how about a "no waste" August?

[annsteere]

I'm thinking about the food that we throw away.

Seems like at least three aspects
1) Buying the correct amount: last night I should have made 2 ears of corn, not three.

2) Using/storing leftovers effectively: that one ear of corn got cut off the cob and tucked in a plastic storage container. Now it needs to be a lunch side, part of a vegetable soup, added to salsa, etc.

3) Disciplining yourself to eat what is already sitting around: three heads of romaine lettuce are gradually dying in our crisper. Apparently I'll feel better about throwing them out if they grow mold. I've got some yummy lime cookies that need to be eaten, but last night I baked a fresh batch of brownies.

I'd like to mull this over and then see if August can be a "no waste" month.

Care to join me?

 

[wdwfan16]

I'm thinking about the food that we throw away.

Seems like at least three aspects
1) Buying the correct amount: last night I should have made 2 ears of corn, not three.

2) Using/storing leftovers effectively: that one ear of corn got cut off the cob and tucked in a plastic storage container. Now it needs to be a lunch side, part of a vegetable soup, added to salsa, etc.

3) Disciplining yourself to eat what is already sitting around: three heads of romaine lettuce are gradually dying in our crisper. Apparently I'll feel better about throwing them out if they grow mold. I've got some yummy lime cookies that need to be eaten, but last night I baked a fresh batch of brownies.

I'd like to mull this over and then see if August can be a "no waste" month.

Care to join me?

You can freeze the corn; maybe the cookies too. I will boil a dozen corn, eat what we want and then cut the rest off and freeze in sandwich bags. During the winter it can be reheated for a side, put into soup or other recipes that call for corn. It takes great months later. Corn needs to be blanched to keep the flavor in the freezer.

I am great at not throwing out food. Thankfully DH loves leftovers so many of his lunches are leftovers.

 

[DisneyNutMic]

Count me in. We are moving this weekend and getting all good and organized (don't hold me to that just yet). I will be closer to work making it easier to take frozen things to work for lunches (wasn't possible with commute before because it would have thawed on the drive).

 

[maggieusa]

We try to never waste anything if we have leftovers we use them up the next day for lunch

 

[curious3069]

Count me in!!! I'm single and food waste is a problem I need to conquor. My goal is better planning=less waste!

 

[aggielawyer]

Count me in!!! I'm single and food waste is a problem I need to conquor. My goal is better planning=less waste!

Same here. I've been trying to buy less (2 apples instead of 4). I've also just started an experiment--I'm not putting things in the drawers of the fridge unless they have a longer shelf life (cheese, hot dogs). Fresh fruit and veggies go on the top shelf so it's the first thing I see when I open the fridge.

A tip I heard from someone who is runs her kitchen very well is to look at your trash. Think about what you are throwing away and what you could do to change that. Maybe you start using dish cloths instead of paper towels, or reusable storage containers instead of baggies, etc. Those two ideas don't particularly address food, but its the same concept.

 

[blanq]

I will join in! The amount of food wasted in my household is obscene. There has got to be a better way.

 

[SunnieRN]

Count me in! Great idea, that compliments the "no buy thread!!

 

[The Princess]

I'm in too~ I hate throwing food out and rarely do so I'm on board!!!

 

[jacksmomma]

Same here. I've been trying to buy less (2 apples instead of 4). I've also just started an experiment--I'm not putting things in the drawers of the fridge unless they have a longer shelf life (cheese, hot dogs). Fresh fruit and veggies go on the top shelf so it's the first thing I see when I open the fridge.

A tip I heard from someone who is runs her kitchen very well is to look at your trash. Think about what you are throwing away and what you could do to change that. Maybe you start using dish cloths instead of paper towels, or reusable storage containers instead of baggies, etc. Those two ideas don't particularly address food, but its the same concept.

Oh your fur baby is sooo cute! How old is she? Our schnauzer is 6.

 

[charming23]

Count me in! I have been trying to use leftovers more than I did a year ago. We rarely ever buy lunch meat anymore, except when I crave it. We just eat leftovers for lunch because my mom has never gotten out of the habit of cooking for a family of three heavy eaters instead of the two medium eaters we are now. But I love leftovers, to me they seem to taste better the next day anyways.

One trick I have learned lately though is if I make a double batch of something with intent to freeze, I always do that first because before I would just toss it in the fridge to sort out later and then forget to.

 

[ziggystardust]

Fresh fruit and veggies go on the top shelf so it's the first thing I see when I open the fridge.

i just heard this on the radio, there was some study that said if you want to eat something (whether it be for health purposes or for not wasting purposes), it needs to be at eye level. That you are much more likely to eat those veggies if you can see them, rather then looking all over for them

 

[ziggystardust]

and as i type this i realize that i'm eating expired hummus (with another expired container in the fridge. I'm so joining this thread

 

[CowboyCO]

"I never drink water; that is the stuff that rusts pipes. "
W. C. Fields

"I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it."
W. C. Fields

 

[QVCshopper]

I'm pretty good at not wasting food. I find that buying ONLY what you usually use/like helps, as does making smaller shopping orders and not having a huge stockpile. Also, stopping impluse buying is very beneficial. That said, you have to keep a constant stock of what you have and need to avoid duplicates. I also usually have ample room in my freezer and fridge, and I don't really see the need for a second freezer for my family of four.

This is a good idea, though. On Wasted, a show on Planet Green, they said Americans throw out tons of food all the time. Then there are the people who dumpster dive at food stores to rescue just expired food, but that's a whole other story...

I've also tried to use this not wasting principal in all areas of my life--use only what you need. It's helped alot. I think the only areas I have problems with are toys/clothes for the kids. Those seem to multiply like bunnies around here.

 

[aggielawyer]

Oh your fur baby is sooo cute! How old is she? Our schnauzer is 6.

Thanks! She's getting to be an old lady--11 last month. I grew up with schnauzers and think they are the best breed of dogs.

 

[seashoreCM]

... three heads of romaine lettuce are gradually dying in our crisper. ... I've got some yummy lime cookies that need to be eaten, but last night I baked a fresh batch of brownies.?

How about making the rest of July a no waste half month?

Want to try boiling the lettuce? Actually I would not get the water quite that hot. Goes great with other cooked vegetables.

Other hints: http://www.cockam.com/food.htm

 

[Disneys#1fan]

One of the things that helps me waste less is my food saver. Right now I have a partial head of lettuce that has been in the food saver canister for about 3 weeks. I use just a little for my husbands sandwich he takes to work each day and it is just as crisp and fresh as when I bought it. The food saver works great with grapes and berries too. My food saver was a Mother's Day/ Birthday gift so I don't know what it cost but I am sure within a few months it will have paid for itself.

 

[figment3258]

This is a great thread! We are changing our eating habits right now and this fits in perfectly! My husband and kids are spending more money on all natural grass fed non anti-biotic fed animals and so we are eating less we also are eating all organic fruits and veggies and they are more pricey but 10 times better for you and so we can not afford to waste anything. So count us in too.