Have any of you seen Hugh F-W’s ‘War on Waste’?  I think it is one of the best things I have seen for ages.  Not in terms of style or earth shattering research results or many other reasons to give merit to a programme but great because it made me think.  The most shocking statistic, which I have seen elsewhere, is that 1/3 of food produced is thrown away !!!!! In the programme Hugh interviewed householders who are slaves to use/sell by dates who throw away perfectly good food because of the date on the packet.  Or who are sucked in by supermarket “bargains” and buy more than they need and which they then don’t use.  Or because supermarkets refuse to buy ‘wonky veg.’!  I think I am quite good at using what I buy and grow but I can always be better.

I am rarely seduced by supermarket marketing because I shop online. You really spend much less that way.  I write a list and mainly stick to it so I am not tempted by things I don’t need.  No browsing the aisles for me, virtual or real.  I also hate throwing things away and on principle only throw food away when it is visibly rotting or smelling bad.  I work from home on Fridays and usually have a supermarket delivery.  Before that I clear out the fridge and this was this weeks clear out.  Some of this was too limp to enjoy such as the celery and 3 of the apples but not so bad to chuck out.  The other apples I just didn’t like much.  I did throw away the rocket as it was going slimey and the spring onions but I popped everything else in the picture in the juicer and made one of the best juices I have ever had :  celery stalks and leaves, ginger, 9 apples, 1 lime, 2 oranges, 1 ruby grapefruit, half a punnet of red grapes.

It really was fabulous. It made 2 very large glasses which I sipped all morning. 
So not much waste and any that there was, is now on the compost heap so actually nothing was thrown away.  The other item lurking in the fridge which was beyond its best was some broccoli which I steamed for lunch with some pesto potatoes – pesto is not just for pasta.   

 In the middle of the afternoon I snacked on some cashew and walnuts with raisins and Goji berries.  

Supper was quick and easy.  I tried these Moroccan veggie burgers.  The texture was just like a beef burger but without all the fat and rubbery bits.  I rate the flavour only about 5 or 6 out of 10 and it may have been better with a salad but I am not in a salad mood at the moment.  Also Harvey wanted ‘normal food’ so we had burger, roasties and baked beans.  Simple and perfectly adequate.   

 I have not bloged much recently.  I have been in a bit of a funk with my eating which translates as I have eaten very badly.  I have eaten far too much and made poor food choices.  I have put lots of weight on and feel really bad about it.  Today was a good step in the right direction.

I have been busy with life in general and work but also some lovely social things.  Last Sunday we spent the day in Clapham with Lara.  I wanted to see her part of London and we had a lovely time pottering about.  I was there early so first stop was Esca for breakfast.   I had granola with fruit.  It was good and I was pleasantly surprised by the prices.

    
 We enjoyed pottering about Clapham.

   
    
    
   There was also some relaxing at Lara’s flat which is in a great location between Clapham North and Clapham Common.
   
 View from the sitting room – lovely big windows.  Then would you believe it but it was lunch time!  We went to Red Dog Saloon for burgers.   

    This was one of the best veggie burgers I have ever had.  It was made with quinoa and was a bit crunchy which I really liked with the soft bun and juicey veggies in it.  Very yummy, eaten with mashed potato and followed by pecan pie.  We were joined by my sister Lucy too but I was so busy chatting I didn’t get any pictures with my sister or niece and nephew.  
 I also failed to take any pictures of my lovely day on Saturday which was spent with Lucy and Sally at Basil in Tunbridge Wells, a fantastic Wholefoods cafe.  The evening was spent at a very interesting location, Nettlestead Place, With some of my lovely neighbours, where we were treated to an evening of music and poetry , telling the story of WW1 and raising money for Heart of Kent Hospice.

The previous weekend I hosted a lunch for BJ, my sister Abi and niece Charlotte and Alison and Andrew.  We had a very long lunch !    

BJ earned lots of Godfather brownie reports for helping Harvey put together his new scooter, grind rail and ramp.    

As it was Halloween we had a pumpkin, beautifully carved by Harvey and we lit some of these lovely Chinese lanterns.  It was a clear and still night and we watched them for ages, floating silently above us.   

 So life has, as usual, been up and down and too busy but with fun and lovely times as well as work and chores.  I must remain focused on my target of losing weight and being vegan rather than vegetarian as it makes me feel so much better and keeps,the weight down.