"Ophelia" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> "John J" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On Wed, 15 Jan 2014 00:15:53 -0800, sf > wrote:
>>
>>>On Tue, 14 Jan 2014 19:48:13 -0600, barbie gee >
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>> Heck, it might be fun to post some of the "ethnic" foods that the US
>>>> stores have, for our "foreign" posters! :-) We have more than a few
>>>> supermarket chains that have a full aisle dedicated to much more than
>>>> the
>>>> old-school Mexican and Chinese foods nowadays.
>>>>
>>>> The Italian (from Italy) foods are interesting, as are the European
>>>> offerings from Poland, Germany. Some Indian and Middle-eastern stuff,
>>>> too.
>>>>
>>>The thing is - we don't have a UK section in the grocery store. I
>>>think it's hilarious that they have an American section... but it left
>>>me wondering who buys from it - expats, students... who?
>>
>> Why not Americanofiles?
>
> Young people who live on ready meals and take away just might think that
> stuff is cool. It is horrifying to see young parents with a cart full of
> ready prepared stuff these days. For a start I don't know how they afford
> it. I wouldn't put any bets on the health of their children either

Here it is possible to get prepared food for free, for cheap and in some
cases the store will pay you to take it. Few stores here give overage.
Walmart is one such but my Walmart hasn't got a full grocery department.
All it takes is coupons. And if your store will double the coupons or if
you can combine a manufacturer's coupon with a store coupon, better still.

Perhaps two years ago, you could get something called Yakisoba noodles for
free. They are some kind of a fried noodle in a box. I think you add water
or something. People were horrified at the salt and fat content in them and
yet they got them because they were free. I don't care if they were free or
not. That's the sort of thing I wouldn't even donate to the food bank!

Other times they might get things like boxed macaroni and cheese or
Hamburger Helper and repurpose the contents. The cheese powder might be
used on popcorn and the noodles might be taken out and repackaged to be used
in something else.