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

Whenever I cook a packet of prepared veg and I see the label "Country of Origin - Kenya" I always think of the person(s) who picked, prepared and packed those to support their family so that this "rich woman" in a country many miles away could have her life a bit easier .

I thought of this very thing this morning when I cut up my apple to take to work - I slice one third of it away in a straight cut just missing the core, then I chop that piece into fingers and carry on cutting that way until I am left with just the core. It takes me about 30-40 seconds.

I don't usually buy veg that is not British (food miles)
Perhaps I should think of it more like that Grannyknot

I have an apple cutter upper - it de-cores the apple and cuts it into slices at the same time. It is very sharp, though!

Apart from the pineapple and mango - and bananas of course! (but they're fruit)

If one buys fruit or veg prepared by someone in a country poorer than here, isn't one helping that country's economy? I don't find I can feel sad about that.

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 ? !

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...

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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 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!).

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

There are stupid people in the world.

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

Never underestimate the sheer amount of stupidity out there.

I think it's increasing.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.