Who buys this stuff?

Bogof_Babe

Not all M&S food is extravagant and over-priced. We love their Crispbakes, which are often on 3 for price of 2 and work out at about 45p per serving when on this offer. One of those in a bread roll (each crispbake is enough for two rolls) with veg and oven chips (not necessarily M&S), is a quick, easy and very tasty meal.

They take up next to no room in the freezer either. Well worth stocking up on. NB I do not work for M&S .

When OH and I were working, we left the house at about 8.00 and rarely got home much before 7.00, walking a mile each way. By the time we'd kicked off our shoes and fed the cats, we really couldn't have been bothered to start cooking from scratch, so ready meals were a godsend.

Of course it's different now, the equation has turned full circle - now we have plenty of time and not much money. We still use a lot of oven chips though .

Churchmouse

SnowyOwl wrote:

I too work in a supermarket, and know that a lot of these convenience foods are shifted every day. While for some people they are a necessity, I should imagine that the majority of consumers buy these products simply because it means they don't have to cook. That's fair enough, who am I to judge? However what really bugs me is the amount of packaging and waste that is produced. Eg, one portion of cooked mashed potato at 99p comes in its own little plastic sealed tray which will likely be immediately chucked in the bin and then on to landfill. The 99p covers the production of the packaging too. However it doesn't cover the cost of its disposal nor the fact that it will be languishing in landfill for the next 100 years or so. That to me is the saddest part of all these pre-packed, half ready convenience meals - the amount of rubbish they produce is phenomenal and most of it could so easily be avoided if only for a bit of effort in the consumer's home.

Do agree with you Snowy about the amount of packaging, but of course that extends to almost everything supermarkets sell, not just the convenience foods. Why do we need apples snuggled individually in their own little polystyrene nest? Why must things have a plastic tray, clingfilm overwrap then a nice bright cardboard sleeve? I'm lucky in that my council recycles all glass, plastic, cans, aluminium paper and cardboard including corregated. In fact about the only thing they don't recycle is foil lined fruit-juice cartons, yoghurt tubs and polystyrene. And I don't have to seperate any of it!:T

The thing is, we as consumers must demand less packaging. If we say it loudly enough, long enough, they WILL get the message.;)

super41

I think the OP's comments were intended to be lighthearted in the spirit of OS rather than snobbish in nature. Whatever your opinion, I think this type of food does raise issues:

- Excessive use of packaging - damaging to environment etc.

- People lose the ability to create simple meals with ingredients they prepare themselves (and kids never learn!)

- It distances us from food in its original state - i.e. raw and fresh.

- Can have health implications as much of this pre-prepared basics is full of fat/sugar.

- People spend too much, not realising they can create the same - and better - for less!

There may well be some people who have conditions that are helped by using some products and thats great for them. But these products are not designed for them but to appeal to the whole population, otherwise the supermarkets wouldn't produce them.

I don't think anyone is saying there isn't occasionally a time and place for these products but IMO there are worrying consequences if people come to rely on them too much.

Queenie

caffeinehit wrote:

Maybe I'm reading too much into the existence of pre-packed jacket potatoes, but it strikes me that for a lot of people, 'cooking' involves doing exactly what it says on the back of the packet...combine that habit with multiple food scares all over the media and it's very easy to lose confidence in your own ability to knock up a meal from scratch.

Yet if people would invest equal time to *learning* the art of food and cooking, as they do to reading/discussing the food scares ... they would realise that with attention to a few basic rules, those food scares are not scares at all!

Recently there was a thread on here about leftover rice - within a short time *bling!* up pops a post regarding the potential dangers of the bacteria which can be produced by leftover rice. Now, fair enough, without due care in cooling and storing plus the reheating of left over rice, that warning is extremely valid - yet only half the story was told: ie leftover rice breeds a toxic bacteria! (Shock horror!) The full story isn't anywhere near so provocative - if you cool your rice quickly (run it under cold water) and store it correctly (in a fridge/freezer) and reheat it correctly - all is well and good. But then those principles are correct for a huge number of foods.

Maybe I'm just extremely fortunate that I was a) taught by my mother and b) had a fantastic Home Ec. education and c) when in doubt look it up mentality ... but surely, let's be very honest here - if you only go by media hype without looking at the whole picture = laziness! If you resort to convenience foods out of fear from media food scares = laziness!!

