, and this is lovely Sofia?
0:10:03 > 0:10:06- Sofia, yes.- It is, yes.- Hello. - Little Sofia.- How are you?
0:10:06 > 0:10:08- Say hello.- Are you OK?
0:10:08 > 0:10:10We were watching you.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13- We were watching you choosing things.- Choosing everything.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15- All the way round, yes... - Oh, my God!- ..the three of you.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19I can honestly say, I don't think I've ever seen anyone shop like it.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Could I have a look at your shopping list for today, please?
0:10:22 > 0:10:24- We haven't got one.- No list. - You haven't got a list?
0:10:24 > 0:10:26- We never have a list. - If you haven't got a list,
0:10:26 > 0:10:28then let's see your meal plan.
0:10:28 > 0:10:29No meal plan whatsoever.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32- Whatsoever, is there? - We just make it up we go along.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34It's the first time I've ever seen a three-year-old
0:10:34 > 0:10:37- in charge of the shopping. - We're ruled by her, aren't we?
0:10:37 > 0:10:38Yeah, definitely.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42Well, I wonder if you actually know how much you've spent, do you?
0:10:42 > 0:10:46I'd say about 1...135, 140?
0:10:46 > 0:10:50'There's only one way to find out, let's get scanning.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52'Make yourselves useful, boys.'
0:10:52 > 0:10:55- Can we have some bags John, please? - Some bags.- Thank you.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00I can't believe they're packing our shopping.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05You'd better make sure you get it in the right bags.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08Oh, yeah, is there a system?
0:11:08 > 0:11:11I don't suppose you've ever thought about buying a pineapple or a mango?
0:11:11 > 0:11:13No.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17'Dan guessed they'd spent £140 on this one shop,
0:11:17 > 0:11:19'and now it's the moment of truth.'
0:11:19 > 0:11:22- I don't know if I want to know the damage.- Hang on. Ooh!
0:11:22 > 0:11:23Do I want to know?
0:11:24 > 0:11:26Mate, that's a lot of money there.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30You have spent £196.96.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33- That's a lot of money. - That is a lot of money.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36- 200 quid you've just done. - Oh, dear.
0:11:38 > 0:11:39We need help.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42On this one shop, Zoe and Dan have spent more
0:11:42 > 0:11:46than double the national average. Just as well help is at hand.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49We were really surprised when Gregg and Chris came over,
0:11:49 > 0:11:52we wasn't expecting that at all. So, it's a big shock.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56Delving through all of our groceries and all of our goods,
0:11:56 > 0:11:58yeah, a bit of a shock definitely,
0:11:58 > 0:12:01even more of a shock at the amount of money we spent.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Daddy, can I have some ham on the side?
0:12:05 > 0:12:07Of course, you can, darling.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11Zoe and Dan might give Sofia control of the supermarket shop,
0:12:11 > 0:12:14and give in easily when she's asking for treats,
0:12:14 > 0:12:17but there's a reason why they find it hard to say no.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20Sofia is just a sort of a normal three-year-old girl,
0:12:20 > 0:12:24she wasn't really poorly until April last year.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28She was tired all the time, so we actually took her to A & E one
0:12:28 > 0:12:31day and she had a lump on her neck and after the X-ray the doctor
0:12:31 > 0:12:35sort of took us to one side and said she had a collapsed lung.
0:12:35 > 0:12:41We were rushed to our local hospital which has a children's ward
0:12:41 > 0:12:45and it wasn't until we got there that they said she had leukaemia.
0:12:45 > 0:12:50So it was just absolutely devastating, heartbreaking.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53The first few months were obviously horrendous being in hospital
0:12:53 > 0:12:56up in London for sort of two months.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59With me and Zoe it was hard work, especially with Ava as well
0:12:59 > 0:13:01because Ava was at school.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05Yeah, it's been...been a tough time, but she's getting through it.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07She's good. She's really good at the moment.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11Sofia's on the road to recovery and once her treatment's finished,
0:13:11 > 0:13:15Zoe and Dan can't wait to treat the girls to their dream holiday.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18If we saved up some money Ava, where would you like to go?
0:13:18 > 0:13:23- Disneyland.- Yeah? - I want to see Disneyland.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27We'd love to take Ava and Sofia to Disneyland because we were supposed
0:13:27 > 0:13:32to go the month after she got diagnosed with leukaemia, wasn't it?
0:13:32 > 0:13:36- So we had a big family holiday... - Yeah, we had to cancel our holiday.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39And we've promised her and Ava we'll go to Disneyland.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45To get the holiday they've always dreamed of,
0:13:45 > 0:13:48there are a number of issues they need to face up to,
0:13:48 > 0:13:51but first Gregg wants to get to the heart of it.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54Your little girl Sofia hasn't been very well at all,
0:13:54 > 0:13:55is it hard to say no to them?
0:13:55 > 0:13:58- I think you've probably seen that today.- Yeah.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00The horrendous time she's gone through I think
0:14:00 > 0:14:04we just want to make her happy, don't we?
0:14:04 > 0:14:06I don't think there's a parent in the land that would do
0:14:06 > 0:14:08anything different either to be fair.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12- Really, very, very fortunate, Sofia's getting better.- BOTH: Yes.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15- Maybe, you can start to shop differently?- Yeah.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19We probably need to not take her shopping with us, that might help.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Now, you've got it all laid out on the table at home,
0:14:21 > 0:14:23it looks like quite a bit, doesn't it?
0:14:23 > 0:14:24It does look like quite a lot, yes.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28- There's quite a bit of fresh food, which is really nice.- Yes.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31- Do you eat it all? - We do throw some away.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34The problem is it's just that it doesn't last all week,
0:14:34 > 0:14:37so it might go out of date before the end of the week.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40For me, there seems to be the potential to save money in not
0:14:40 > 0:14:44buying already pre-washed salad bag, which shortens the shelf life.
0:14:44 > 0:14:45As soon as you wash something
0:14:45 > 0:14:47and prepare it, you're up against the clock already.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50If you were to buy things in their whole format, so lettuces or
0:14:50 > 0:14:53pineapples or mangos or whatever, you'd find they last a lot longer
0:14:53 > 0:14:56and then hopefully you'd end up throwing a little bit less away.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58What are you like at freezing stuff?
0:14:58 > 0:15:02And also freezing leftovers, has it crossed your mind?
0:15:02 > 0:15:06We'll freeze leftovers and then get it out three weeks later
0:15:06 > 0:15:09and think, "Nah," and chuck it away.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12We've done that occasionally and then not eaten it
0:15:12 > 0:15:14- because we didn't like the look of it.- Wh...
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Because it doesn't look very appetising when it's frozen
0:15:17 > 0:15:19- and it's like in a bar. - Looks too cold to eat?
0:15:19 > 0:15:21THEY LAUGH
0:15:21 > 0:15:25'Despite having nearly £200 worth of food and drink on the table,
0:15:25 > 0:15:30'Dan and Zoe will also top up shop around five times a week.'
0:15:30 > 0:15:33- This isn't your only shop, is it, either?- There might be a few
0:15:33 > 0:15:36more in the week if we don't know what to have for dinner.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38'Chris and Gregg have another surprise in store.'
0:15:38 > 0:15:41We've got your bills from the last seven days.
0:15:43 > 0:15:44OK. HE CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Erm...get ready for this.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49325 quid.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52Mm...
0:15:52 > 0:15:56That's roughly about £17,000 a year.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59- Oh, dear. - That's a huge amount of money.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03That's over three times the national average.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06- That's quite shocking, isn't it, really?- Yeah.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10It's also not just the money, it's the waste of food.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14It's disgusting the amount that we are throwing away, I feel so bad.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17Don't feel bad, you're not alone, you're not the only one.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19- It happens all the time, all right? - Yeah.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22- But you can do something about it... - Yes!- ..and we can help.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26- Good. We definitely... Yeah, that's what we want, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28You know what we are going to do?
