The evil of polystyrene

CBC had to go to school for a musical rehearsal during the holiday and I got a lift with him to his school and decided to walk to the seafront  and the pier from his school.  It was a mile or so to the pier and by the time I reached the pier, I was really hungry.  I really wanted some takeaway chips as I wanted to walk and eat on the go to get the full seaside experience.

As you may have realised, I have been really trying hard with the whole refusing plastic and reusing rather than taking anything, as you may have read in this post.  The top item on my "NO!" hitlist is polystyrene.  I will choose not to buy something from somewhere and go without rather than take it. It is notoriously difficult to recycle it and the majority of people, even if it WAS easy to recycle, use it when they are eating takeaways (chips, kebabs, burgers...) or hot drink cups and will NOT make the effort to keep it or recycle it- they just chuck it in the bin. It may be different in your area but unfortunately, the average person where I live absolutely doesn't give a stuff about recycling and just wants to chuck their polystyrene box away asap.

Well, as I was walking along the esplanade, I just seemed to see reams and reams of people eating takeaways from polystyrene trays, cones or cups which made me mutter in a rather Mad Lady way about polystyrene.  I went into about 5 fish and chip shops to ask what they served their takeaway chips and all said that they served it in polystyrene trays.  I shook my head sadly and walked away as they said that, noticed a family of 6 chucking their polystyrene trays into the bin.

Finally, in one place, she said that they serve it in polystyrene with a piece of paper round it and I asked if I could please craft my own cone out of the paper instead of taking a cone.  She said that that was fine.  I used to work in a chip shop as a teenager and we served our takeaway chips in cones that we made out of folded paper.  She gave me the paper and it transpired that I hadn't forgotten how to make the cone.  I handed it back and it functioned perfectly well as a cone.  I had a little plastic bag in my handbag that I had kept in there to be useful and I just put this as the bottom to soft it from leaking. It was fine.  Oh, and as a side-note, I shunned the plastic forks and instead used the wooden chipfork that lives in my handbag (and has been reused a few times) 

I honestly believe that polystyrene trays and takeaway containers should be banned. Let's be honest- they NEVER end up in the recycling. Paper/card alternatives should and CAN be found.  In Hexham last week, CBC and I were on the go and felt a little peckish and yet again, not expecting this, I didn't have my silicone collapsible container with me (which I ALWAYS carry if I know I am going to buy food on the go).   We went into the chip shop in the square in Beaumont street in Hexham I asked how they served their takeaway chips and they said the evil P word.  I asked if they had an eco-friendly alternative and typically, it being Hexham, they did- they had some Eco-containers (thick card) but we had to pay 30p for it.  We chose to do that because we didn't want the Polystyrene, but it proves there IS a solution!

Will you join me and REFUSE Polystyrene. I may start a petition at 38 Degrees to ban the use of Polystyrene in takeaway containers because I do think it is is awful!

On the same subject, there is a petition to try to get Walkers to use Recyclable crisp packets! I would love you to sign it also! I love crisps and feel awful that I am contributing to packaging so bad for the environment!

x

My 10 favourite savoury snacks

As CBC, my husband frequently moans, I am rather partial to a bag of crisps. I confess that I am indeed a confirmed Crisp-o-holic. I make myself give them up for Lent as I do tend to turn to a bag of crisps when I am stressed or in a panic and that is particularly hard. They are terribly unhealthy and lack any nutritional value, but I still find myself yearning for their taste! Here, I will share my favourite snacks.

1. Cheesy Wotsits

The original Wotsits! Ahh, bright orange Maize snacks covered in cheese powder- I adore these!  I like these best when they have been left out in a bowl for a day and are chewy. I think this is because when I was a child, the only time we got to eat these was after a party when they were left over in one of those Tupperware bowls, so I always ate them chewy and slightly stale.  The funny thing is, my sister likes them exactly the same! I will also eat Cheetos- these are similar.  Supermarket own brands are ok but they lack the proper flavour of original Wotsits!

2.  Original Smiths Frazzles

Now, disclaimer here- the original Smiths are the ONLY ones! The cheap alternatives have a Smoky bacon taste as opposed to a non-smoked Bacon flavour.  I associate these with the Vending Machine at our local Swimming Pool as a child-they were so tasty and especially so after swimming.  To be eaten with wet hair and the strong aroma of Chlorine.

