To donate quinoa to the food bank?

So you can't name a country where they don't eat chips and sandwiches then.

Or is it a bit like British people don't eat foreign foods like curry, pizza or pasta?

There are a lot of former UK and french colonies where these things are staples. And just look at the distribution of McDonald's restaurants (no these are not just catering to western tourists)

Erm, vast swathes of the world? They’re western foods. I’m sure you could find places that cater for the western palate in many countries but chips and sandwiches are not a worldwide staple.

Post it on a local free site.
I belong to a mamas page and often there are posts from people who have done a pantry clear out. It's always snapped up quickly.

Never thought to put squash in, will put some in next time

There are vegans who use food banks that would appreciate this. It's a complete protein I think.

On a slightly different note - where I live it's quite hard to donate food to the food bank. It's only open for donations at very limited times. You can donate in most supermarkets but I'd feel weird walking IN with something. I donate when I go to Sainsbury to shop (I usually buy some "free from" stuff like gluten or dairy free) or I donate cash.

If I had a few random things I'd put them on Olio.

(I love quinoa, I have it with veg curry instead of rice, to increase protein and make it more filling. It only takes ten minutes to boil, I like the multi coloured type)

Tin Can Cook I think it's called, it's a great little book, I bought it 🙂
Think it was being given out at Foodbanks at one point as well.
Some great recipes using tins in there.

Quinoa isn't pompous 😕🤣

I don't think there's anything wrong with donating it, it's food and it's in date, and quinoa is a totally acceptable food. Definitely donate.
I would just be mindful though that a lot of people might not have a lot of money for gas and electric for things that might take ages to cook (dried beans etc) or might only have limited cooking appliances (say a kettle and a microwave).

Go on then. Name a country where people don't eat chips and sandwiches

I've donated some, before. I bought it not realising that it was labelled as may contain gluten. Even if no one selected it, it would have been no more wasted than it would have been sat in my cupboard until it expired.

Ours would take it - it would go on the "extras" table (ie where people can choose a number of items that do not fit the core food parcel). All sorts of stuff gets picked up from there.

I've noted that a lot of posters say who say they are involved with their foodbank are saying "donate".

Because, to be frank, something that's niche may well find a taker (or be bought/swapped by a volunteer, so still of value). But even if it didn't, we'd still rather that than stuff that's past it's dates or already opened (and yes that does happen).

BTW - one of the best things you can give your foodbank is cash. We use this year round, of course, to buy in what we need alongside what's donate, but at this time of year we also spend on emergency fuel vouchers (all colder months) and, for Christmas, a gift in the form supermarket gift cards (and we've been asking for mince pies and for Christmas themed biscuits and chocolates).

Many people who go to foodbanks are regulars who are tired of the same canned stuff, so they might appreciate quinoa or polenta.
I like my polenta with water and salt, nothing else. I can then eat it with cheese, eggs, roast vegetables…it’s a replacement for bread or rice. There will be someone there who will know what to do with it, especially if they come from my partid the world.
I cook polenta by microwaving it for a few minutes. It’s not the traditional way of cooking but it’s much quicker and easier than cooking it on the stove

And quinoa doesn’t take that long to cook, just 10 mins or so and it can then be added to salads or rice etc.

Quinoa would be a no from me because it takes so long to cook and energy prices are so expensive now, and it also needs flavouring with other ingredients in order to make a meal. I've never cooked polenta (despite being solidly middle class myself!) but a quick google suggests that it would also take too much power to cook, and sounds like it needs expensive butter and milk to make the most out of it.

Pesto is a great thing to donate though.

FML… you referenced Europe. There’s nothing wrong with my comprehension. Other posters- 1? What is this, primary school? “Me and her both agree and that makes you outnumbered so you’re wrong!” And the irony that you call me arrogant because I don’t agree with you, whilst you stomp your feet and call me stupid for having a different opinion…

"Nike" "JDI" it will all be appreciated, trust me, have you ever paused to look at what people are depositing in the "food bank bins" in your local supermarkets?

It can be quite an eye opener.....

Jim

I think it's more that food banks won't want to give people items they won't eat.

I can't edit on my phone but am aware that its in this context does not require an apostrophe.

For the love of God!!!!

You cannot 'make' quinoa with just a kettle. It needs to be cooked.
So many people are jumping on the thread to extol it's virtues when they have clearly never prepared it themselves.

Quinoa is a protein rich grain which is simple to cook and a great addition to many meals and a base for others. It does need to be cooked though. It's great as an alternative to bulgur in all sorts of dishes and has more protein in it.

Couscous, which can be prepared with just boiling water, is a dot of wheat rolled in flour and is, to all intents and purposes, tiny pasta which needs to be flavoured or topped.

The reason that it is less popular than rice and pasta with our food bank clients is probably that many of them don't know how to cook it.

The Carbrienara is nice.

They did a very good cookbook, and free website, that gives recipes for typical foodbank offerings.thetre not responsible for everyone's wellbeing that ever needed a foodbank, but they definitely helped make it easier

It doesn't take 30 - 40 minutes to cook, you can actually cook it in a thermal cooker. Its a complete protein so its a good thing to donate, although as this thread shows it helps of food banks can tell people what it is and how to prepare it.

I'd add a few sticks of celery for good measure.