AIBU to find using food as play material really irresponsible at the moment?

[Gabilou]

Just as the title says really. I keep seeing people making salt dough decorations using half (!!!) a bag of flour. That's over 2 sour loaves... also painting pasta, using it for sensory play, along with flour. It just seems there is a shortage of those ingredients and people aren't even using them for food! Am I being an unreasonable grump or is that just plain irresponsible and wasteful?

Right so you know no one who can get your bread or milk. No one at all in your area.

Milk is inexplicably rationed where you live.

The local support groups wont help you despite you being in isolation. Because you also dont fit into another category.

And you think all this is because someone, somewhere might have bought a bag of flour to entertain their kids.

Could have anything to do with few hundred posters sharing their lockdown baking and cooking (another thread on here) or people insisting their home made [insert non essential, but essential to them item] is an essential (so they bought more) or the people who have also of bags in their cupboard because they panic bought it and probably wont use it, or people who are generally entertaining themselves making treats at home.

Its definitely parents who bought all the flour to entertain their kids. Ok then.

Yabu

I always keep a supply of craft stuff for the kids fir rainy days.

Using it now isn’t depriving anyone else of flour!

And you think all this is because someone, somewhere might have bought a bag of flour to entertain their kids

Its definitely parents who bought all the flour to entertain their kids. Ok then

That is not what I said.

If I was desperate yes someone would bring me milk. As I said it is in short supply and we are all working to support those most vulnerable. And to keep people from as many shopping trips as possible in an area of high infection.

We are 1 Ill adult, 1 healthy adult, 2 healthy teens. Isolated but not starving. So not a priority for the limited supplies in the shops, or people risking going out.

Take your row elsewhere.

It’s awful and especially distasteful to publicise it online.
I’ve seen someone suggesting using a whole bag of plain flour and half a bottle of hair conditioner.

I totally agree with OP, it's such a waste and could be donated if in date. But then I hate cake smashes too, such a waste

Are those against it also against baking treats?

But if you bake treats, you can at least eat the results.

I wouldn't dream of doing this right now because I'm worried about the food situation. But that's me worrying about my own family. I have enough to worry about at the moment without worrying what others are doing. Maybe they panic bought 12 bags of flour? Maybe the mum is sleeping with the local miller and gets secret special flour deliveries? Who knows? Who cares?

My friend lives in a windmill. He mills posh organic flour. Now that would be a waste made into play doh.

I blame Giuseppe Arcimboldo

I think people need to look at what’s going on in the countries that supply flour and the ingredients that go into making it.

But if you bake treats, you can at least eat the results.

Empty calories that your body doesn’t need.

You’re doing it for pleasure, which is pretty much the same as using food for play.

You’re doing it for pleasure, which is pretty much the same as using food for play.

Balls.

Balls.

Why?

It isn't great, but yes it would be grand if you're using out of date stuff. I am also not a fan of people suggesting so much baking as something to do, can't justify the use of flour and eggs at the mo-the kids are looking at me like I'm Cruella Deville!

@Flopjustwantscoffee thank you for the link! For now, neighbours' DD is doing a big shop at a cash and carry with relaxed item amount restrictions given the nature of the shop over the weekend for some of us on the street, so whilst its a few days away she is going to get us some pasta and tins if they have any, and anything else if not. Huge relief. Again missing the point of the thread so sorry to detail, just kicking myself for delaying getting a car, I would be able to do click and collect/drive to a supermarket that is letting parents and children in.

How about mind your own business ffs

@CassieAuLait Your situation isnt quite, what you said it was and wouldnt be changed by a parent using the four they have to play instead of bake.

But if you bake treats, you can at least eat the results.

And what? You get a couple of hours of distraction and a few minutes of happy when eating.

If you want to take it to extreme, that baking isnt 'essential'

How is that different to a child getting a few hours joy out of it?

I didn’t say that. About eating baking.

My point is this:
“ All I am saying is that if people bought flour in the last 2 weeks in order to make modelling dough, I wish they hadn’t”

That’s all.

Yes, free choice, enjoyment is important, but just as someone is apparently entitled to buy up flour for modelling projects, I am entitled to wish that flour had been available for me to buy to bake bread.

What is your specific beef with me?

Others have said the same thing as me and more.

Actually don’t answer, unless it will make you happy. You have told me more about my locality and my circumstances than I apparently know, you have disbelieved their local shortages we are experiencing, you have told me what and how to think... I am fine with you GFery.

Done, not fine.

Why?
Because whilst it’s obviously better to get the majority of your calorific content from a quality calorie, in an emergency situation empty calories are an invalid concept.

Ideally most people would continue to get the majority of their calorie intake from healthy sources (particularly during a public health crisis), but it gets to a point when fed is fed and getting any food into a person during a short term crisis is incredibly important.

It’s not like there are shortages. Call down.

in an emergency situation empty calories are an invalid concept.

We’re not in an emergency situation in that sense.

No one in this country does not have access to sufficient quality calories because of Corona Virus.

No one in this country does not have access to sufficient quality calories because of Corona Virus

That’s quite the leap. If there are people every day who do not have sufficient food, let alone sufficient quality calories and need to access foodbanks, churches, soup kitchens and shelters what makes you think those people have disappeared?