3.  Beef flavour Space raiders

Anyone remember the original 10p crisps of the '90's- Space Raiders? The original flavour was Pickled Onion and I LOVE those but even more so, I loved the Beef alternatives. Cheap and really artificial-tasting but these Maize snacks are the best. If I see them for sale, I buy them!

4.  Kettle chips Sweet potato Sweet chilli crisps

I associate these with Waitrose in Hexham. These crisps are the proper Potato crisp- robust and generous in individual crisp-size, these are really strong flavoured and you feel a bit healthier because they are sweet potato!

5.  Prawn crackers

The best ones are those which you are given for free in an Oriental restaurant. Second best are a bag bought from the Chinese takeaway which you have left out at night so they are slightly chewy. But, really, I'll eat them in any form.

6.  Holland and Barratts Satay Broad beans

In the savoury snack section, you can find these amazing Broad bean snacks- again, you feel slightly more virtuous eating veg, they have a great texture!

7. Aldi Sweet Malaysian Curry Pea snacks

These are a relatively new addition to my snack eating habits- they are largely made out of Marrowfat peas but they do make you feel like you are having a nice bit of sweet curry. Plus, the texture is really nice!

8.  Paprika Pringles

I KNOW Pringles are an abomination in terms of nutrition (really, all of these are)- I've been given the 'If you set fire to them, they melt' line but I do find these ridiculously moreish!

9. Royster's Bubbled Chips T-bone Steak snacks

I like the ones covered in more of the seasoning the best! Loved these meaty-flavoured snacks!

10.  Doritos Original Cool flavour
I find it hard to believe that such a strong flavour are the original flavour, but I find these delicious!!

Finally, I couldn't name a specific Crisp brand but I do like genuine Sour Cream and Chive (not onion) flavoured crisps.  They are definitely very antisocial with their pungent aroma but they are gooooood!

British Crisps 1: Kettle Chips Sweet potato Sweet chilli crisps.

There is a fact you should know about me: I ADORE crisps.  There are pretty few that I will not devour in seconds. I kept thinking that I would do a post about my favourite crisps so my American friends could have a look and compare our Crisps/Chips as I often feel that Britain has an amazing selection of crisps and I would like to share my appreciation.

I also thought it would be a great opportunity to stuff myself with crisps share these with any friends from elsewhere!

The first crisps I am going to share are a new variety of Kettle Chips.  Kettle Chips are a posh brand of crips in the UK.  They are hand baked and cooked in small batches. They don't use any addictive nasties like MSG, artificial flavours or colours and they use good potatoes.

I was drawn to these because I always like to kid myself that a crisp made from a bonafide vegetable like a sweet potato might be healthier for me than a regular potato crisp. Apparently, these have 50% less fat than regular potato crisps, although I'm not sure if they are talking about THEIR potato crisps or other brands.

So what did I think of them?

Firstly, they have an excellent, generous amount of sweet chilli seasoning on them. They are very crisp but I didn't get crisp-blisters (you know, when you bite enthusiastically and they scratch the top of your mouth).  The flavour is very strong and intense in a good way. You can taste the sweet potato, is as you expect, sweeter.

The ingredients are:

Sweet potatoes, sweet chilli seasoning (consisting of Sugar, dried onions, Yeast extract, Sea salt, dried soy sauce, ground chilli, ground fennel, ground cardamon, dried redpeppers, dried garlic, dried parsley,dried lemon juice, lemon oil), Sunflower oil.

If you are disciplined enough only to eat a 20g serving, they contain:

Energy: 344 kJ, 82 kcal

2.7g fat or which 0.4g is Saturates

6.8g sugar

0.24g salt

I'm not sure I am THAT disciplined!! That's quite a lot of sugar though, which isn't ideal although the other quantities aren't too bad.

In conclusion, they are a very tasty alternative to a regular crisp. The flavour is excellent if you like your crisps saturated in flavours (which I do).

I bought these in Waitrose 2 packets for £4 on special offer.  A tasty indulgence occasionally, methinks.

Have you tried them?  If you are not of this country,what do you think? Do you have these in your kingdom?

Are you a crispoholic! Thinking of making myself a badge saying that!

xxx