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Some of these brands, we're going to swap some of them.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33- OK.- Some we're going to swap, some we're not.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36- We're going to put them in plain packaging, so you don't know.- OK.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40How do you feel about that?
0:16:40 > 0:16:42- Quite scared. - THEY CHUCKLE
0:16:42 > 0:16:45The boys hope that swapping some of the Stanton's products
0:16:45 > 0:16:48will show them that it's good to try new things
0:16:48 > 0:16:51and hopefully it will save them money.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53What do you see as the biggest issues
0:16:53 > 0:16:56and how would you go about putting them right?
0:16:56 > 0:16:58There's far too much fresh produce being wasted.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00You know, buy things that aren't pre-prepared,
0:17:00 > 0:17:02therefore you're going to extend the shelf life.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05The fact that they don't know what they can freeze
0:17:05 > 0:17:08and the fact that they then freeze things to throw away...
0:17:08 > 0:17:10I mean, if we can change that,
0:17:10 > 0:17:12that will offer huge savings.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15Zoe is nervous...nervous of the freezer.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17She's got to learn how to get the best from it
0:17:17 > 0:17:20because it can be a very, very good friend.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22It comes back to planning
0:17:22 > 0:17:26and sticking with what you've planned to eat.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29That is the key to minimising your waste.
0:17:29 > 0:17:30How much do you think we can save them?
0:17:30 > 0:17:33I think we could save them...
0:17:33 > 0:17:35well over £60 a week.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37I find it really difficult to sit back
0:17:37 > 0:17:41and watch good people spending money they don't need to spend.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43We are all creatures of habit.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46Bad habits are hard to break, you're still here.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48HE LAUGHS
0:17:51 > 0:17:54While the Stantons were out, we gave their kitchen
0:17:54 > 0:17:59a bit of a makeover, leaving most of their cupboards out of bounds.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07- ZOE:- Oh, I don't think we can open our cupboards.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10What does that mean? No go, I reckon.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14Oh, look. HE CHUCKLES
0:18:14 > 0:18:16What's in there?
0:18:16 > 0:18:19Their usual brands have been taken away and replaced with
0:18:19 > 0:18:21a range of alternative products,
0:18:21 > 0:18:23all disguised in plain packaging.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27Most products will be cheaper, some will be more expensive,
0:18:27 > 0:18:29and others won't have been swapped at all.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33- What are you after?- It's a tomato. - It's a tomato, isn't it?
0:18:33 > 0:18:35Tomato sauce.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38- We can't live without that. - Oh, what do you think that is?
0:18:38 > 0:18:40Peanut butter.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42- That's mine.- Is that yours?
0:18:42 > 0:18:44What is this?
0:18:45 > 0:18:49Cereal. I quite like seeing it in the packaging like that.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52- Oh, look, got some rice noodles. - Oh, you don't know what they are,
0:18:52 > 0:18:54- do you?- Tuna.
0:18:54 > 0:18:55Shall we go and have a look in the fridge?
0:18:55 > 0:18:57- Wow. - SHE LAUGHS
0:18:57 > 0:18:59Oh, no!
0:19:00 > 0:19:01What we got?
0:19:01 > 0:19:04- Bacon, ooh.- You like bacon.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06Sausages.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09And what unexpected goodies are lurking in the freezer?
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Oh! Look, kids. Oh, look what we got?
0:19:12 > 0:19:15- SOFIA:- Peas, peas!- Peas.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17Someone's excited.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20How can we miss them ones? Ice lollies. What's this one?
0:19:20 > 0:19:24- Do you think some of... You two like chicken nuggets?- Yeah.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27- Chippos.- Chips!
0:19:27 > 0:19:31Wow, look how many nuggets we've got, kids.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34If there are any branded products there I think when you taste
0:19:34 > 0:19:37some of them I think we'd be able to tell. I don't know, and the...
0:19:37 > 0:19:38I don't think you will be able to tell.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41I think baked beans, I definitely think you'd be able to tell
0:19:41 > 0:19:44if they were the same ones that we normally buy.
0:19:44 > 0:19:45Now, there's a challenge.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53During their mealtimes, the family will be scrutinising their food,
0:19:53 > 0:19:56guessing what's been swapped and what hasn't.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58What do you think?
0:19:58 > 0:20:01- Some they're sure about... - The same.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03You think it's the same?
0:20:03 > 0:20:06- I know, you can tell... - They don't look as salty, do they?
0:20:06 > 0:20:08No, I think you can tell.
0:20:08 > 0:20:09..others leave them confused...
0:20:09 > 0:20:12Does it taste similar to ones that we normally buy?
0:20:12 > 0:20:14Does the chocolate taste nice?
0:20:15 > 0:20:18..but the more they like the bigger, the saving they'll make.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22Duck surprise. If this has been swapped and this is cheaper than what
0:20:22 > 0:20:25we usually buy, I think we'll definitely buy it again.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29- That's the same.- I like the carrot.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34With the girls away, Dan and Zoe make a start on breakfast...
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Do you want some baked beans?
0:20:36 > 0:20:40..and on the menu today are Zoe's all-important beans.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44They look the same colour I think.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46They just look like baked beans.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48You have to taste them I think.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51I'm not sure if they look the same or not.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54We've swapped Zoe's branded beans for a tin half
0:20:54 > 0:20:56the price at just 32 pence.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59I would never consider buying any other baked beans.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02If they're not the same, I think I'll know straightaway.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04Fighting talk from Zoe.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08She's been buying the same brand of beans for over ten years,
0:21:08 > 0:21:12but can Gregg and Chris get these ones past the bean queen?
0:21:12 > 0:21:13I hope the bacon's not a let down.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16It hasn't got any of the fat on it.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20It might be quite good because it's probably healthier.
0:21:20 > 0:21:21Spot on, Zoe.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24We've replaced their supermarket smoked bacon with smoked
0:21:24 > 0:21:25bacon medallions.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29It's healthier, with 50% less fat, and as they enjoy a bacon
0:21:29 > 0:21:33breakfast once a week, it'll save over £33 a year. Win-win.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35Thank you, darling.
0:21:35 > 0:21:36I'm going to try the beans first.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40Try the beans first, come on, you are the bean expert.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42Some beans are disgusting that are really cheap.
0:21:48 > 0:21:49What do you think?
0:21:49 > 0:21:52- Oh, I really don't know. - SHE GIGGLES
0:21:52 > 0:21:54I thought I'd be able to tell straightaway.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57They do taste like the beans that we normally buy.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01- They're definitely not. - I think they're the same, darling.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03I don't know if they are.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05I think the beans are the same,
0:22:05 > 0:22:07I can't tell the difference whatsoever.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09They taste really nice.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12They get through two tins a week, a yearly saving of nearly £40.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15It's just bugging me that I don't know they're definitely
0:22:15 > 0:22:18the ones because I thought I'd just eat them and straightaway
0:22:18 > 0:22:20and I'd be like, "Yep, they're the beans that I normally buy."
0:22:20 > 0:22:23Oh, I can't wait to see if they are different.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27Zoe and Dan aren't the only ones who are brand loyal
0:22:27 > 0:22:28when it comes to beans.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31Two million of us feast on beans every day
0:22:31 > 0:22:35and brand leader Heinz enjoys a hefty share of the market
0:22:35 > 0:22:40with 1.5 million cans of Heinz beans sold every day in the UK.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48We want to see whether you can spot the brands from the bargains
0:22:48 > 0:22:49when it comes to beans.
0:22:49 > 0:22:54Who better to challenge than some cost-conscious students.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56Our group are from Brunel University.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58Up for analysis -
0:22:58 > 0:23:02Sainsbury's Basics, the cheapest at just 30 pence a can,
0:23:02 > 0:23:04ASDA at 32p,
0:23:04 > 0:23:08Simply Marks and Spencer's costing 41p,
0:23:08 > 0:23:11market leader Heinz at 50p,
0:23:11 > 0:23:13Branston at 56p,
0:23:13 > 0:23:15finally Biona Organic
0:23:15 > 0:23:19costing more than six times the value brand at £1.84 a can.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23First up for scrutiny, the most expensive.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29It's nice, sweet.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31Quite thick, isn't it? I like them, really nice.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34- These ones are all right.- These ones are probably the ones that we
0:23:34 > 0:23:37- probably... Normal Heinz ones. - The beans I probably have.