It's like anything: know your subject!!

Yes, I do sometimes resort to convenience foods (shock, horror) for the very simple reason they are convenient I don't make them a habit or a lifestyle choice. I do sometimes eat out and thoroughly enjoy it - for a treat!

The really scarey thing is when convenience foodstuffs become a way of life!!

mah_jong

gerretl wrote:

This reminds me of a game my brother and I used to play, that I have mentioned on here. Its called the 'Grated Cheese Game'.
Go round the supermarket, and find the product that must be bought by the laziest most stupid person, who could quite easily do it themselves with a little effort (Hence grated cheese game- you need cheese.....and a grater)
Pre cooked poppadums are near the top. Any other suggestions gratefully received, and it it puts a whole new perspective on shopping. You can look in other trolleysa and safely say, they are a lazy !!!!!!!. (That they are probably poor goes without saying)

ice cubes

need I say more???

ti1980

This is a great thread! Has made me laugh reading it.

I work at M&S and am not surprised by what people buy, I was when I first started working there but then I was amazed at what they sold.
I see what people buy when I'm working on the shopfloor and I know why they buy it.
I worked on a till today for a couple of hours and the ready made lemon pancakes was a great seller today (funny that:rolleyes: ), I was on the stand up tills with a few colleagues and I didn't see a single person buy batter mix.

I agree that some of the food is really expensive but I think that there is also a lot of items that are reasonably priced. Like has been mentioned before, some things are a pretty good price when on offer and that is often the time to stock up!;)

One thing that annoys me is the amount of packaging used in products and that is with all supermarkets. I also understand some of the reasons why though.

For those that are interested, grated cheese is a pretty big seller and at the moment its on offer! Haha!

Ebany

Today me and the other girls in the office decided to get a pack of pancakes from M&S as we really wanted some (at about 10:30 this monring!) and we only have a microwave in the office, so it was the only option really. They had evidently failed to brief their staff though as when questioned one of them looked blank and said 'We don't sell pancakes...'! Good thing we didn't beleve them.

I am trying to stop buying convenience foods, but my OH isn't quite on the same wavelength, so it spoils the look of my shop rather when I have to throw in 6 packs of microwave pizzas (I don't know how he can eat those things). I do get ready-made yorkshire puds as I just can't seem to make them work, no matter how hard I try, though I think I may give it another go at some point (any tips greatly appreciated)

Oh, and I love the bags of chopped onion because 1 - the things I cook with it are usually small portions just for me, and would only need about 1/4 of an onion 2- I don't cook with onion that often, meaning the other 3/4 of an onion would go nasty anf 3 - I really hate chopping onion and I don't have a food processor. Instead, a 60p or so bag of onion covers all my oniony needs for several months and I don't put of cooking cause I don't want to do the chopping.

ScoobieGirl

How about this

Why use a knife to cut a piece of bread when you can buy a gadget to do it for you.

I'm one of those people who buys the frozen chopped onions. I use them so infrequently that it's cheaper than throwing them out cause the 2/3 you put in the fridge has gone all yucky. Having said that. I've switched to shallots A whole one is cheaper than a whole onion with no waste.

gerretl

Call me an inverted snob, but M and S has the biggest number of grated cheeses on the market. I hate shopping there. Its all too overpriced, and if you want tinned tomatoes, you have the choice of, well, one. I know they buy the best, but I always feel I am cajoled into buying something I don't really want. At least Tesco et al give the illusion of choice (Even if the houmous is made in the same place (according to the latest health scare))

gerretl

ScoobieGirl wrote:

How about this

Why use a knife to cut a piece of bread when you can buy a gadget to do it for you.

I'm one of those people who buys the frozen chopped onions. I use them so infrequently that it's cheaper than throwing them out cause the 2/3 you put in the fridge has gone all yucky. Having said that. I've switched to shallots A whole one is cheaper than a whole onion with no waste.

Credit to the marketing men there. I have other ways of starting the day perfectly....but moving swiftly on.
Does anyone know any other uses this gadget could be used for?
Did you invent the gadget? If so, why? Can you not see the knife has been succesfully used since cavemen times. Unless.... The cavemen invented the egg soldier maker first, and realised it would be a whole lot better if they made something with just one blade. Called a knife.