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Speaking of Easter weekend (yesterday’s blog innit?), on Good Friday I made a rare trip out of the house.
Well, further afield than our daily walk in the park.
Went to Tesco I did.
We’d got an online delivery order due on the Monday but needed a few essentials.
— As an aside, that 80 item limit for online food orders soon goes when your shopping for six plus a dog —
And, while I was there I picked up some non-essentials.
Including a load of ice creams and lollies.
Which we worked through over the next few days.
I got a mixture.
Partly for variety.
Partly so there’s be something for everyone.
And partly as you can only get three of any item.
When buying in bulk I’ll normally get the Tesco own brand version.
Not quite as nice but a fraction of the cost.
Tesco own brand Magnum equivalent is £1 for three.
Rather than £3.33 for the official thing.
There’s a second lesson there to be honest – the nearly as nice but a fraction of the “cost” food substitute.
You know – the meal / ingredient that’s nearly as nice but half the calories.
But that’s not what I’m going for here.
Amongst the mixture I bought was a couple of boxes of Helter Skelter lollies.
And I mainly had them over the ensuing week when we raided the freezer.
Them and one “Magnum”.
“Do you prefer Helter Skelters Dad?” one of the kids asked me at one point.
And the honest answer is, of course, “No”.
I shouldn’t think many people do.
But the comparison isn’t really one “Magnum” versus one lolly.
The Helter Skelters are 49 calories each.
The “Magnum”s 243.
So, all else being equal, the question to be asked is” Do you prefer five Helter Skelters to one Magnum Dad?”
Which, I’ll be honest – I probably do.
I get to have a something nice and refreshing in the lovely sunny weather five times, instead of just once.
Or another question could be “Would you prefer five Helter Skelters or five Magnums and have to cut a thousand calories elsewhere or gain weight Dad?”
The comparison of one “Magnum” versus one Helter Skelter isn’t a fair one.
Not “apples to apples”.
It’s an ‘equivalent’ comparison that allows us to make a fairer choice.
Comparing a night out having ten pints, a steak and chips and kebab on the way home……….
Versus a chicken salad and 7 double G&Ts………..
Isn’t really a fair comparison.
Maybe it’s fairer to compare………
A night out having ten pints, a steak and chips and kebab on the way home……….
Versus FIVE nights out having a chicken salad and 7 double G&Ts.
Or the first option and having to cut a whole day’s worth off food across the next week.
Or gain weight.
You get the idea.
Make a fair comparison.
An informed choice.
You may still go for the Magnum, burger, pints, kebab, etc.
But at least you’d be doing it from a more informed place.
But………..
There’s a good chance you might choose to enjoy the other choices.
And enjoy more of them 🙂
Much love,
Jon ‘PI’ Hall
