Supermarket Basics

Supermarket Basics takes in several ways of economising, and to my mind of being a bit more eco friendly than otherwise.

We waste obscene amounts of food even before it has the chance to get to the shops, much of it because things fail to match the ridiculous standards set by bureaucrats. Produce destroyed as slightly uneven in shape; or not within the size limits set as norms. Some of the things not deemed perfect within those parameters are sold very cheaply as 'basic' or a similar designation in supermarkets. Buy them! It is not the taste but appearance that differs.

Likewise with cheap tinned tomatoes, basis of so many sauces and stews: their colour varies, or size, or maybe a tiny amount of skin clings to them. Buy them! Currently 35p or so for a tin of basic chopped toms against 50p or more for prettier-labelled 'perfects'. If you could save 30% on all your bills...

A similar line of thought follows with cheeses. I always glance (guiltily in case friends around) at the nearing-sell-by-date shelf for cheeses, and if I see any brie or camembert or good blue will buy them, as they will maybe be ripe and ready to eat. Better for less - new chalky camembert is not worth its place on the cheese-board.

Some fruits are sold cheaply because they too are ripe, or there is over-supply. Buy them! and eat quickly rather than keeping them for weeks then forgetting to check and letting them rot. To paraphrase Byron, Arise ye goths and eat your gluts (though you can feel like you are glutting your ire against EU silliness too if you want).