0:23:37 > 0:23:38Nope, they're definitely not.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41When I buy baked beans generally I'm a slave to the brand.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45These should go down a treat, then.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50I think that's like a supermarket brand.
0:23:50 > 0:23:51That one tastes more bland.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54And the value range?
0:23:54 > 0:23:57Tastes a bit like what you used to get in like school dinners.
0:23:57 > 0:23:58That is a budget bean.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01When I'm buying baked beans, supermarket basic value
0:24:01 > 0:24:04- is just not the way to go. - But what bean is best?
0:24:05 > 0:24:07First place, drum roll, please.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09THEY DRUM
0:24:09 > 0:24:11- Oh!- What the hell?
0:24:11 > 0:24:13Organic.
0:24:13 > 0:24:14No wonder they're shocked,
0:24:14 > 0:24:17they've picked the most expensive bean on the menu,
0:24:17 > 0:24:19Biona Organic.
0:24:19 > 0:24:24Branston came second, in third place was Heinz, fourth was ASDA.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27In fifth place was Sainsbury's Basics
0:24:27 > 0:24:31and in sixth place was Simply Marks and Spencer's.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34And I was actually quite surprised that number one wasn't Heinz
0:24:34 > 0:24:36cos I just assumed because that's like the biggest
0:24:36 > 0:24:39brand for beans that that would probably be my favourite one.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42Definitely try some new baked beans and maybe change it up a bit now.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46These students with their expensive tastes seem to think you get
0:24:46 > 0:24:48what you pay for when it comes to beans.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52But it's always worth trying new things, you never know,
0:24:52 > 0:24:55something cheaper might just take your fancy.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02It's dinner time at the Stantons' and on the menu for the girls
0:25:02 > 0:25:05tonight is chicken nuggets and chips.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10The girls really like chicken nuggets, yeah.
0:25:10 > 0:25:11They eat those quite a lot.
0:25:11 > 0:25:15Like most kids, Sofia and Ava can be fussy when it comes
0:25:15 > 0:25:19to their food, especially if they think it's different from normal.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21It's quite hard to get them to try stuff, isn't it,
0:25:21 > 0:25:23both of them, to be fair?
0:25:23 > 0:25:27I'd love her to eat more different varieties of things, so we'll see.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Oh, look!
0:25:30 > 0:25:31The chicken nuggets, I think
0:25:31 > 0:25:34they might look a bit nicer than the ones we normally buy.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37Sounds promising, but it's our two taste-tasters
0:25:37 > 0:25:38that we need to convince.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41Fia, you ready for dinner, darling?
0:25:41 > 0:25:42Here you go.
0:25:43 > 0:25:44Dinner is served,
0:25:44 > 0:25:48and what's the verdict on the swapped chunkier chips?
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Chips taste better because they're big.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52- We normally buy thin crispy ones. - Good move.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56Those chips are 82 pence cheaper and healthier with less fat
0:25:56 > 0:25:57and more fibre.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00Do you think that's the same tomato sauce as you usually have?
0:26:00 > 0:26:02In a different bottle?
0:26:02 > 0:26:05And tomato is made out of tomato sauce.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09That's why it's called tomato sauce.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11Genius, aren't you?
0:26:11 > 0:26:15She sure is. This ketchup is £1 cheaper than your favourite.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18A bottle a month would save you £12 a year.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21How's your chicken nuggets, they taste better than the usual ones?
0:26:21 > 0:26:24- Good.- Sof, what do you think of your dinner, darling?
0:26:24 > 0:26:27- Good.- Do you like the nuggets?
0:26:27 > 0:26:31Brilliant news for Mum and Dad, they're £1 cheaper and have
0:26:31 > 0:26:35almost 50% more meat content than the ones you usually have.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39Chicken nuggets and chips-wise, has been quite a result really.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41This meal is a weekly favourite
0:26:41 > 0:26:45and if they decide to keep the swapped foods, they'd save £2.77.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49That's a yearly saving of nearly £145.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51Definitely a winner. I'd definitely say so.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Chicken nuggets are a quick and convenient dinner for the kids,
0:26:58 > 0:27:00but when it comes to nutrition,
0:27:00 > 0:27:01what should you be looking for?
0:27:01 > 0:27:04Gregg and Chris have met with dietician Lucy Jones
0:27:04 > 0:27:07to examine four different types of nugget.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10The brand leader, a supermarket own brand,
0:27:10 > 0:27:14a premium brand of bite-size nuggets and a supermarket value range.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16What is in them?
0:27:16 > 0:27:21A lot of them now clearly state that they are only using chicken breast.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24A lot of brands have been changing their packaging to suit
0:27:24 > 0:27:28consumer desire to know what's in their food, so you can see here
0:27:28 > 0:27:31that this is clearly stating it's from chicken breast.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34Again, these are using chicken breast
0:27:34 > 0:27:36and these again are saying 100% chicken breast.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39Should we feel guilty feeding our children these?
0:27:39 > 0:27:42Most of the nutritional concerns with chicken nuggets
0:27:42 > 0:27:44come from the salt content.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48Our value nugget, and the most expensive are the lowest in salt,
0:27:48 > 0:27:52and actually the branded product is the highest in salt.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54This has one gram of salt per 100g.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58100g is the equivalent of five chicken nuggets,
0:27:58 > 0:28:02and one gram of salt is half the daily maximum recommended
0:28:02 > 0:28:05intake of salt for a three-year-old like Sofia.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08In terms of nutrition, the more expensive ones
0:28:08 > 0:28:09are the ones to buy, are they?
0:28:09 > 0:28:12For me, these sit in a class of their own and this is where,
0:28:12 > 0:28:16in people's weekly budget, actually we should be looking to spend
0:28:16 > 0:28:20that bit more because typically you get a better quality meat product.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24However, my favourite is getting people to make their own.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26So, let's get cooking.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29After chopping the chicken into nugget-sized chunks,
0:28:29 > 0:28:31Lucy dips it in egg.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34She then has two different coatings for the boys to try.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37The first is simply breadcrumbs, the second is crushed cornflakes.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39There was absolutely nothing to that,
0:28:39 > 0:28:42and the beauty of doing it yourself is you know exactly what goes in.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45Yeah, super quick and it's a great thing to feed your kids.
0:28:45 > 0:28:46I can't wait to see how they taste.
0:28:46 > 0:28:50Finally, bake on an oil-brushed pan at 190 degrees.
0:28:50 > 0:28:51Pop them in the oven.
0:28:53 > 0:28:5720 minutes later and voila.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00OK, do you want to dig in and let me know your thoughts?
0:29:00 > 0:29:03I want one of the cornflakes ones.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05Nothing wrong with that.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08Crispy on the outside, moist in the middle and a quality bit of chicken.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11- I like that.- That's ideal, literally all you can taste is the coating
0:29:11 > 0:29:15and the chicken. If you're going to give your kids chicken nuggets,
0:29:15 > 0:29:18this is the absolute ideal one to give them.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22When it comes to chicken nuggets, home-made takes first prize
0:29:22 > 0:29:25because you know exactly what's gone into them.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30Gregg and Chris don't just want to save the Stantons money,
0:29:30 > 0:29:33they also want to help them change their eating habits,
0:29:33 > 0:29:34and they've got a plan.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38I'd like to get those little girls in the kitchen cooking.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40That is definitely key, isn't it?
