5th Anniversary of not using supermarkets...


Today is the 5th Anniversary that I made a decision to not use Supermarkets... 

A decision I have no regrets taking as it has brought untold benefits, the 1st of which is the quality of food I eat and how I go about preparing it. It is however a continual evolving process.

There's a lot going on in the supermarket arena too


With Lidl and Aldi making huge inroads into the supermarket space (13% it is now alleged), and signs that Asda and Sainbury's may merge if the monopolies commission deem it appropriate, and Tesco launching it's new discount brand 'Jacks' to take on the low cost end... and,  the massive acceptance of online shopping it is carnage out there with fierce competition...

Couple this with the Veggie Box model (such as Riverford), organic fresh produce delivered to your door for those that are looking to pay a little more for a high quality mixture of vegetables, dairy and meat. These provide a welcome attention to detail often missing from supermarkets with the added value of recipes and suggestions... often this might be the only option for time constrained busy people, those without local markets or just can't get out to local grocers to pick their own.

No sign that the recession is over


Today... we are actually in a more challenging position than we were 5 years ago. There is a growing use of foodbanks which has become an almost accepted part of the governments programme 'Aid to those finding it difficult to manage'  and the advent of organisations such as the "Real Junk Food Project" which takes food that would otherwise be thrown out and makes it available to those that need it, feed bellies not bins...

How will it all pan out do you think?


It's not easy to predict. But I'm not sure that the supermarkets can sustain a model of 'over supply' to their stores. Maybe their range of options will shrink, but if it does then the viability of some stores might become more questionable. Models built on the wastage of supermarkets would suffer too, causing further upset for the most vulnerable in our community.

If we sustain another crash (very likely) then maybe we will all need to tighten our belts? What might the ramifications of Brexit be (if it indeed happens)?

What not using Supermarkets has taught me this year?


Another year of experimentation with intermittent fasting and falling in love with food, not just eating, but careful selection and preparation also...

I cooked every day for my daughter and my recently deceased mother and so was more intensely involved in what I was preparing, the nutritional value and achieving balance in what I consume, for this I am very grateful the the network I have built through not using supermarkets and Link4Growth.

I also took advantage of being in my mothers house and their very productive and delightful garden, I have been extremely happy there growing food as my father did and this has heightened and intensified the importance of food and what we eat. It has also reconnected me back with nature and the awesomeness of this planet and the resources that we have at our disposal.

Final words... 


I think the answer to many of our issues lies in just one word 'Enough'. We are so used to this abundance of produce which is available to us, where we pop down the supermarket and pick up anything we want... We just need to take what we need, no more.

What I have learned over this 5 years is that a human being doesn't need a huge amount of food to be sustained. Actually I have cut down my shopping (especially as I have been growing food this year) and I buy less meat and dairy than at any time in my life...

I also appreciate every meal I eat with gratitude and savour the tastes of what I am eating. I have developed an unbelievable respect for food this year (growing your own does that).


If you would like to read the journey so far... please follow the links below... 

1st year of not using supermarkets

3rd year of not using supermarkets

4th year of not using supermarkets



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Unvaccinated journal

Image
As we approach the 19th July "Freedom day", the reporting frenzy and media has already began to cite the likelihood of a 4th wave, and potential new measures in order to control variants of the virus. The Sun newspaper here in England has mentioned that the Prime Minister has already said that although vaccine passports will not be required for now, they can not be ruled out in the future. This does sound an awful lot like the softening up process that we have come to expect from the Government and that we have bourn witness to many times before. With now half the population vaccinated it does seem a little bit strange that numbers are going up, in fact higher now than any time since February earlier this year. Something appears to have gone slightly awry. Either the numbers aren't right, we're counting the wrong things, the vaccines aren't as effective as touted, or the ones who haven't yet been vaccinated (the young and the obstinate) are more dangerous th
Read more

The passing of Queen Elizabeth II

Image
There are definitely mixed feelings about the Royal family in the UK. I guess this is just another thing that divides people and yet, a lady who served in the role she was given for 70 years, unstintingly, impeccably and with grace, in my eyes at least, deserves a big measure of admiration and respect.  Personally I did not know Queen Elizabeth, and like billions of other folk I only knew what I read in the media, and in my case at least (who doesn't consume much in that vein) was very little. However at times like these when there is a prominent individual (who has touched most of us all one way or another) it is yet another chance for reflection on our own mortality. Not in any judgemental way, nor in comparison either, but quite simply, who am I? When a person passes, it forces us to confront the reality of death. We came into being with nothing, and we are here for a while and then we leave with nothing. The beginning, the middle, and the end.  What goes on in the middle for th
Read more

The common cold finally defeated...

Image
Well another Christmas and this one was different to any other previous Christmas... in some ways, and yet in others not so much. The first thing was that two weeks prior I caught some bug, a raised temperature a bit of a dull headache (and I don't get headaches) and a general feeling of tiredness. I was actually sick once as well (sorry to the Emetophobians" amongst you, fortunately no pictures though). Now... I've had this sort of thing before as I'm sure many of us have, and after a couple of days of not feeling that hungry either, the old immune system seemed to have done the trick and I was back on form.  Now... roll the clock forward and we're approaching Xmas... an invitation to a "gathering" on Xmas eve required some kind of LFT (Lateral flow test) to attend... so that wasn't going to happen... and also a decision about Xmas day needed to be taken as vaccination status came up. Now I believe everyone must take responsibility for their own choi
Read more