To Veg Box or Not to Veg Box: WEEK TWO.

So, it's Thursday, which means it's --- vegbox day! So what delectable treats were in this week's box.

UPSIDES

Well on first impression the box looks good and there is a nice range, including a rather exciting large 'orange' cauliflower - yep, that's right. I know you thought cauliflowers were white but ...  This exciting edition is part of their 'old breeds' range which is most infamous in our household for the occassional appearance of purple carrorts. As an unexpected treat, there is also a nice 600g bag of broad beans.

DOWNSIDES

Compared to a standard table knife = tiny

HOWEVER - still the same-old irritating bug bear. The aubergine at 210g (which counts a one full option) would not even fully contribute to a moussaka for a family of four, not alone not make a side-dish bake - so in effect is useless and will probably end up going to waste in most house-holds (In our frugal household, it will probably end up looking tired in the fridge and then stuffed in a last reprieve ratatouille mix.)

Compared to a standard table knife

The Butternut squash is the same size as one of the TWO we got as a full option two weeks ago -- and again is too small to feed four as a side dish. The shape of it tells me that this is also seed heavy, meaning that if I get 9 reasonable cubes of it, it will be as many. Again, it will probably end up stuffed in the ratouille dish as it's far too small to serve stuffed (which would only serve 2 anyways). It might make a nice pasta ravioli - but it makes it an expensive one at that.

And, the broad beans, although truly scrumptious will have to be put aside for 'adult' only meal as there are not enough to feed four as a full veg dish.

REMEMBER THIS IS THE FAMILY SIZE VEG-BOX which is intended to feed a family of 4.



PRICE COMPARISON
*where exact comparisons can not be made due to availability the closest product available is substituted for either an equivalent organic product or their standard range (as indicated).

ITEM	WEIGHT	ASDA	TESCO	SAINSBURYS	WAITROSE OCADO
Broccoli	600g	2.40	2.80	1.99	2.38
Calva Nero cabbage		n/a subs cabbage 1.59	n/a sub cabbage 1.30	organic n/a sub finest range 1.50	n/a sub cabbage 1.19
Carrots	500g	0.67	1.24	0.76	0.89
An orange cauliflower		1.32	1.65	0.85	1.69
New Potatoes	1kg	1.47	1.16	1.73	3.38
small Butternut squash		0.97 (not organic)	1.80	1.80	1.99
Red lettuce	Each	1.00	1.20	1.50	1.40
Red Pepper	Each	0.93	0.88	0.93	1.90
small aubergine	210g	0.75 (not organic)	0.90 (not organic)	1.35	1.00 (not organic)
Tomatoes	600g	1.80	1.75	2.00	1.37
Broad Beans	600g	n/a sub French beans 1.27	1.50 (not organic)	n/a sub French beans 1.50	1.99 (not organic)
Onions	400g	0.97	0.50	1.00	0.60
TOTAL 18.50 Number of N/O items		15.14p -3.36 2	16.68 -1.82 2	16.91 -1.59 1	19.78 +1.28 2

CONCLUSIONS: This week's box held its own although veered towards being a slightly more epensive option, especially when considering the extra £0.99 delivery charge and the fact that two of the items were much smaller than their supermarket counterparts. However, the supermarkets failed to deliver the excitement of orange cauliflower or in most cases, the lovely lesser known Calvo Nero. So on choice the Abel and Cole box wins handsdown this week but on cost effectiveness I'm afraid it was a little disappointing. You could have eaten just as well this week for cheaper but it wouldn't have been as much fun.