0:29:40 > 0:29:43Getting the kids involved in the preparation and the making
0:29:43 > 0:29:45of food will give them a healthier relationship with food.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48But in case they don't like what you're cooking, I've got
0:29:48 > 0:29:51a little plan up my sleeve just in case to try and get them to try it.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53What are you talking about? Everybody loves my cooking.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59We're quite excited, Gregg and Chris coming back.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02- We're not sure what to expect really, are we?- No.
0:30:02 > 0:30:03A bit nervous.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06Be really interested to see what they're going to do this time
0:30:06 > 0:30:08cos obviously last time they took all our food away
0:30:08 > 0:30:12and swapped loads of things around, so I don't know what to expect.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15The Stantons have gone through some tough times
0:30:15 > 0:30:19and Sofia's illness has impacted on all aspects of their lives.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22- A lot of parents find mealtimes challenging.- Yeah.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25Yours has been ridiculously challenging.
0:30:25 > 0:30:30Mealtimes have been slightly different since Sofia's been unwell.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32Her taste buds have changed.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34When she's on steroid week, it's quite difficult
0:30:34 > 0:30:38because she will be eating from the moment she wakes to the moment
0:30:38 > 0:30:40till she goes to bed for four or five days.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43Sometimes it can be crisps and she could have eaten like four or
0:30:43 > 0:30:46five bags of crisps before it's even lunchtime.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49It is hard because obviously you want her to eat a nice healthy meal,
0:30:49 > 0:30:52but she's just wanting to eat what she's craving.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58Treatment with Sofia, the steroids make her really hungry,
0:30:58 > 0:31:01so I mean we had obviously like the first month of her
0:31:01 > 0:31:04not eating anything at all and she had to have a night feed.
0:31:04 > 0:31:08She's craving things after that, so she's up at night eating
0:31:08 > 0:31:10in the middle of the night and the doctors have said to us
0:31:10 > 0:31:13- to just give her whatever she wants.- Yeah.
0:31:13 > 0:31:17I mean, we know that we've got a lot of bad habits, which we've
0:31:17 > 0:31:23picked up from during that time, so we need to make some changes.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25Sofia is getting better.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27Yeah, she's really, really getting better now
0:31:27 > 0:31:29and she's doing really well.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32- Time to make some changes with the meals?- Yeah, definitely.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35I mean, this would be great to Sofia to start trying different foods
0:31:35 > 0:31:38because I think she'll be really up for it.
0:31:38 > 0:31:40Gregg wants Zoe and the girls to make a meal that all
0:31:40 > 0:31:42the family will enjoy.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45Who fancies getting a little bit messy?
0:31:46 > 0:31:48Yeah, me too.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51And on the menu today is this...
0:31:52 > 0:31:55Don't look so worried, kids, he knows what he's doing.
0:31:55 > 0:31:59You're making home-made burgers and sweet potato wedges.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02Those hands won't be clean for long.
0:32:02 > 0:32:04Squish it up, squish it up, get in there.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06GIRLS GIGGLE
0:32:06 > 0:32:09- What does it feel like?- Sludgy.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12Onions are added and then the eggs.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14Go on, then. Sofia first, that's it.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17- Oh, splendid!- Good girl.
0:32:17 > 0:32:20- A bit harder Ava, that's it. Bit of that.- Yeah!
0:32:20 > 0:32:23- Now, who's going to stick their hands in there first?- Me.
0:32:23 > 0:32:27Go on, then! Up to your elbow... Oh, lovely.
0:32:27 > 0:32:29Squish it about.
0:32:29 > 0:32:33Yeah, yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
0:32:33 > 0:32:36HE YELLS SHE GIGGLES
0:32:38 > 0:32:41I'm not sure who's having more fun.
0:32:41 > 0:32:43Now to customise their burgers.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46Ava's going for a squirt of tomato ketchup
0:32:46 > 0:32:50and for the grown-up burgers, Zoe's opted for paprika, garlic
0:32:50 > 0:32:51and chilli paste.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54That's it, take it out, make it into a ball. All right!
0:32:54 > 0:32:56Check out the chef.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58Look at that one.
0:32:58 > 0:32:59Wow.
0:32:59 > 0:33:03While they're slaving away in the kitchen, Chris is hard at work
0:33:03 > 0:33:05catching up with Dan over a cuppa.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07- We know kids can be fussy eaters. - Yes.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10And I completely appreciate, you know, how hard it's been for you
0:33:10 > 0:33:13and, you know, the situation that you've been through.
0:33:13 > 0:33:17Yeah, the girls are probably not the greatest at trying new foods,
0:33:17 > 0:33:21probably should be a bit more forceful with them because they're
0:33:21 > 0:33:25just eating chicken nuggets and pizza and pasta, and that's pretty much it.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27We've got to that stage where we've realised
0:33:27 > 0:33:30- we've got to do something about.- One thing we could maybe try
0:33:30 > 0:33:33and sort of implement with the girls is like a reward chart.
0:33:33 > 0:33:35- I've got one here, well, two... - What, you made this?
0:33:35 > 0:33:37Here's one I made earlier, that's it.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39So, we've got the days down the left here
0:33:39 > 0:33:42and then 'I tried something new' and then we've got some stars here.
0:33:42 > 0:33:44Whoever gets the most, gets a reward.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47Chris' master plan is that whenever the girls try a new food,
0:33:47 > 0:33:50they're rewarded with a gold star on their chart.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53They like competition, so they're always trying to...
0:33:53 > 0:33:56trying to beat each other. Obviously, seeing a rewards chart
0:33:56 > 0:33:58and seeing more stars next to their name,
0:33:58 > 0:34:00I think they'll definitely go for that.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03If you put the hard work in and, you know, do the ground work,
0:34:03 > 0:34:04it falls into place after that,
0:34:04 > 0:34:06and I think before you know it, it'll be the norm.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08- You're entitled to have an easy life.- Yeah.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10You've worked all day,
0:34:10 > 0:34:12the last thing you want to do is have another battle at meal time.
0:34:12 > 0:34:13Yeah, and I think that's it.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16You come back in a week's time there'll be nothing on there.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19They might just surprise you, Dan.
0:34:19 > 0:34:23Back inside, Gregg and Zoe are preparing the sweet potato wedges.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26- BELTING:- Chiiips!
0:34:26 > 0:34:30- Now, we're going to drizzle them. Who wants to drizzle?- Me!
0:34:32 > 0:34:36- Oh.- Nice.- Nice, yeah, just throw...throw some over, great.
0:34:36 > 0:34:41The wedges go into a preheated oven for 35 minutes at 180 degrees,
0:34:41 > 0:34:44followed by the burgers ten minutes later.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46I had loads of fun today, it's been really good.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49The girls have absolutely loved doing all the cooking
0:34:49 > 0:34:51and mixing all the ingredients together.
0:34:51 > 0:34:55I thoroughly enjoyed that and I've got a feeling the three
0:34:55 > 0:34:58ladies did as well. I mean, that was a lot of fun.
0:34:58 > 0:35:00Grub's up, time to get stuck in.
0:35:00 > 0:35:05Oh, look! All your hard work, slaving away in the kitchen, here we go.
0:35:05 > 0:35:09- Look at that. - Dinner. Dinner made by the girls.
0:35:09 > 0:35:12What do we say? Look at that.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15- It's fantastic. - Yeah, looks nice, well done.
0:35:15 > 0:35:17Well done, guys. Zoe, how was that?
0:35:17 > 0:35:19- It was really good, I enjoyed it. - Thank you very much.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22- That looks good, doesn't it? - Yeah, that looks really good.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24And it's a nice... A proper burger.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26- Mm.- That's lovely, well done, girls.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29Yeah, they are. Well done, ladies. Well done.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31You made some good burgers.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34- The stars in the kitchen are these two.- Definitely.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37I've never had so much fun cooking, honestly.
0:35:37 > 0:35:39- I'm going to eat it.- That's it, break a bit off, it's lovely.
0:35:39 > 0:35:41Do you like it, is it nice?
0:35:41 > 0:35:43Really like it?
0:35:43 > 0:35:46But what do the girls make of the sweet potato wedges?
