It’s Friday Guys and it’s time for No Waste Tastes Great!
Click here to find out more about my Friday Routine
This Friday it’s bought to you by someone feeling very sorry for themselves! Whatever Second Born was off school with last Friday he affectionately passed onto me. And I’m starting to lose my sense of humour.
The spirit is willing but the body is weak, so in addition to missing one training run already (the half-marathon is just 9 days away), the laundry is piling up also.
Regardless, surprisingly it would seem that no pesky little cold bug is going to undo all the progress I’ve had with Chez Wright’s Food Waste habits.
Simply Being Mum’s Friday Fridge
Top Shelf – Spread (in date), Margarine (I have a birthday cake to make), Cheddar and Mozzarella, Garlic Cloves (in blue tub), 2 yoghurts (in date).
1st Shelf – Pyrex container with grapes, cucumber and pepper.
Bottom – Pyrex container with stewed apple, and 3lbs of carrots.
What’s the plan for No Waste Tastes Great today then?
Well… lunch is just Dan and I (yes, the little cherub that infected me :)) and that will be cheddar and crackers with crunchy veg (cucumber, pepper and carrots) and grapes. That’s the Pyrex container emptied!
The mozzarella is for pizza which I am making from scratch for dinner for the Kids (First Born has a playdate/sleepover here). The Hubby has requested a takeaway, and due to lack of energy I’ve relented.
That just leaves the bottom shelf. Now I don’t know if the neighbours have secretly found my blog but we had an impromptu donation of a large bag ofcooking apples this week. Yay! Yesterday I stewed about 4 and used half of it on top of pancakes with ice-cream and maple syrup. We have half left, and this will be used up later today. The remaining apples will keep a while longer, and I have an apple crumble planned for Sunday and will stew and freeze what ever is left over when I prepare that.
Finally the carrots – it’s a no-brainer – Soup. I may try a new version of carrot and coriander. They’ll be hitting the slow cooker later today and then frozen for lunches as I have a ‘Use It Up Week’ planned.
Last week I overspent on my grocery budget, which I have now managed to reduce to £50 most weeks. To compensate I will be doing a bare basics shop and scouring the cupboards and tiny freezer for ingredients and staple items to feed a family of four for a week. My aim is to spend no more than £25 on everything for the forthcoming week (including household items). I’ll be posting on Monday how I did it, with some exciting images of my cupboards! Now that’s something to put in your diary 🙂
How’s your Fridge looking this Friday? Sparkling with a nice shine, or are there forgotten veggies hiding behind a slightly mouldy lime? (Must be the head cold affecting me!!!!)
You’re awesome!! Ive been mulling over a fridge like this & don’t know that I could do it, although it does help me to see that we definitely don’t need to shop this week! I’m going to make a menu plan today & shop from our freezer, fridge, & pantry!
Menu Plan, Menu Plan, Menu Plan – I can’t emphasise it enough! Only Buy for the week (if you can) and only plan for 6 days – you’ll have leftovers, or if not then take a night off and grab a takeaway. Have a ‘Use It Up Week’… it’s all simple stuff but highly effective.
Check out my Simple Guide To Meal Planning if unsure, it’s got some tips in there, and watch out for my How to Reduce Food Waste which is soon to appear.
And get photographing that fridge for inspiration! 🙂
You’re awesome!! Ive been mulling over a fridge like this & don’t know that I could do it, although it does help me to see that we definitely don’t need to shop this week! I’m going to make a menu plan today & shop from our freezer, fridge, & pantry!
Menu Plan, Menu Plan, Menu Plan – I can’t emphasise it enough! Only Buy for the week (if you can) and only plan for 6 days – you’ll have leftovers, or if not then take a night off and grab a takeaway. Have a ‘Use It Up Week’… it’s all simple stuff but highly effective.
Check out my Simple Guide To Meal Planning if unsure, it’s got some tips in there, and watch out for my How to Reduce Food Waste which is soon to appear.
And get photographing that fridge for inspiration! 🙂
You’re awesome!! Ive been mulling over a fridge like this & don’t know that I could do it, although it does help me to see that we definitely don’t need to shop this week! I’m going to make a menu plan today & shop from our freezer, fridge, & pantry!
Menu Plan, Menu Plan, Menu Plan – I can’t emphasise it enough! Only Buy for the week (if you can) and only plan for 6 days – you’ll have leftovers, or if not then take a night off and grab a takeaway. Have a ‘Use It Up Week’… it’s all simple stuff but highly effective.
