FOOD

CO-EDITOR RACHEL MITCHELL

TOO GOOD TO GO BY RACHEL MITCHELL

Firstly, if you haven’t heard of this app then you need to download and check it out!

I originally had heard of it via word of mouth and it was probably the prospect of cheap bakery goods that initially sparked my interest.

The Too Good to Go app is just one way you can help fight food waste. The website says “Every day, delicious, fresh food goes to waste at cafés, restaurants, hotels, shops and manufacturers – just because it hasn’t sold in time. The Too Good To Go app lets you buy and collect this food – at a great price – so it gets eaten instead of wasted. You won’t know exactly what’s in your order until you pick it up – it’s all part of the surprise.”

On the app, you’re able to set your location and then the app will search for Magic Bags in the area, for example, Costa, Caffe Nero, Greggs and Morrisons. The day to day availability of Magic Bags vary and they seem to go live as and when and they can often sell out really fast. It took me several attempts over a number of days to find something available. When I finally found a Magic Bag for Morrisons, I jumped on the chance to see how the process would be.

I paid £3.29 for my bag – you’re able to purchase more than one – and the app then gave me a time slot in which I could go to collect. You get a general idea of what to expect and you’re encouraged to bring your own bag to carry your food home in.

Once I arrived, I had to redeem a code and show it to the cashier in order to collect my bag. It was incredibly quick and simple.

I received two packs of sausages, apples, bananas, parsnips and a few other vegetables. Not the most exciting bag but to be expected from an express supermarket and actually useful ingredients. The value of all exceeded the price I paid so that was also a bonus.

Overall, the experience was quick and easy and the reward is knowing that you’re helping prevent food waste. My eyes are definitely peeled for another Magic Bag soon!

GRIND COFFEE

BY RACHEL MITCHELL

On a recent hunt for a more environmentally friendly and compostable coffee pod for my Nespresso machine, I was introduced to a company called Grind. Before checking them out myself, I was told their beautifully curated Instagram feed was a must-see. As promised, a fun, vibey, tickled pink feed full of memes, cute dogs in jumpers and coffee (3 of my fave things) greeted me. I was sold… or nearly anyway.

First impressions were good – a brand that I felt represented me. But ultimately, I wanted to know about their coffee pods. After checking out Grind’s website, I learnt the following:

Grind coffee pods are compostable and 100% plastic-free It’ll take just weeks to compost, which is hundreds of times faster than plastic pods The coffee is certified organic by the Soil Association The coffee beans are sourced directly from smallholders around the world

So far, so good! So how do I get my hands on these?

It’s not just the coffee pods can be delivered straight to your door; there is also an option to purchase ground coffee and machines and accessories via the website. You can choose from a one off purchase or subscribe to a personalised service from £9.95 per month, with the option to skip, pause or cancel with no issues.

I decided that I would simply try the Tin of Compostable Pods for my first purchase which consists of 20x Nespresso Compatible Pods in a rather cute refillable tin for £10.00. There’s the option to purchase refills if you’ve already got the tin or another means of storing them.

From here I could choose the blend of coffee from House – Light – Dark – Decaf. I chose the House Blend which is described as ‘Our signature Grind House Blend cuts through milk with notes of chocolate and hazelnut’. A winner in my eyes.

I couldn’t see many downsides at all so I popped my order in and eagerly anticipated it’s arrival.

When the pods arrived, I was really impressed. Exactly as expected and a fantastic taste too! If you’re looking for an alternative to plastic pods, then I highly recommend giving Grind a go.