0:35:46 > 0:35:49I don't want them on mine.
0:35:49 > 0:35:50- No?- They're chips, darling.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52You going to try them?
0:35:52 > 0:35:54- Daddy, I licked one. - You licked one.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56Why don't you try and eat one?
0:35:56 > 0:35:58Sofia's not convinced.
0:35:58 > 0:36:02Chris, this is the perfect opportunity to put your star
0:36:02 > 0:36:05chart to the test. No pressure.
0:36:05 > 0:36:07- I've got something for you. - Oh, look.
0:36:07 > 0:36:12This is Ava's and Sofia's reward chart, and every time you try
0:36:12 > 0:36:15- something different or new you get a gold star!- Wow.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17You excited about that?
0:36:17 > 0:36:20And then after you get a few gold stars, Mummy and Daddy are going
0:36:20 > 0:36:22to give you a special treat.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25So, Ava, I think you've tried your burger
0:36:25 > 0:36:27and your sweet potato already, haven't you?
0:36:27 > 0:36:31So you get two gold stars. Does Mummy want to put two gold stars
0:36:31 > 0:36:34on there? And, Sofia, you tried your burger.
0:36:34 > 0:36:36Would you like to try your sweet potato
0:36:36 > 0:36:38and get two gold stars like Ava?
0:36:40 > 0:36:42- Good girl, well done. - Brilliant, good girl,
0:36:42 > 0:36:45so Daddy, do you want to get two stars on it. Well done.
0:36:45 > 0:36:49I think the reward chart is going to work really well.
0:36:49 > 0:36:53The girls will be really excited to get all of their stars,
0:36:53 > 0:36:56and it's given us a reason to get them to try things as well.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59We'll probably give them a nice family day out at the end of it
0:36:59 > 0:37:01as a nice reward.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04- Two gold stars for you.- Brilliant.
0:37:04 > 0:37:06Two gold stars for you.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09Well done. Good girls.
0:37:09 > 0:37:14- What a great start.- Mummy can have one for being in the kitchen cooking.
0:37:14 > 0:37:15Well done.
0:37:16 > 0:37:21There's one big issue that Zoe and Dan struggle with and that's waste.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24Chris has a solution to make sure that the home-made burgers
0:37:24 > 0:37:26don't end up in their bin.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29I've got you something. We've printed you out some stickers.
0:37:29 > 0:37:31All you need to know when you're freezing something is
0:37:31 > 0:37:35when you put it in there and how long is the
0:37:35 > 0:37:38life expectancy of that product once it's been frozen.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41So if you want to just fill one of these lovely labels out for me,
0:37:41 > 0:37:43I'll pop these in here.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47When you don't have time, you know, things are hectic
0:37:47 > 0:37:50and you're really busy, these are absolutely ideal.
0:37:50 > 0:37:53- So can you cook them from frozen? - You could cook it from frozen,
0:37:53 > 0:37:55but obviously, you have to take that into consideration
0:37:55 > 0:37:58- with the cooking time.- The burgers can be cooked straight
0:37:58 > 0:38:00from the freezer or defrosted first,
0:38:00 > 0:38:03just ensure they're cooked all the way through before serving.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05So what should we put for the use by date?
0:38:05 > 0:38:08So with something like this that's been freshly prepared,
0:38:08 > 0:38:10- three to six months easily. - Six months, oh, my God!
0:38:10 > 0:38:13Never eaten anything that's been in the freezer for six months.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16- After a month you'd just throw it away, wouldn't you?- Yeah.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19Seeing as you're a little bit sceptical, I think
0:38:19 > 0:38:21if we err on the side of caution, just put three months to start.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24- We've got the first label, if you put that on.- Lovely.
0:38:24 > 0:38:26I'm going to give you a shout on the 18th of November and see
0:38:26 > 0:38:30if you've got these out and enjoyed your delicious, home-made burgers.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33So don't be afraid of your freezer, use it, it's your friend.
0:38:33 > 0:38:35You've got nothing to worry about in terms of freezing food.
0:38:35 > 0:38:39As long as you do it properly, it'll be fine for three to six months.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41It'll taste exactly the same and be perfectly safe.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43No more freezer fright.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45Exactly that, no more freezer fright.
0:38:45 > 0:38:49As the swaps continue, Gregg and Chris put them to the
0:38:49 > 0:38:53test with some frozen broccoli, as they prepare a Thai green curry.
0:38:53 > 0:38:55We would never use frozen broccoli.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57I've tried it a few times.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00I found it was quite watery once it was cooked before.
0:39:00 > 0:39:04Swapping fresh broccoli for frozen saves 60p
0:39:04 > 0:39:07and hopefully won't end up in the bin.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10We've always bought fresh broccoli and probably used half of an actual
0:39:10 > 0:39:12broccoli and then chucked the other half away, so...
0:39:12 > 0:39:15No, but if you buy it fresh it will go... It'll be...
0:39:15 > 0:39:17The use-by-date will be within a couple of days of buying it
0:39:17 > 0:39:20and then if you want some more at the end of the week
0:39:20 > 0:39:23- you've got to go to the shop again. - I would say definitely by using
0:39:23 > 0:39:27frozen vegetables is a really good way of us saving money
0:39:27 > 0:39:28in terms of throwing food away.
0:39:30 > 0:39:31Oh, yeah.
0:39:32 > 0:39:34Thai curry paste smells really nice.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37That's good because it's what you usually buy.
0:39:37 > 0:39:42The coconut milk is 89p, that's a saving of £1.10 a tin,
0:39:42 > 0:39:44over £57 a year.
0:39:44 > 0:39:46Dinner is served.
0:39:46 > 0:39:48Looks delicious.
0:39:48 > 0:39:49I'm going to try some of mine.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54Moment of truth. How's the broccoli going down?
0:39:54 > 0:39:57- The broccoli's quite nice, isn't it? - Oh, it's not too bad.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59It doesn't taste as fresh though, tender.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02If it works out that much cheaper and you can keep some in the
0:40:02 > 0:40:05freezer, have it there all the time, I don't think it's that much
0:40:05 > 0:40:08of a difference between the frozen broccoli and a fresh broccoli.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11No, I think you're right. If we were making a Thai green curry again,
0:40:11 > 0:40:13I think we probably would stick with this.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16Excellent news, making this curry at least once a week
0:40:16 > 0:40:20and keeping all the swapped ingredients saves nearly £70 a year.
0:40:20 > 0:40:22I need to practise football.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25When I saw the frozen broccoli I thought it was going to be
0:40:25 > 0:40:29disgusting, but the broccoli just tasted like normal fresh
0:40:29 > 0:40:32broccoli would, so I think we definitely would buy that
0:40:32 > 0:40:35frozen broccoli again and I'm really surprised with that.
0:40:35 > 0:40:37Eh, two headers!
0:40:37 > 0:40:40We like to test your taste buds to show you
0:40:40 > 0:40:43that sometimes it's worth trying new things.
0:40:43 > 0:40:48In the UK, we throw away 2.7 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51One way to tackle this is to buy frozen.
0:40:51 > 0:40:55It's cheaper and the good news is, it's just as nutritious.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59Place UK is a soft fruit supplier in Norwich
0:40:59 > 0:41:04where they grow and process fruit for the fresh and frozen markets.
0:41:04 > 0:41:09Chris is meeting operations director Andy Shepherdson to find out more.
0:41:09 > 0:41:10Andy, hello, mate.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13We've got some lovely strawberries here. They smell great. Is there a
0:41:13 > 0:41:16difference between the strawberries you use for fresh and frozen?
0:41:16 > 0:41:18If you're buying the fresh strawberry, it'll ripen...
0:41:18 > 0:41:21The transition from farm to the supermarket.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23Basically, this strawberry will be picked now
0:41:23 > 0:41:24and it'll be frozen today,
0:41:24 > 0:41:27so we try and retain all the freshness of the strawberry.