Check out my Simple Guide To Meal Planning if unsure, it’s got some tips in there, and watch out for my How to Reduce Food Waste which is soon to appear.
And get photographing that fridge for inspiration! 🙂
You have a pretty fridge. (visiting from Frugal Girl)
Hi Molly – That’s so kind of you…. perhaps the Fridge needs naming like my slow-cookers (Big Ben Lil’ Bill and Brenda)? Hmm will ponder on that. I did name my French Fridge when we were on holiday Frederic!
You have a pretty fridge. (visiting from Frugal Girl)
Hi Molly – That’s so kind of you…. perhaps the Fridge needs naming like my slow-cookers (Big Ben Lil’ Bill and Brenda)? Hmm will ponder on that. I did name my French Fridge when we were on holiday Frederic!
You have a pretty fridge. (visiting from Frugal Girl)
Hi Molly – That’s so kind of you…. perhaps the Fridge needs naming like my slow-cookers (Big Ben Lil’ Bill and Brenda)? Hmm will ponder on that. I did name my French Fridge when we were on holiday Frederic!
Yuck! I hope you and your son are feeling better soon Jo.
I’m so impressed that you’re only spending $50 each week and still making all of that amazing food. We spend twice that amount.
It would be so fascinating to see a typical week’s shopping list for your household. Maybe when you’re feeling better you could share how you do it? 🙂
To say I’m so over having the sniffles is an understatement (I mean the novelty’s wore off not that I am recovered!). I relented and purchased some pills to try and sort it. It’s my last long (ish) run tomorrow with my buddies before the half – and I’m going no matter what.
On the $ you are only spending about $25 more than me as when you factor in the exchange rate I’m spending $77 (approx). I know when I cut back from £100 to £75 it wasn’t too hard – so you may be able to drop from $100 tp $75 without too much sacrifice. It was when I had to drop by 50% it got more challenging.
As for the shopping list etc.. I’m working on various posts at the mo -this may well come up!
Yuck! I hope you and your son are feeling better soon Jo.
I’m so impressed that you’re only spending $50 each week and still making all of that amazing food. We spend twice that amount.
It would be so fascinating to see a typical week’s shopping list for your household. Maybe when you’re feeling better you could share how you do it? 🙂
To say I’m so over having the sniffles is an understatement (I mean the novelty’s wore off not that I am recovered!). I relented and purchased some pills to try and sort it. It’s my last long (ish) run tomorrow with my buddies before the half – and I’m going no matter what.
On the $ you are only spending about $25 more than me as when you factor in the exchange rate I’m spending $77 (approx). I know when I cut back from £100 to £75 it wasn’t too hard – so you may be able to drop from $100 tp $75 without too much sacrifice. It was when I had to drop by 50% it got more challenging.
As for the shopping list etc.. I’m working on various posts at the mo -this may well come up!
Yuck! I hope you and your son are feeling better soon Jo.
I’m so impressed that you’re only spending $50 each week and still making all of that amazing food. We spend twice that amount.
It would be so fascinating to see a typical week’s shopping list for your household. Maybe when you’re feeling better you could share how you do it? 🙂
To say I’m so over having the sniffles is an understatement (I mean the novelty’s wore off not that I am recovered!). I relented and purchased some pills to try and sort it. It’s my last long (ish) run tomorrow with my buddies before the half – and I’m going no matter what.
On the $ you are only spending about $25 more than me as when you factor in the exchange rate I’m spending $77 (approx). I know when I cut back from £100 to £75 it wasn’t too hard – so you may be able to drop from $100 tp $75 without too much sacrifice. It was when I had to drop by 50% it got more challenging.
As for the shopping list etc.. I’m working on various posts at the mo -this may well come up!
I finally did it (just about – http://lessismoreihope.blogspot.com/2011/10/no-waste-tastes-great.html) and have a pretty empty fridge. Thanks for the inspiration!!
Hey Hey Hey looking good! I’m like proud mother checking out your fridge haha! 🙂
I have just had a really strange experience checking out your fridge – this afternoon I was given a large jar of donated homegrown beetroot by my Mom, in almost (if not) identical jar. This has just been added to my fridge on the left side – spooky eh? In fact – I am going to photograph it and put it on Facebook… no-one will have a clue what I am talking about – but honestly it is possibly identical?
I love looking at the inside of fridges (uncluttered ones of course!) – I wonder if there’s a name for that type of thing 🙂
http://www.facebook.com/pages/SimplyBeingMum/138547782890088
I finally did it (just about – http://lessismoreihope.blogspot.com/2011/10/no-waste-tastes-great.html) and have a pretty empty fridge. Thanks for the inspiration!!
