Those convenience foods are a killer - all sugar and fat and 'empty' calories. And so much easier to face than starting from scratch. Lots of people haven't got the time to cook, some don't ever learn how, and organic food is more expensive when it ought to be subsidised to make it cheaper. It's no wonder people buy junk.
Admittedly we are spoilt here in France, though this is to the dismay of my poor American friend Trever, who can't believe the lack of fast food here. I hated to have to tell him that his supermarket has about three times as much fast food as mine, but his idea of a balanced lunch is chicken nuggets AND curry sauce - I don't allow that sort of thing in the house.
The French do have junk food, of course - Old El Paso has made inroads, and the French aren't immune to the lure of Macdonald's (no ketchup, though - they eat mayonnaise instead), but on the whole, processed food is rarer, because the French enjoy cooking. Food appreciation is also taught in schools - quite a separate class from 'home ec' and whipping up a decent omelette and salade vinegrette is within the abilities of almost everyone.
Speaking of France, spare a thought please ladies for the ten thousand people spending tonight in emergency centres as the whole of the South succumbs to flooding. Here in Normandie the house is being buffeted by
90kmph winds, but down there they're up to 150kmph, and they've had 12 inches of rain in the past 24 hours. Some of the houses are now 10ft under water and it's washing away bridges and roads. Fingers crossed for everyone- so far, the death toll is low.
:0 Trish