0:41:27 > 0:41:29We're capturing the flavour and the essence of the fruit today.
0:41:29 > 0:41:32Once the strawberries are picked, they're immediately
0:41:32 > 0:41:33taken to the factory.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36These are the strawberries we picked this morning, Chris,
0:41:36 > 0:41:39so what we're going to do now, we're going to wash the strawberries.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44This is just water? There's no preservatives added?
0:41:44 > 0:41:47No, we don't use anything apart from a low level of chlorine to
0:41:47 > 0:41:49clean the strawberries, that's it, nothing else.
0:41:49 > 0:41:53Chlorine is added to the water to destroy germs and bacteria.
0:41:53 > 0:41:56Anything like an insect or anything like that would be washed off,
0:41:56 > 0:41:59then we have inspection people looking for any defects.
0:41:59 > 0:42:03Not every single strawberry will be good enough to be frozen.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06- What's happening here?- Basically, anything that looks a bit odd,
0:42:06 > 0:42:09we can take off and what we do with that we'll make puree from that,
0:42:09 > 0:42:11so nothing's wasted.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16The strawberries that make the grade are frozen within
0:42:16 > 0:42:17three hours of being picked.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20Andy and Chris are braving the freezer.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22It's minus-26 degrees in there.
0:42:23 > 0:42:26So you freeze each strawberry individually?
0:42:26 > 0:42:29You'll see where the strawberries virtually hover on the conveyor belt.
0:42:29 > 0:42:31Jets of air are blasted underneath them,
0:42:31 > 0:42:35allowing the strawberries to hover and rotate in mid air,
0:42:35 > 0:42:40ensuring that the surface of every strawberry is evenly frozen.
0:42:40 > 0:42:43These strawberries were picked at their ripest, retaining all
0:42:43 > 0:42:47the flavour and nutrients you would expect in a fresh strawberry.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49Finally they're packed,
0:42:49 > 0:42:53weighed and ready for delivery to supermarkets and local wholesalers.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56But once the frozen strawberry is defrosted,
0:42:56 > 0:42:58how does it compare to the fresh?
0:42:58 > 0:43:01And can our greengrocer tell the difference?
0:43:01 > 0:43:03OK, Chris, what we have here, we have some frozen
0:43:03 > 0:43:06strawberries that we defrosted, and we have some fresh strawberries.
0:43:06 > 0:43:09They're very, very similar. So let's have a taste.
0:43:13 > 0:43:16That's beautiful, that is absolutely gorgeous.
0:43:21 > 0:43:25That's actually slightly sweeter. I mean, it comes down to a guess.
0:43:25 > 0:43:29I'm going to go with this as the fresh and that as the frozen
0:43:29 > 0:43:33and I'm potentially just about to sign my death warrant on my career.
0:43:33 > 0:43:35You're actually correct, but I think you...
0:43:35 > 0:43:38CHRIS SIGHS AND LAUGHS ..you know, everything you said...
0:43:38 > 0:43:40That's more luck than judgment because...
0:43:40 > 0:43:42You're right in what you said. If you look closely, you can see
0:43:42 > 0:43:45that the follicle and the hairs of the strawberry are more prominent
0:43:45 > 0:43:48- on that one.- Yeah, yeah. - And look slightly more subdued on
0:43:48 > 0:43:50that one. I wouldn't say they're completely flat.
0:43:50 > 0:43:53I'm absolutely amazed by that because they are almost identical.
0:43:53 > 0:43:57And with fresh fruit sometimes being double the prize of frozen,
0:43:57 > 0:44:01it's great to find a cheaper and equally nutritious alternative.
0:44:04 > 0:44:06I've had my eyes opened today.
0:44:06 > 0:44:09I think there is a real place for frozen alongside fresh,
0:44:09 > 0:44:13and if that increases consumption and minimises waste,
0:44:13 > 0:44:14that can only be a good thing.
0:44:19 > 0:44:22Back in Maidstone and it's breakfast at the Stantons',
0:44:22 > 0:44:26and Zoe's usual fresh fruit has been swapped for frozen.
0:44:26 > 0:44:30Never used frozen fruit before, so I'm quite looking forward to
0:44:30 > 0:44:31seeing what it tastes like.
0:44:31 > 0:44:35Fruit is probably one of the biggest things that we do throw away
0:44:35 > 0:44:38because we end up not using it within the use-by-date.
0:44:38 > 0:44:42Could be a good idea, couldn't it, frozen? Just grab out a handful of
0:44:42 > 0:44:44- what you actually want for the day.- Yeah.
0:44:44 > 0:44:46Loving your thinking, Dan.
0:44:46 > 0:44:50We've also swapped your natural yoghurt and at 90p cheaper
0:44:50 > 0:44:54than you usual brand, it would save you over £46 a year.
0:44:54 > 0:44:56But what's the verdict?
0:44:56 > 0:44:58I think the yoghurt and the berries are really nice.
0:44:58 > 0:45:01Sounds promising. Have we got a fresh to frozen convert?
0:45:01 > 0:45:04I actually think it might taste a little bit nicer,
0:45:04 > 0:45:07and you've got more of a variety and then you've got a bit of
0:45:07 > 0:45:11a juice that's come out of the berries. I think it's quite tasty.
0:45:11 > 0:45:14If Zoe wanted to buy the fresh equivalent of these four
0:45:14 > 0:45:18different berries, it would cost her more than double the price.
0:45:18 > 0:45:22I think it's the texture, a bit slimy and a bit...
0:45:22 > 0:45:24I think I'm a bit more sceptical.
0:45:24 > 0:45:26- I quite like it.- I don't.
0:45:26 > 0:45:30Frozen berries have divided the Stantons.
0:45:30 > 0:45:33I'm a fan, I really liked that. That was nice.
0:45:33 > 0:45:35I definitely would buy those again.
0:45:35 > 0:45:39Keeping the swapped yoghurt and the frozen berries could save them
0:45:39 > 0:45:42a whopping £163.80 a year.
0:45:44 > 0:45:46- Who's on the other end?- Hello?
0:45:46 > 0:45:49Meal times at the Stantons' have been full of surprises.
0:45:49 > 0:45:52Ooh, ooh, that's enough!
0:45:52 > 0:45:55We swapped most of the food they'd been eating, but to keep them
0:45:55 > 0:45:59on their toes, some things weren't swapped at all.
0:45:59 > 0:46:02- There you go, Ava. - Do you not like the bread?- No.
0:46:02 > 0:46:04The bread does taste different, it tastes quite dry.
0:46:04 > 0:46:06It does taste really dry, doesn't it?
0:46:06 > 0:46:09I definitely think the bread has been swapped.
0:46:09 > 0:46:13Sorry, Dan, but it's exactly the same as what you always have.
0:46:13 > 0:46:16Thankfully, most of the food has gone down a treat.
0:46:16 > 0:46:18They had the same at the hospital.
0:46:18 > 0:46:21They are the same ones as the hospital, are they?
0:46:21 > 0:46:26Those fish fingers would save Mum and Dad over £26 a year.
0:46:26 > 0:46:28- Ave, do you like them waffles? - Yeah.- Are you sure?
0:46:28 > 0:46:31I think the waffles are a definite hit.
0:46:31 > 0:46:32Thumbs up for the waffles.
0:46:32 > 0:46:35That's another saving towards the final bill.
0:46:35 > 0:46:40They're 70p cheaper, plus you get two extra waffles per pack.
0:46:40 > 0:46:43It's the final day of the food swap
0:46:43 > 0:46:47and Zoe and Dan are preparing a pasta bake, a mealtime favourite.
0:46:47 > 0:46:49I think it looks a bit like the mince from the butchers
0:46:49 > 0:46:51because that's how they package it, isn't it?
0:46:51 > 0:46:54- You know your mince, darling. - You're spot on.
0:46:54 > 0:46:56We've swapped your usual premium supermarket mince
0:46:56 > 0:47:01for mince from your local butcher, which is 62p cheaper.