Hey Hey Hey looking good! I’m like proud mother checking out your fridge haha! 🙂
I have just had a really strange experience checking out your fridge – this afternoon I was given a large jar of donated homegrown beetroot by my Mom, in almost (if not) identical jar. This has just been added to my fridge on the left side – spooky eh? In fact – I am going to photograph it and put it on Facebook… no-one will have a clue what I am talking about – but honestly it is possibly identical?
I love looking at the inside of fridges (uncluttered ones of course!) – I wonder if there’s a name for that type of thing 🙂
http://www.facebook.com/pages/SimplyBeingMum/138547782890088
I finally did it (just about – http://lessismoreihope.blogspot.com/2011/10/no-waste-tastes-great.html) and have a pretty empty fridge. Thanks for the inspiration!!
Hey Hey Hey looking good! I’m like proud mother checking out your fridge haha! 🙂
I have just had a really strange experience checking out your fridge – this afternoon I was given a large jar of donated homegrown beetroot by my Mom, in almost (if not) identical jar. This has just been added to my fridge on the left side – spooky eh? In fact – I am going to photograph it and put it on Facebook… no-one will have a clue what I am talking about – but honestly it is possibly identical?
I love looking at the inside of fridges (uncluttered ones of course!) – I wonder if there’s a name for that type of thing 🙂
http://www.facebook.com/pages/SimplyBeingMum/138547782890088
We had a similar kind of week! I have food left as well, but it all has a purpose! Anyway, this is my first time visiting your blog (though I’ve read a lot of your post on The Frugal Girl), and I’m extremely impressed by your fridge! It is definitely something I will aspire to once I get out of college. Right now my fridge is usually mostly empty because I eat my meals in the cafeteria most of the year.
Alexis you are certainly on the right road! The good habits will serve you well once you get your own fridge at home… I hope they’re feeding you well in that cafeteria 🙂
We had a similar kind of week! I have food left as well, but it all has a purpose! Anyway, this is my first time visiting your blog (though I’ve read a lot of your post on The Frugal Girl), and I’m extremely impressed by your fridge! It is definitely something I will aspire to once I get out of college. Right now my fridge is usually mostly empty because I eat my meals in the cafeteria most of the year.
Alexis you are certainly on the right road! The good habits will serve you well once you get your own fridge at home… I hope they’re feeding you well in that cafeteria 🙂
We had a similar kind of week! I have food left as well, but it all has a purpose! Anyway, this is my first time visiting your blog (though I’ve read a lot of your post on The Frugal Girl), and I’m extremely impressed by your fridge! It is definitely something I will aspire to once I get out of college. Right now my fridge is usually mostly empty because I eat my meals in the cafeteria most of the year.
Alexis you are certainly on the right road! The good habits will serve you well once you get your own fridge at home… I hope they’re feeding you well in that cafeteria 🙂
Feel better soon-I’ve had zero runs this week due to a filthy cold and a terrible cough brought home by the kiddo. Fridge looks FAB.
It’s frustrating isn’t it? You eat a good diet and get plenty of exercise and the pesky bugs still get you! Hope you’re better soon also, great to hear you’re a fellow pavement pounder 🙂
Feel better soon-I’ve had zero runs this week due to a filthy cold and a terrible cough brought home by the kiddo. Fridge looks FAB.
It’s frustrating isn’t it? You eat a good diet and get plenty of exercise and the pesky bugs still get you! Hope you’re better soon also, great to hear you’re a fellow pavement pounder 🙂
Feel better soon-I’ve had zero runs this week due to a filthy cold and a terrible cough brought home by the kiddo. Fridge looks FAB.
It’s frustrating isn’t it? You eat a good diet and get plenty of exercise and the pesky bugs still get you! Hope you’re better soon also, great to hear you’re a fellow pavement pounder 🙂
Kudos for cutting the grocery budget in half! That is a major accomplishment. Love how focused your fridge is. In the states we would look at a big pile of carrots and think carrot cake with cream cheese frosting! It is the favorite birthday cake in our house 🙂
Also visiting from The Frugal Girl!
