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Britain's 'cheapest' lunchtime meal was unveiled by scientists on Wednesday - the toast sandwich.
The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is reviving the mid-Victorian dish, which, unsurprisingly, consists of two slices of bread around a slice of toast. The society is 1. confident, it will offer £200 to anyone who can create a cheaper alternative. The meal, costing 7.5 pence, was first promoted 2. Victorian food writer Mrs Beeton. It is taken from Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management which became a best-seller after 3. appearance 150 years ago. read on
The RSC's Dr John Emsley said: "You simply put a piece of dry toast between two slices of bread and butter, with salt and pepper to taste. I've tried it and it's surprisingly nice to eat and quite filling. I would emphasise that toast sandwiches are also good at 4. you calories as well as money, provided you only have one toast sandwich for lunch and 5. else."
The toast sandwich provides about 330 calories, and consumers could opt for the healthier alternative of margarine instead of butter - an ingredient not available to Mrs Beeton 6. she was writing her book before it was invented.
RSC employee Jon Edwards said: "In my student days I thought a meal of '9p noodles' from Tesco was the perfect example of careful spending - but a toast sandwich is tastier, quicker, has more calories and comes 7. at just 7.5p." Mr Edwards added that the 21st Century version of the toast sandwich is healthier than the one from Mrs Beeton's era due to the vitamins and minerals that are added to bread today.
British Dietetic Association spokeswoman Melissa Little said there were ways to make the toast sandwich much better for not that much 8. money.
"You can add an egg for 8p, it's not much and it would give you some protein and keep you fuller for longer - and it would make it taste much better. Half a can of sardines for 19p would provide good fats, you would get some fish, and again make you feel fuller for longer. Even adding some vegetables, 9. as cucumbers or carrots - would give you some more nutrients."
She suggested the exercise did highlight that people are struggling to pay for grocery bills and looking for alternatives. The more people talked about making healthy meals for less money, the better informed people 10. be, she said.
The first instalment of of Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management was published in 1861. It 11. over 60,000 copies in its first year of publication and nearly two million by 1868. As well as recipes the book contained advice on household management, childcare, etiquette, entertaining and the employment 12. servants.
bbc
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