Four politicians, Deputies Frances Fitzgerald (FG), Mary Upton (Lab) and John Gormley (Green) and Senator Anne Ormonde (FF) volunteered to shop for Healthy Eating Week on Tuesday. They were given a measly £10 each (a sum unknown a few blocks away at Dublin Castle) to feed a family of four for a day and deposited at Dunnes Stores. Staples such as low fat spread (ugh) and milk, brown bread, potatoes, rice, pasta and flavourings were provided.
Scientist Upton won. She bought Progress Oatlets, chicken, broccoli, two bags of oranges (buy one, get one free), two tins of tuna, cottage cheese and tomatoes for £10.23. FitzGerald spent £10.24 on Special K, eggs, lettuce, broccoli, carrots, bananas, two packs of chicken legs (buy one, get two), orange juice, two satsumas and two apples. Ormonde bought minced beef, cornflakes, eggs, lettuce, orange juice, four yogurts, scallions, tomatoes, bananas and carrots and spent £9.89. Gormley bought Fruit and Fibre cereal, four corn on the cob, tomatoes, bananas, cucumber, two tins of tuna steaks, lettuce, lollo rossa and satsumas and went nearly £1 over budget.
A very green basket indeed, but lacking in protein, according to the judge Ursula O'Dwyer of the Dept of Health.
Quidnunc is at rholohan@irish-times.ie