Obesity

[Reynard]

If they are anything like my daughter No 3, throwing it away, when the Best Before date is reached, and, it has not been eaten.

I despair

Well, I'm a keen yellow stickerer, so I'm buying a lot of my food at the point most people are throwing it away. I see myself as undertaking a very valuable public service in preventing food waste.

As long as stuff is stored and cooked correctly, (and hasn't walked out of the fridge and developed language skills) there's nothing wrong with any of it. I went on Saturday night, and my haul included:

A side of salmon, a 2kg pork belly joint, sea bass, tuna, a cooked chicken, eggs, beetroot, beans, broccoli, asparagus, carrots, lettuce, salad onions, satsumas, blueberries, avocadoes, croissants and, yes, I do have to admit, a chocolate cake.

 

[Julia9054]

what are people doing with all this stuff?

Putting it in the freezer?
Most families shop once a week or once a fortnight. Back in “the day” people had small kitchens/ pantries, small fridges, no freezer and shopped every day or every couple of days.

 

[Reynard]

Putting it in the freezer?
Most families shop once a week or once a fortnight. Back in “the day” people had small kitchens/ pantries, small fridges, no freezer and shopped every day or every couple of days.

Yes and no, I reckon.

If people got it right, there wouldn't be such an issue with domestic food waste. But there is, which does mean that people *are* buying too much. Sure, back in the day, people had less food storage, but food was proportionately more expensive, so you didn't buy above and beyond what you actually need.

I've actually overheard people in the supermarket putting stuff in their trolley (usually stickered stuff, but not always) and saying, oh, I won't be able to get this all in the freezer, but it's so cheap that I don't care if some of it ends up being thrown away.

 

[BoldonLad]

Well, I'm a keen yellow stickerer, so I'm buying a lot of my food at the point most people are throwing it away. I see myself as undertaking a very valuable public service in preventing food waste.

As long as stuff is stored and cooked correctly, (and hasn't walked out of the fridge and developed language skills) there's nothing wrong with any of it. I went on Saturday night, and my haul included:

A side of salmon, a 2kg pork belly joint, sea bass, tuna, a cooked chicken, eggs, beetroot, beans, broccoli, asparagus, carrots, lettuce, salad onions, satsumas, blueberries, avocadoes, croissants and, yes, I do have to admit, a chocolate cake.

I agree, well done you

 

[Kingfisher101]

Putting it in the freezer?
Most families shop once a week or once a fortnight. Back in “the day” people had small kitchens/ pantries, small fridges, no freezer and shopped every day or every couple of days.

A lot of people still shop everyday like some elderly people etc. I don't know anyone who shops one a fortnight!. Even the people that go weekly for the main shop still go everyday as well for odd bits. A lot of people also wont eat frozen food because they prefer fresh and cooked on the day.

 

[BoldonLad]

A lot of people still shop everyday like some elderly people etc. I don't know anyone who shops one a fortnight!. Even the people that go weekly for the main shop still go everyday as well for odd bits. A lot of people also wont eat frozen food because they prefer fresh and cooked on the day.

We shop fortnightly for main shop. Weekly for "fresh" stuff. Would not dream of going every day, we have much more interesting things to do.

Perhaps we don't qualify as elderly, at only 73/74?

 

[KnittyNorah]

A lot of people still shop everyday like some elderly people etc. I don't know anyone who shops one a fortnight!. Even the people that go weekly for the main shop still go everyday as well for odd bits. A lot of people also wont eat frozen food because they prefer fresh and cooked on the day.

Well I'm very glad I'm still young despite being in my mid 70s! Who on earth has the time, when they are retired and busy with all the interesting things that retirement brings time and opportunity for, to shop daily? Who'd want to? Unless of course they are very very lonely but shopping daily is just a plaster on the wound, not a solution.
I shop in a supermarket - varying between Aldi/Lidl and Booths (Waitrose of the North, but better), for different items - and at the 'proper' market, once every couple of weeks. Last year I was shopping once a month or less often. I also get a delivery from a local greengrocer, usually in the week that I don't go shopping.
Food that's fresh and cooked on the day doesn't have to be shopped for on the day - of course a few things need to be used within a day or two after purchase but otherwise you simply buy things that keep longer. Stuff keeps just as well and sometimes better at home, than it does in the shop or on the market stall.

 

[battered]

What do people do with all this stuff? They eat it, that's why there's an obesity crisis. It's appealing, it's cheap, so till your boots. People want cheap food, that's what the supermarket ads keep showing.

