Well we don't agree on much, but I almost think a bag of sugar should have a skull and crossbones on it. And sugar, especially in the form of High-fructose corn syrup, is sneaked into so many pre-prepared items. And I don't know if it is addictive, but you get used to it.
Hey! We finally agree on something
Yes, sugar is addictive.
Just the other day I walked through my local supermarket and did a quick audit and found that if you took out the fizzy drinks, the crisps, the alcohol (not a moral judgement, just on healthiness), the boxed cereals, the ready meals (some are worse than others), the candy and chocolates, the frozen pizza, the suspect yogurts, the jarred sauces....it's 75% of the store.
Don't forget the sugar in juice. People might think they are being healthy by drinking a glass or two of juice, but that is nearly as bad (as bad?) for us, as fizzy drinks! Just eat an orange if you want orange juice. If you are thirsty, drink water. We all need to check the labels for sugar content on readymade food, tins, tubes etc.
It makes sense if you look at a bag of crisps and think that the plastic bag probably costs more to produce than the actual crisps. There's probably 10p worth of potatoes in there. It probably makes them mad when whole potato sales go up. They are serving up poison and fleecing you at the same time. I've decided I'm not going to be part of that hustle.
Then they offer 2 for 1 on all that rubbish food - and the consumer thinks they have a bargain! Crisps make me ill, as I don't like trans fats.
One thing I have started doing is keeping a couple of big bags of frozen mixed vegetables and spinach in the freezer and then just throw a handful or two into whatever I am cooking. Fresh is better (especially the spinach) but being a poor kitchen planner it keeps my waste down.
Frozen veggies are frozen quite quickly and are better for us than veggies that are going soggie. The pea viners work around the clock when it is time to harvest the peas and they freeze them at the field. It's quite a sight to see them in action - using lights as they harvest at night too - they just don't stop.
Try eating your fresh spinach, raw. You can even buy it ready washed if you would rather. Or if you are having ommlette, just pop spinach in a dry frying pan for a few seconds.
I'm going to be planting my veggie seeds from next month: starting with Sungold tomato seeds - little drops of heaven. Nothing better than home grown veggies as you can use the veggies that have more flavour but don't travel well (thinner skins). Spinach is easy to grow in growbags
You learn portion control too when you grow your own, as you only harvest what you have ready. My little apline strawberries grow every year in bags on a sunny wall, producing from May to December; their total harvest per year = 1 mug
But the flavour........
Or use the "Pick your own" farms
I use a hand meat mincer (about £24 from Lakeland) to mince chicken or turkey breasts for mince dishes, instead of red meat. I make a mean spicy turkey burger, served in a wholemeal bun with spinach and homemade relish (have you seen the sugar content in ready made pickles!).
Lunchtime!