0:47:01 > 0:47:02Let's get that sauce out.
0:47:02 > 0:47:04To keep them on their toes,
0:47:04 > 0:47:07we haven't swapped their premium brand pasta sauce.
0:47:07 > 0:47:11Definitely doesn't look like the pasta that we'd usually buy.
0:47:11 > 0:47:14If me and Zoe are going to have a pasta dish
0:47:14 > 0:47:17we will probably go to the shops and buy a fresh pasta, won't we?
0:47:17 > 0:47:20Well, tonight we're saving you a trip as you've got dried pasta
0:47:20 > 0:47:22at almost half the price.
0:47:22 > 0:47:26The mince is looking good, time to add the pasta sauce.
0:47:26 > 0:47:28Going to chuck the peppers in now.
0:47:28 > 0:47:33But before he does, Dan's adding chopped fresh tomatoes and chilli.
0:47:33 > 0:47:35Have you not read the label, Dan?
0:47:36 > 0:47:40Smells nice. Can really smell the chillies in it.
0:47:40 > 0:47:43Shall we put the tinned tomatoes in it as well?
0:47:43 > 0:47:47So Dan has made his own sauce and then he's added a jar of sauce,
0:47:47 > 0:47:50that's an expensive way to make a pasta bake.
0:47:50 > 0:47:53Made an absolute mountain of mince
0:47:53 > 0:47:54as per usual.
0:47:57 > 0:47:58They've doubled up on ingredients,
0:47:58 > 0:48:01but at least they're not wasting the leftovers.
0:48:01 > 0:48:06Since my last chat with Chris and Gregg, they'll be very,
0:48:06 > 0:48:10very pleased to know what I am actually doing with this mince,
0:48:10 > 0:48:13and instead of throwing it away, we've actually bought some
0:48:13 > 0:48:16Tupperware, putting it in the freezer.
0:48:17 > 0:48:19- It looks quite nice, doesn't it? - Yeah, looks good.
0:48:25 > 0:48:27I really like the mince, it was really lean.
0:48:27 > 0:48:29There wasn't much fat coming off it when you cooked it.
0:48:29 > 0:48:31No. I really like it.
0:48:31 > 0:48:34The pasta's like a little bit more al dente.
0:48:34 > 0:48:36Where the fresh pasta's not as firm,
0:48:36 > 0:48:40so yeah, no, I'd definitely use the dried pasta.
0:48:40 > 0:48:42The sauce is lovely.
0:48:42 > 0:48:45Making the pasta bake once a week and keeping all the swapped
0:48:45 > 0:48:49ingredients would save Dan and Zoe over £100 a year.
0:48:52 > 0:48:54The boys are on their way to Maidstone to meet
0:48:54 > 0:48:56the Stantons for the final time.
0:48:56 > 0:48:59So how are you feeling? We're going to see the Stantons.
0:48:59 > 0:49:01This is the moment of truth. Are you nervous?
0:49:01 > 0:49:04Be interesting to see out of the foods that we've swapped,
0:49:04 > 0:49:06which ones they would like to keep.
0:49:06 > 0:49:09I can't wait for Gregg and Chris to come back and show us
0:49:09 > 0:49:13what things have been swapped and what things haven't.
0:49:13 > 0:49:16We can save this family a fortune, but if they don't like them
0:49:16 > 0:49:18and they reject them all what can we do?
0:49:18 > 0:49:21We've enjoyed quite a lot of it and if they're going to save us
0:49:21 > 0:49:24lots of money, it'll be brilliant.
0:49:24 > 0:49:26God, I hope it's been positive. Ohh!
0:49:26 > 0:49:28I hope it's more positive than your driving.
0:49:32 > 0:49:33Dan, Zoe, how was it?
0:49:33 > 0:49:36The swaps were really good actually. Yeah, quite a lot of the stuff
0:49:36 > 0:49:38we were quite surprised that we really enjoyed.
0:49:38 > 0:49:40The girls, how did they get on?
0:49:40 > 0:49:44- They were brilliant, weren't they? - They're really very fussy,
0:49:44 > 0:49:47- very fussy eaters.- We noticed that they were eating a lot more than
0:49:47 > 0:49:50they normally would do. On the first day, sat down
0:49:50 > 0:49:53and tried all the stuff that you gave us, I was quite surprised.
0:49:53 > 0:49:57Do you think removing the packaging gives you a real opportunity
0:49:57 > 0:50:00to actually taste the food without any sort of preconceptions or
0:50:00 > 0:50:03- ideas about what it is? - Yeah! How much is in there.
0:50:03 > 0:50:05It was nice to look in the fridge and actually see all the fresh
0:50:05 > 0:50:09products rather than a load of, you know, labels and slogans.
0:50:09 > 0:50:13- Have you noticed the difference in how much you're throwing away? - Yeah, definitely.
0:50:13 > 0:50:15There wasn't anything that's past the use-by-date,
0:50:15 > 0:50:18and then the amounts of food that we're cooking like you said,
0:50:18 > 0:50:20it's going in the freezer if we'd already prepared it.
0:50:20 > 0:50:25'Wow, cutting out their food waste could save them over £2,000 a year.'
0:50:25 > 0:50:28Can I ask you what you might have learned from that?
0:50:28 > 0:50:32I think if we actually sat down on a Sunday or whatever day it is
0:50:32 > 0:50:35and actually wrote out some...
0:50:35 > 0:50:39some shopping lists, then it's got to save us money and give us
0:50:39 > 0:50:42- structure to our dinner times, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:50:42 > 0:50:45'All sounding positive so far.'
0:50:45 > 0:50:47Right, come on, then.
0:50:47 > 0:50:48'It's crunch time.'
0:50:48 > 0:50:51Oh, look!
0:50:51 > 0:50:52- Right, well, look.- Yes.
0:50:52 > 0:50:54I'd like to start off with the biggest story
0:50:54 > 0:50:57- as far as I'm concerned, the beans.- Yes.
0:50:57 > 0:50:59- Now, you know your beans, don't you?- Yes.
0:50:59 > 0:51:02There's a famous baked bean... You won't eat anything else, will you?
0:51:02 > 0:51:04- No.- Did you enjoy the beans we gave you?
0:51:04 > 0:51:06- Yes.- Oh, Zoe.
0:51:06 > 0:51:08Look.
0:51:08 > 0:51:11Ohh, Zoe, bae!
0:51:12 > 0:51:14Oh, dear!
0:51:14 > 0:51:18- These are 38 pence cheaper a tin. - That's big.
0:51:18 > 0:51:21I'm taking it for granted you're going to keep these beans.
0:51:21 > 0:51:23Can we just put a different label on it?
0:51:23 > 0:51:27- So we're keeping the beans?- Keeping the beans.- I'd say keep the beans.
0:51:27 > 0:51:29'Cracking start. They buy two tins of beans a week,
0:51:29 > 0:51:33'so substituting the brand saves them over £39 a year.'
0:51:33 > 0:51:37Dan and Zoe, talk to me about mincemeat. So did you like it?
0:51:37 > 0:51:41Yes, we did. I thought it looked like it was a better quality mince.
0:51:41 > 0:51:44- So you think we did change it? - Yes.- We think you did.
0:51:44 > 0:51:49You're absolutely right. It is lean mincemeat from your local butcher.
0:51:49 > 0:51:51So you think it's going to be more expensive?
0:51:51 > 0:51:53It is probably more expensive.
0:51:53 > 0:51:55It's 62 pence cheaper.
0:51:55 > 0:51:57That's really good to know.
0:51:57 > 0:52:00- So are we going to keep the mince? - Yes, we will, yeah.- Yes.- Brilliant.
0:52:00 > 0:52:03'Well, Zoe, you buy it once a week, so going with the butcher's
0:52:03 > 0:52:07'mince slashes another £32 off the yearly bill.'
0:52:07 > 0:52:10- We obviously swapped your fresh fruit for frozen fruit.- Yes.
