Food poverty.

[Workingman]

Frank when even people in "good jobs" are struggling, surely that speaks volumes.

Definitely! However, it is more complex than simply throwing out the "cannot afford" mantra.

It is cruelly ironic that our TV and mags are awash with examples of every cooking style imaginable. We all want to try them, but we don't want to create them, so we splash the cash for a processed version.

The local supermarket does a meal for one Singapore noodles for £3.50. You can buy all the main ingredients and make four for the same price. There is little skill required in prepping onions, noodles, carrots, beansprouts and chicken and cooking in a wok / frying pan. Make four, freeze three, save £10.

Pizzas, spagbols, chilli-con-carne.... the list goes on. As a nation we need to break out of our fear of cooking.

The news yesterday was that the number of fast food outlets and takeaways has increased by a third. That is probably why I am looking at this from a different angle.

[cromwell]

One of the ex-boyfriends of Karen Matthews (the woman who arranged the kidnap of her own child, Shannon) said that she never cooked a meal for her children. Everything was a takeaway.

[Workingman]

She's not alone.... and takeaways are not cheap food, despite all the hype.

The excuses of not being able to cook and time pressure are growing a bit thin. People manage to work out how to use smartphones, washing machines, dish washers, banking and so on, without the need for night classes.

Cooking a simple meal is a doddle by comparison.

[miasmum]

so even the well off need food banks and yet in one night we can raise £24,638,037 for Stand Up To Cancer?????

Theres something topsy turvy going on here

[AliasAggers]

We aren't as compassionate towards the genuinely unfortunate as we should be;
but maybe the lead swingers, skivers and career dole hounds are to blame for that?

I think you are right, cromwell.