Bessie J

I am in constant battle with my teenager over what foods to buy and eat.

I tend to buy cheap boxes of cheesy pasta costing around£1 each and cut a garlic baguette into 3 to stretch out for 3 teas.

My daughter wants to eat at different times from me, so I wait until she eats and finish off what's she leaves rather than open 2 packets of pasta.

The oven of the gas cooker that is part in my private rental home does not work. It's been reported to landlord many times but he lives abroad and in no hurry to fix it. I can use the gas hob. This leaves me limited what to cook.

I do not enjoy cooking as my teenager is fussy and I don't see the point in cooking for myself.

It's a lot of bother of peeling vegetables and washing dishes. I'm conscious of how much energy costs to fill up the sink for dishes.

I buy porridge or ready brek which is warming and filling to fill me up.

It's quick to make and eat so I can get upstairs to my bedroom where it's warmer than downstairs where it is very draughty.

I'm aware of our diet is not healthy. I don't enjoy eating and feel guilty for not providing healthy meals.

I buy fruit but it goes off quickly. Fruit is expensive from the local Co-op. Three tangerines cost £1.35. I can buy 4 pack of chocolate for 99p and it doesn't go off.

Other cheap food I buy are super noodles and tins of soup. I tend to buy cheaper white bread to make toast to eat with the soup.

In between, cups of tea (hot drinks to warm up) I fill up with cheap biscuits, although even cheap biscuits costs have risen in price.

I worry if some foods are not available to buy locally. Food deliveries to the Co-op is on a Wednesday and other locals tend to get to the store early to buy up cupboard food in bulk. It is still like lockdown at times here with empty spaces on the shelves.