I've been on a calorie reduction, weight loss and fitness drive since January. I've noticed I'm spending less. I'm not trying to, I can afford to buy whatever food I want, but I'm aware that with reduced portion sizes I am consuming and therefore buying less food. Yeah, I know, who knew, etc.

 

[battered]

Of course there will always be exceptions.
Another factor fuelling obesity here in the UK is apparently poverty ? poorer people cannot afford 'quality food' Poorer quality food has more of 'what makes you fat' Hmm ? in many countries of the world (Africa ?) poverty is 'fuelling' malnutrition and death. In my opinion it is far more likely to be feckless parents feeding their kids on chips, crisps and sugary drinks. Uneducated, lazy people ignoring all the good nutrition advice available and spending the day on the sofa with their feet up, eating crisps and watching Jeremy Kyle.

So according to you the 30% of the population and the similar numbers who are overweight are "likely to be feckless parents...lazy...spending the day on the sofa"? That's a lot of people on the sofa all day. All of them?

 

[Reynard]

We shop fortnightly for main shop. Weekly for "fresh" stuff. Would not dream of going every day, we have much more interesting things to do.

Perhaps we don't qualify as elderly, at only 73/74?

Yup, same here... I couldn't be doing with going every day. I'd never get anything else done! (There are some other yellow sticker regulars who do go every day, but that's another story...)

Mind, I *do* live out in the boonies, so a trip to the supermarket isn't as straightforward as it is for someone living in town. Ergo it makes sense to get a fortnight's or so worth of groceries in. It's worth it just in terms of time and fuel alone. If I do need just a couple of items, there's a Co-op in the next village along and a chap locally who sells organic veg and potatoes - both easily do-able by bicycle. The Co-op even has proper bike racks!

P.S. At only 46, I'm a relative spring chicken!

 

[Reynard]

What do people do with all this stuff? They eat it, that's why there's an obesity crisis. It's appealing, it's cheap, so till your boots. People want cheap food, that's what the supermarket ads keep showing.

A fair bit of it ends up in the bin. I ran across something on the radio the other day that the average household in the UK throws out about 75kg of food - that's the equivalent in weight of three sacks of potatoes.

Although cheap doesn't necessarily mean bad. There are really good cheap ingredients out there, including things like eggs, dairy, pulses (canned & dried),pasta, potatoes, vegetables, fruit (especially the "wonky" stuff), frozen and canned fish, some cuts of meat (although you do need to know where the value is). Only thing is, you actually have to prepare it and cook it, rather than just shoving it in the oven or in the popitty ping.

 

[tyred]

I do go to the shop pretty regular. I live within walking distance, I usually go out for a walk after work to clear my head, if I need anything I just call in for it as it's not as busy as it might be in a larger town. I can look at the yellow stickers whilst I there! Occasionally if I do need more or something heavy I might take the bike with panniers. If I was to only shop once a fortnight it would be a lot to carry. I don't want to drive to the shops.

I also wonder if what makes someone's trolley of groceries seem bigger than it used to is the fact that so many things come with outrageous amounts of packaging these days. My supermarket own brand "deluxe" sausages now come and a silly plastic box thing which could hold 2lb of sausages so I've stopped buying them as I object to the waste of plastic but such things are more bulky.

 

[Low Gear Guy]

Maybe people are buying more groceries because they can. If you have to carry all your groceries home you don't overload the basket. Now we have home deliveries non-drivers can also enjoy the benefits of a large shopping trolley.

 

[lazybloke]

I'm not convinced about this. I don't think, and I have seen no evidence that suggests, that 100g of minced beef turned into a McDo is any easier for my body to digest than 100g of minced beef that I have turned into, say, spag bol. It may be easier to eat, it may be more appetising (hard to imagine, my spag bol is fantastic) but once down your throat your body can't tell whether the minced beef particles came in as a burger or as spag bol.

Not convinced. (a) no evidence, (b) no evidence.

Naming two minced beef recipes doesn't really say anything about processed food.

Try comparing refined white flour with a wholegrain equivalent, or juice/smoothie versus whole fruit.
The body can certainly tell the difference; the evidence is available in blood glucose measurements.

Although i think sedentary lifestyles (at work, home and play) are the biggest single factor causing the current obesity crisis.

 

[sheddy]

Just discovered The Food Chain series on the BBC World Service

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p028z2z0