There’s a lot to like about food quality here

(self-funded, in case anyone is up at arms about my gluttony draining NHS funds!) 

Wait, is this a thing?  Health first, by whatever means!  I hope you aren't made to feel you have to defend yourself!

Wait, is this a thing?  Health first, by whatever means!  I hope you aren't made to feel you have to defend yourself!

THIS!!!!

(self-funded, in case anyone is up at arms about my gluttony draining NHS funds!) 

Given the health gains you will have from the surgery I don't think anyone should be judging you! You have to take care of yourself.

I do appreciate many things that are readily available here. I just do not appreciate the amount of preservatives in so many staples.




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Obesity is a complex and poorly understood issue. There are many metabolic, socioeconomic, mental/emotional, etc causes. I don't,  for one second, think you 'did this to yourself'.  I LOATHE that attitude that comes across any of the articles that just say "you did this" and it's "easily solved by exercising more and eating less" (usually by someone who has never had a proper weigh issue in their lives.).  And that obese people are a drain on the NHS. No. This is wretched and perpetuated by the awful media.

Lots of love to you Albatross, because this is a brave undertaking and not one to take lightly. 

Wait, is this a thing?  Health first, by whatever means!  I hope you aren't made to feel you have to defend yourself!

It is, unfortunately, a thing.

Anyway, sorry for hijacking the thread with my 'issue'.  Back to food quality, pleeeeeeease! 

I don't feel like food quality is better or worse here - except for chicken and eggs.  I do prefer British chicken and eggs... don't know why.

And so many yummms I miss from the USA.  And I liked that my fruit and vegetables have been shrink wrapped in the USA.

And tomatoes here do not even come close to a Florida tomato.  NOT EVEN CLOSE.

And tomatoes here do not even come close to a Florida tomato.  NOT EVEN CLOSE.

My neighbor grows tomatoes in her greenhouse, and she shares.  They're so much better than the ones I can buy in shops.

My neighbor grows tomatoes in her greenhouse, and she shares.  They're so much better than the ones I can buy in shops.

I am looking after my neighbour's greenhouse at the moment. My reward is to take anything which is ripe from the greenhouse and fruit/vegetable garden. They are not even in the same ballpark as store bought. We've never eaten so well! 

I've been overflowing with tomatoes this year in my greenhouse. Heaven on a plate. 

I am looking after my neighbour's greenhouse at the moment. My reward is to take anything which is ripe from the greenhouse and fruit/vegetable garden. They are not even in the same ballpark as store bought. We've never eaten so well! 

I was just going to say... great food quality, except.... I have never found a really good tomato in a shop.  I don't even bother buying them anymore.

I was just going to say... great food quality, except.... I have never found a really good tomato in a shop.  I don't even bother buying them anymore.

And yet I've had AMAZING tomatoes in Croatia, Italy, and Switzerland this summer.  I guess they are keeping the good ones for themselves!!!

Tomatoes are only good when fresh. Like strawberries.  And other veggies.  They lose the flavour over time.  Our tomatoes tend to come from polytunnels in Spain and are all hydroponically grown.  The ones you probably had in Croatia, Italy, and Switzerland this summer were probably grown nearby as they have the right climate. 

And yet I've had AMAZING tomatoes in Croatia, Italy, and Switzerland this summer.  I guess they are keeping the good ones for themselves!!!

I’m not a big fan of tomatoes, but I’m now realising maybe it’s British tomatoes I don’t really like, because I’ve had lovely tomatoes in Italy (especially cherry tomatoes which always seem to taste a bit sour in the U.K.) and also in the US as well.


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I usually only buy cherry or roma tomatoes, and they're OK, but not as good as fresh from the garden. Hoping to get a small greenhouse next year for the sunny yet mossy section of the garden (so any damage from it will be easy to repair!)

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I really shouldn't blame the food/ale.... it's my own greed that's the problem!   

Don't be hard on yourself! It's not easy at all. I've gained so much weight in the last couple of years since I've been traveling to and from the UK. It's challenging when there's chips at every meal. They're my downfall! I never ate chips with pizza until I started visiting the UK. And let me not get started on the rise in my alcohol consumption... Sheesh!!