0:52:10 > 0:52:13I really liked the frozen berries, quite nice to have all
0:52:13 > 0:52:16the different berries in there. Yeah, I really enjoyed it.
0:52:16 > 0:52:19- It was obviously frozen fruit that we gave you.- Yeah.
0:52:19 > 0:52:23And it is a fairly healthy saving of £2.25.
0:52:23 > 0:52:25Like to keep the frozen fruit over the fresh?
0:52:25 > 0:52:27I would like to keep the frozen fruit.
0:52:27 > 0:52:30The point with this is obviously with frozen you don't get any waste.
0:52:30 > 0:52:33I don't eat the same thing for breakfast every day, so I might only
0:52:33 > 0:52:36have the yoghurt and berries like a couple of days during the week
0:52:36 > 0:52:40and obviously a whole punnet of berries just for me, the use-by-date
0:52:40 > 0:52:43would go, so I'd end up throwing them away. So this is probably
0:52:43 > 0:52:45ideal for me to just keep in the freezer and have it when I want.
0:52:45 > 0:52:51'Good move, that will reduce your waste and save you £117 a year.'
0:52:51 > 0:52:55Can I ask you how you got on with the bread we gave you?
0:52:55 > 0:52:59- We didn't like the bread, did we? - No, the bread was quite...
0:52:59 > 0:53:02- We were...- Like, it was really dry.
0:53:02 > 0:53:05The bread does taste different. It tastes quite dry.
0:53:05 > 0:53:06It does taste really dry, doesn't it?
0:53:06 > 0:53:09I definitely think the bread has been swapped.
0:53:09 > 0:53:11You didn't like that at all, then?
0:53:11 > 0:53:14I've preferred other breads that we've had before.
0:53:14 > 0:53:17Strange that because that's one of the things we didn't change.
0:53:17 > 0:53:20SHE GIGGLES
0:53:20 > 0:53:22- I know.- Oh, Zoe!- I'm shocked.
0:53:22 > 0:53:24Listen, if you're not sold on it, can I suggest you just
0:53:24 > 0:53:27go in the shop and see if there's a cheaper one you might like more?
0:53:27 > 0:53:31- Yeah, we should.- I think we've got to, haven't we?- Yeah.
0:53:31 > 0:53:32I can't believe that.
0:53:32 > 0:53:35'Well, boys, you got them with that one.'
0:53:35 > 0:53:37So what did you think of the pasta sauce?
0:53:37 > 0:53:39Yeah, pasta sauce was lovely in the bake, wasn't it?
0:53:39 > 0:53:42- You put a jar of ready-made sauce into your bake...- Yes.
0:53:42 > 0:53:43And then you added to it.
0:53:43 > 0:53:46I've always sort of added stuff to it, haven't I?
0:53:46 > 0:53:48Cos I've never really liked it too dry.
0:53:48 > 0:53:51You added tinned tomatoes...
0:53:51 > 0:53:53- Yes.- ..and different flavourings. - Yes.
0:53:53 > 0:53:55You made your own sauce. Yes.
0:53:55 > 0:53:57And added it to a jar of sauce.
0:53:57 > 0:53:59- Yes.- That's mad.
0:53:59 > 0:54:01You're sweating onions, you're adding tomatoes,
0:54:01 > 0:54:03- you're adding garlic...- Yeah, yes.
0:54:03 > 0:54:06..you're adding chilli. That's a sauce!
0:54:06 > 0:54:08- You don't need to buy the jars. - Yes, you're right.
0:54:08 > 0:54:11'Dan loves his branded pasta sauce.
0:54:11 > 0:54:13'Have you done enough to convince him?'
0:54:13 > 0:54:16- Shall we just... - Let's get rid of the sauce.
0:54:16 > 0:54:17- Do away with the...- Yes.
0:54:17 > 0:54:20I think I'm going to make my own sauces from now on.
0:54:22 > 0:54:23'That's what we like to hear.
0:54:23 > 0:54:28'Ditching the jars will save another £78 a year.'
0:54:28 > 0:54:29No, go on, throw it.
0:54:29 > 0:54:32'Not everything was a success.'
0:54:32 > 0:54:35The tuna was horrible, maybe just don't like it in brine.
0:54:35 > 0:54:37Righto.
0:54:37 > 0:54:39'But they loved most of what we gave them,
0:54:39 > 0:54:43'keeping 86% of the food we swapped.'
0:54:43 > 0:54:45- That was a big hit, wasn't it? - Yeah, they liked them.
0:54:45 > 0:54:51'These five products alone save them a whopping £457 a year.
0:54:52 > 0:54:56'The strategy was to get them to plan more, freeze leftovers and
0:54:56 > 0:55:00'reduce waste, and most importantly save them money, but how much?'
0:55:00 > 0:55:03When we first met you,
0:55:03 > 0:55:06you gave us your weekly shopping receipts
0:55:06 > 0:55:10and they came to £327.
0:55:10 > 0:55:11Mm...yes.
0:55:11 > 0:55:14So would you like to have a guess at how much you think
0:55:14 > 0:55:16we could have saved you?
0:55:16 > 0:55:19I reckon somewhere around between 50...
0:55:19 > 0:55:23- 50?- About 50, £50.
0:55:24 > 0:55:28- Based on these food swaps... - Yes.
0:55:28 > 0:55:31..we reckon your bill would go
0:55:31 > 0:55:36from £327 that you were spending...
0:55:42 > 0:55:45..down to £224.
0:55:45 > 0:55:47Wow.
0:55:47 > 0:55:50You will save over £100 a week.
0:55:50 > 0:55:54- That's a lot of money. - It's a massive amount of money.
0:55:54 > 0:55:57I mean, I'm sure some people that's probably what they spend on
0:55:57 > 0:56:02their shopping per week, so to be able to save that amount of money
0:56:02 > 0:56:05and put it away is just brilliant, isn't it?
0:56:05 > 0:56:08Five grand a year. What would you do with that?
0:56:08 > 0:56:12- We would always like to take the kids away and go on holiday.- Yeah.
0:56:12 > 0:56:15Especially with like obviously Sofia's illness and whatnot, so.
0:56:15 > 0:56:18Yeah, I think she's got about a year on her treatment to go,
0:56:18 > 0:56:21but once she's done with that I think we'd like to plan,
0:56:21 > 0:56:24you know, a really special holiday for the girls. Yeah.
0:56:24 > 0:56:29If you save that money for a year until she can get on a plane
0:56:29 > 0:56:31and go on holiday it would be fantastic.
0:56:31 > 0:56:34- Yeah, definitely. - I think it's going to be like...
0:56:34 > 0:56:37like a trip of a lifetime and we're going to make it so special
0:56:37 > 0:56:40- and we're not going to tell her anything about it, are we?- No.
0:56:40 > 0:56:42Just going to wake up one morning and say,
0:56:42 > 0:56:44"We're going to Disneyworld."
0:56:44 > 0:56:46Saving of that sort of money is going to make such
0:56:46 > 0:56:50a difference to our lives, isn't it, just for just for things
0:56:50 > 0:56:54like holidays and obviously saving for the kids for their future.
0:56:54 > 0:56:57You know, it's a massive amount of money, five grand a...
0:56:57 > 0:57:01five grand a year, ten years is £50,000, isn't it?
0:57:01 > 0:57:03You know, so much money.
0:57:03 > 0:57:05Guys, you've done fantastically well.
0:57:05 > 0:57:08- Thank you.- Thank you for help, thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:57:08 > 0:57:10- Congratulations, well done. - Thank you.
0:57:10 > 0:57:12I don't think that could have gone any better.
0:57:12 > 0:57:15Mate, they're making enormous savings, I think that's fantastic.
0:57:15 > 0:57:18Five grand a year. This family's going to have a holiday
0:57:18 > 0:57:20- of a lifetime. - I'm chuffed, you know?
0:57:20 > 0:57:23I'm really, really pleased. Fancy a pint?