AIBU a generation that can’t be bothered.

Personally, I feel that the problem lies in the fact that many of the present generation have never learnt how to cook from scratch. Also, that convenience foods are pushed on them by advertisers.
During the '80s when my two boys were at school, they had a few food technology lessons, for one less the eldest was told to bring in a packet of ready-made pastry and a tin of meat to make a pie, despite working full time I made a meat pie with him from scratch to show him how I would do it. In fact, they both enjoyed cooking with me. My eldest now does all the cooking mainly from scratch for his family.

The OP stated that the article was to see if she could do a weekly shop for a family of 4 on a £60 budget.

The journalist clearly wasn’t putting herself in the shoes of a family that would have to get by on that amount.

For a week she was going to have to get by on what she had purchased, I could not believe that for one week she couldn’t peel, mash or grate.

I realised the she in question was the journalist from a rag, so not at all representative of a generation, Sago.

However, the thread seems to have taken on a life of it's own!

Its
Like my autocorrect

Sorry but single mum here and only parent of 3 working and with a disabled son . Sometimes it’s easier to buy frozen or instant mash . After working kids have clubs homework etc . Why not let someone else peel and boil my potatoes it saves time in a busy world and often cheaper if only some eat the potatoes .x

Very unreasonable and judgemental as you have no idea of the circumstances!

Well said Riverwalk

Eee by gum, I remember the days when stew lasted at least a week, & cottage pie several days ., roast on a Sunday, left over’s on a Monday…….. If it’s …… were a challenge, a meal made up of whatever was available….. ahh good old days .
On a serious note, ‘laziness ‘ is not necessarily the reason.

ayse

Maybe they can’t cook as well. We don’t know their personal circumstances but at least she is buying vegetables!

I couldn’t even boil an egg at aged 18 so we had some disastrous meals but at the time there were few ready meals so I had to learn. The first book was Italian cookery as pasta was cheap and filling. I taught myself to cook as there was no alternative. We live in different times now.

Having said all that I too see trolleys full of over-processed foods with few fresh products. I’m not surprised that so many people are in ill health and spending huge amounts on rubbish.

It’s all been said before but practical skills such as cooking should be taught in schools instead of Food Technology.

No. It should be taught by the parents.
Schools can't teach everything and why should they? The curriculum is jam packed already!

Off to investigate frozen mashed potato .....

Chilled mashed potato is horrible.

I buy them for my son who is disabled and doesn’t have the dexterity for peeling/mashing. I also buy oven ready roast potatoes and Yorkshire puds. He has dyspraxia, asd and ocd so, there are so many issues for him.

I also do batches of roast spuds and freeze when I have time.

Please, don’t judge. There’ll be so many reasons for people buying these. My aunt is 92 and registered blind. My uncle died last year and she microwaves a lot of pre-prepared M&S veg and stuff.

Garnet250 if many of the present generation can’t cook, presumably their parents didn’t teach them and the lack of skills would be passed on to the next generation. I learnt to cook from my Mum and Nan. I taught both my daughters and they can both cook from scratch.
School cooking was a once a week lesson. You couldn’t learn to cook or even drive efficiently on one lesson a week and no practice.
I could just about feed a family of 4 on £60 for a week because I have things like gravy powder, cooking oil, tea, coffee and flour in the store cupboard. When the £60 has to cover basics like those and all the laundry stuff as well it would be nigh on impossible. Add in children who are picky eaters for whatever reason . . .

YABU
You have no idea of the circumstances
Some very judgemental attitudes in this thread!

CrazyGrandma2

Sago I suggest that you go and spend sometime volunteering in a food bank. It never crossed my mind that someone wouldn't have a cooker and a microwave leave alone neither of them. Now of course even if they have one the cost of fuel would be prohibitive for some people. I've also met people who were never shown how to cook by their parents. I always come away humbled that people are even managing to survive. I consider myself extremely fortunate not to have to worry about such things. The saying "Walk a mile in someone's shoes" before you judge them, comes to mind.

I am sure that there are some people who as you say can't be bothered but there are plenty of people out there struggling to make ends meet. I was appalled when I discovered that areas of deprivation existed in a SE town which would be deemed to be rich.

thank you this poster.
big up to you.

Sago
Perhaps you should ask GNHQ to change the title of your thread to "Was this journalist being unreasonable just to sensationalise a story?"

Here we also have many companies who specialize in pre packaged food, shipped to your door. All you do is cook it. Very popular. I say what a waste. It all comes in packaging that adds to landfills, and how do you even know what's in it? To add , it's not cheap either. I don't think most of our kids know how to cook anymore. I love cooking and do everything from scratch. It's hypocritical to complain about prices and global warming and stuff whilst buying pre fab food!

Also don't get me started on about diapers!

YABVU and judgemental Maybe the ready mashed potato was an electric or gas saving exercise Maybe the Mum had arthritis and couldn't peel or grate maybe she is time poor Maybe you should educate yourself about the reality of some people's lives before you get on your high horse calling a whole generation lazy and can't be bothered!

TracyUSA

Here we also have many companies who specialize in pre packaged food, shipped to your door. All you do is cook it. Very popular. I say what a waste. It all comes in packaging that adds to landfills, and how do you even know what's in it? To add , it's not cheap either. I don't think most of our kids know how to cook anymore. I love cooking and do everything from scratch. It's hypocritical to complain about prices and global warming and stuff whilst buying pre fab food!

Well said. Alot of processed foods need health warnings on them. People do not read/listen about the causes of many
many health problems on the increase which goes hand in
hand with eating habits.
Calling people judgemental on this thread deters from the
real problem.

sounds ok to me-haven't peeled a potato in my life-always eat them with skin on

What are they like mashed?

Nice, if you don't go for the creamy texture.

Don't think I'd like bits of skin in my mash.

It is quite rustic, I agree.
Best done lumpy.

I’ve never peeled a potato for the family either, because I once read that the vitamins are mainly just under the skin, and that was my get out clause right there. I always feel obliged to peel if I’m making mash for visitors though - what a waste of time.