What has happened to people cooking!

spendaholic

Yes, of course OS is better for your health, whatever your personal opinions. Otherwise, why would we still have people who lived through rationing? My parents have had long and healthy lives, as have most people who lived through the ration years, partly because they received a good balance of nutrition and partly because they got lots of exercise. It might not be the best lifestyle to suit you, but it is better for your health and wellbeing.

However, my mom is one of the best cooks in the world (I bet we all say that), and she's held down 2 jobs and cooked everything from scratch for a family of 5, and done housework without the modern appliances we have today, and knitted or made all of our clothes. These days she can't be bothered to cook from scratch, she can't be bothered to make sure her front step is the cleanest brightest red in the street, she can't be bothered to do everything she used to do, and anyway, she can't remember much of it and is afraid she might leave the cooker on by accident. So she gets convenience food because it's convenient for her.

beemuzed

have only skimmed this thread so forgive me if it's all been said already! I too look at other people's trolleys but sometimes for ideas - eg different fruit/veg to me and decide to try next time! My Mum (84) can no longer stand for long enough to prep meals properly each day and is a convert to M&S ready meals. (And finally is able to afford them!!) My dear departed MIL had very bad arthritis and couldn't even press the button on the microwave so, until finally agreeing to residential accomodation(she kept falling) existed on cuppa soups! And she'd been GREAT cook in her time. So, if we do cook from scratch now I at least am grateful that there will be alternatives when my health lets me down!

newster

Funny how some like to say homeschool or home educate. Isn't it Hapless? I know a while back on a forum thing I once belonged to there was a massive debate about the right terminology. I make no appology. To me it's all the same lol :-) Sorry bit OT there.

Hapless_2

newster wrote: »

Funny how some like to say homeschool or home educate. Isn't it Hapless? I know a while back on a forum thing I once belonged to there was a massive debate about the right terminology. I make no appology. To me it's all the same lol :-) Sorry bit OT there.

:rotfl:

HopeElizzy

newster wrote: »

It is the saltiness of bought stuff isn't it?? I don't cook with salt. I leave it for the family to put on themselves when the food is on their plate. I got into that habit when my eldest was born.I fed all my babies what we had. I'd puree it down and freeze it in ice cube trays. KNowing salt wasn't good for babies, I stopped using it in cooking. Hubby and I just added to our food once it was served up. I kept it like that ever since :-)

This is exactly what happened with us..... once we had children I started cooking properly. I can taste the difference and my purse definitly feels the difference but I think we all have can't be bothered days where we take something ready-made out of the freezer.

My mil (72yo) uses alot of ready-prepared stuff like veg. She started to do less a couple of years ago - announced one christmas that she wasn't cooking we were going out!:rotfl: I thought good for you!!

sammy_kaye18

seraphina wrote: »

I can think of many worse "crimes" to commit than ready made mash:rotfl: .

Yeah like pre diced onion - why?? to me thats just lazy it takes all of two seconds to do it yourself! (not wanting to offend anyone if this is lurkign in anyones freezer but i dont see the point in payign an extra 80p+ just becasue someone else has chopped it up)

Well im a lucky young bod to still have both sets of grand parents with me, and both parents - both sides have been brought up on fresh home grown fruit , veg and meat! (yep good irish side had piggies!) so they are all for home cooking - its only in there 'resting days' that they have started sneaking in a few ready made meals - but thats only one set and in all fairness one is a 'suppose to be' retired nurse btu shes still going at 68, and my grandad on that side is a truck driver so is on the road most of the day and night so ready meal really is convenient but they both have sandwiches etc and alot of salads.My mum (they are her parents) always makes homemade stuff and barely buys a ready meal except pizza as it helps her IBS to know whats in her food

My other grand parents and dad are all keen veg and fruit growers so there green houses are chock a block at the minute. Last count my dad had 6 things growing, and my nan had 5 i think with things to plant up ready. But again all home cooked meals and these bunch are into freezer cooking

Me i sometimes get the odd looks at checkouts - my trolley seems to be lots of fresh veg, lots of fresh fruit, 2 big whole chickens, 2 packets of 800g mince, plain flour, SR flour, strong white flour, dried yeast, sugar, caster sugar, tinned tomatoes, big 5kg sacks of potatoes and a 10kg bag of pooch food and the expressions are more ' how the hell is she going to feed anyone on that' or 'how is she goign to get that home' Im hopign bf is off soon so ill be able to take him food shopping with me and he can see how i can make £10 last us nearly 2 weeks by buying proper food!

morganb

I have to say I have been tempted to buy diced onion only because my eyes are so sensitive that I cannot cut up onions or even leeks without having to leave the room several times to wash them.

tiff

I have bought diced onion for camping, with limited facilities its just so much easier to open a packet or tin.

RugbyLisa

I do try to cook 'real' meals for my family of four, not only does it work out cheaper but it is easier to prepare, one lot of cooking and cleaning and you are done.

I also have some ready food in the freezer, fish fingers, pizza etc for those days that just don;t seem to come together.

I try not to judge what others do, but do find it hard to listen to some families that complain about food costing so much when you know they are buying individual ready meals but this comes down to lack of knowledge - they could cook if they knew how.

Ready meals are what they were intended for - quick, convenient, meals for one - if you are cooking for more than one then very rarely do they work out cost effective or even healthy.

At the end of the day you have to find what suits your family .

morganb

One of the best things we can do for our kids is get them cooking. They love it, they are interested in it, they want to know how ... let's get them doing it!