Rant warning! Are we becoming a nation of bone idle wastrels.

That's interesting, purple, about the preparation of pineapples. So, by eating pre-prepared fruit, we are giving more people jobs. I'd say that was a good thing.

Why is using prepared fruit any different, essentially, from using prepared wool, say, or cotton or leather, or using tools someone else has made instead of making the tools oneself?

It's a trade, an exchange of labour. Nothing wrong with that.

I've started to buy pieces of Parmesan cheese and either grate or flake in the food processor before freezing. The ready made stuff in tubs is tasteless and I could never use a whole piece before it went too black and mouldy even for me.
I used to feel prepared fruit totally decadent until I saw a TV programme on pineapple growing. Some of the fruit was prepared on the plantations before being flown out. Ok lots of food miles there, but it made the crop higher value and financed the lives and educated the children of the workers there. So a means to a good end really?

My DS will buy ready sliced fruit to eat at his desk - if he wanted a similar mix of fruit to prepare himself, he'd have to buy, e.g. a whole pineapple, a watermelon, a cantaloupe melon, a pack of strawberries, a bunch of grapes, an apple or three. This amount would make up around 10-12 good sized portions and eating them at the rate of one portion a day, the fruit simply would not last.
My DD often buys small packs of prepared veg, or the frozen packs of microwavable steam veg, because she lives alone and ends up wasting so much if she buys whole cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli heads etc.

Living on my own I find it more economical to buy small packs of prepared vegetables because otherwise I would not get a decent selection without it costing a lot and I would waste more.

Quite. I often buy the little packs of watermelon or grapes/sliced apple meant for children because I know a larger amount would probably be wasted.

Let's not be too self-righteous.

I'm not a big fruit eater but occasionally fancy it so buy sliced mango, fruit salad, blueberries, etc, .... all very expensive but where's the crime?

Also, when working and on the move some of us need to grab small packs of ready-made snacks, fruit, and other such fripperies that seem to have the parsimonious mother-earth types swooning in the aisle!

I have only frozen cheese a couple of times. It seemed different when it thawed. Perhaps this doesn't matter if it's for cooking.

Great minds (grate minds?) think alike anno - Xd posts!!!

Grated cheese in the freezer can be a lot more economical than keeping a piece of cheddar which then goes mouldy because you forgot about it in the back of the fridge! However, grating leftover cheese ( in that unlikely event) in the Magimix then freezing it up in bags combines economy with convenience. Stale bread (not mouldy) can also be crumbed, either toasted or not) in the same way and frozen for future use. That is my excuse for various bags of "I don't quite know what "'filling up my freezer.

As far as grated cheese are concerned, if I find cheese on offer, I buy a kilo and use the grating disc on my Magimix which processes it in seconds. I then freeze it and use it as necessary. If I buy a big block and leave it in the fridge, it can go off.

I think it's increasing.

Never underestimate the sheer amount of stupidity out there.

It is not necessary to spend that much to feed a family of four so why would anyone except out of stupidity?

There are stupid people in the world.

It was the one spending in excess of £300 that left me speechless.

I saw that series MOnica and was amazed at how much they spent; I know food is a big part of the household budget but £250 a week for four seems excessive to me (unless it's Christmas!).

I do not think anyone would disagree about the advantages of ready prepped food for those who would have difficulty doing it themselves. DD has been using frozen ready-chopped onions since badly damaging her rght arm in an accident. It is all the other people who do not have an excuse yet but these things at exorbitant prices that amaze me. Especially as we are constanly being told how hard up and pressed for cash everybody is since the financial crisis of 2008.

Very recently there was a short television series aimed at reducing the food bills of people who were feeling the pinch. All of them were spending £250 and much more a week to feed a family of 4 from the income of very ordinary everyday jobs; tradesmen, medical support staff and similar.

One family only ever bought ready prepared vegetables. They were amazed both by how much cheaper unprepared vegetables were and how quick and easy it was to prepare them.

I was just thinking this morning that I waste no food nowadays. I live by myself and buy mainly prepared fruit and meals. I throw no fresh food away at all now.

dunit, one of my fondest memories is of sitting on a bus with my grandson sharing a wee box of prepared fruit

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound accusatory, jane. It's not something one would think of without experience.

I have been a bit hypocritical here in the past I am afraid. I have clucked at the fact that I see folk buying cut up veg, fruit cheese etc and then Da Da Da......I have been in a hurry and thought Oooh I could get ready grated cheese for a baked potato and then ...last weekend I bought x2 ready made cheesy baked potatoes. A year ago I would have said that it was something I would never thought I would do but now, after years of watching pennies and doing the best for my family an easy option now and again is deserved and hang my scruples.

bags Yes I can see that grating would be difficult for someone with those conditions. Sorry

Yes of course bags. There isn't an emoticon for feeling [slightly uncomfortable] which I why I used the one for sad .

You only have to add water to a lot of those mixes these days.

I think they only used to sell the 'add an egg' etc. ones because otherwise people would feel guilty. Nowadays no one who buys them does...

I can never believe it when I see people but packets of pancake mix. Add an egg and milk . Isn't that just flour in the packet ? !