Hi Libby – How lovely to have visitors from Kristen’s site, she truly is inspirational! Coincidentally I checked out a carrot cake recipe yesterday and I have all the ingredients to hand as it’s a ‘Use It Up Week’ – so I may just whip one up – after all there is an awful lot of carrots there! 🙂
Kudos for cutting the grocery budget in half! That is a major accomplishment. Love how focused your fridge is. In the states we would look at a big pile of carrots and think carrot cake with cream cheese frosting! It is the favorite birthday cake in our house 🙂
Also visiting from The Frugal Girl!
Hi Libby – How lovely to have visitors from Kristen’s site, she truly is inspirational! Coincidentally I checked out a carrot cake recipe yesterday and I have all the ingredients to hand as it’s a ‘Use It Up Week’ – so I may just whip one up – after all there is an awful lot of carrots there! 🙂
Kudos for cutting the grocery budget in half! That is a major accomplishment. Love how focused your fridge is. In the states we would look at a big pile of carrots and think carrot cake with cream cheese frosting! It is the favorite birthday cake in our house 🙂
Also visiting from The Frugal Girl!
Hi Libby – How lovely to have visitors from Kristen’s site, she truly is inspirational! Coincidentally I checked out a carrot cake recipe yesterday and I have all the ingredients to hand as it’s a ‘Use It Up Week’ – so I may just whip one up – after all there is an awful lot of carrots there! 🙂
I think you’re right about not buying too far ahead. Since I have been doing Food Waste Friday, I have been buying less food and wasting less. I think I am saving more money even though I am not taking advantage of all of the bargains. I don’t buy things any more just because they are on sale. ( Although, it’s not bad to plan your menu around sales.)
Sales (like diets) don’t work (IMO :)) – you buy things you don’t need with no purpose or place. You spend more in the long run. However I do buy occasional things on special (a really good deal!) if I know they’ll be used up within a month (as long as they are non-perishable). In fact that’s one of the things I’ll be doing this week, using up a couple of things that are sitting in the cupboard. FWF is fantastic and I am so pleased it’s paying off for you! I noticed on your blog post that you are having a clearout… I had one a while back. Interestingly the British government are reviewing guidelines on expiration dates in the UK. As we’ve probably all suspected for a while, the best before dates are manufacturer and retailer led to turn stock over on the shelves. I’ll be keeping an eye on how this unfolds. Stats in the UK are that a household throws away £600 of food a year. Which could be as much as 10% of what we buy. Interestingly I also read something the other day that in the UK we have approx £600 of redundant items that could be sold to generate some cash. Oh I do love my stats! Have a lovely weekend 🙂
I think you’re right about not buying too far ahead. Since I have been doing Food Waste Friday, I have been buying less food and wasting less. I think I am saving more money even though I am not taking advantage of all of the bargains. I don’t buy things any more just because they are on sale. ( Although, it’s not bad to plan your menu around sales.)
Sales (like diets) don’t work (IMO :)) – you buy things you don’t need with no purpose or place. You spend more in the long run. However I do buy occasional things on special (a really good deal!) if I know they’ll be used up within a month (as long as they are non-perishable). In fact that’s one of the things I’ll be doing this week, using up a couple of things that are sitting in the cupboard. FWF is fantastic and I am so pleased it’s paying off for you! I noticed on your blog post that you are having a clearout… I had one a while back. Interestingly the British government are reviewing guidelines on expiration dates in the UK. As we’ve probably all suspected for a while, the best before dates are manufacturer and retailer led to turn stock over on the shelves. I’ll be keeping an eye on how this unfolds. Stats in the UK are that a household throws away £600 of food a year. Which could be as much as 10% of what we buy. Interestingly I also read something the other day that in the UK we have approx £600 of redundant items that could be sold to generate some cash. Oh I do love my stats! Have a lovely weekend 🙂
I think you’re right about not buying too far ahead. Since I have been doing Food Waste Friday, I have been buying less food and wasting less. I think I am saving more money even though I am not taking advantage of all of the bargains. I don’t buy things any more just because they are on sale. ( Although, it’s not bad to plan your menu around sales.)
Sales (like diets) don’t work (IMO :)) – you buy things you don’t need with no purpose or place. You spend more in the long run. However I do buy occasional things on special (a really good deal!) if I know they’ll be used up within a month (as long as they are non-perishable). In fact that’s one of the things I’ll be doing this week, using up a couple of things that are sitting in the cupboard. FWF is fantastic and I am so pleased it’s paying off for you! I noticed on your blog post that you are having a clearout… I had one a while back. Interestingly the British government are reviewing guidelines on expiration dates in the UK. As we’ve probably all suspected for a while, the best before dates are manufacturer and retailer led to turn stock over on the shelves. I’ll be keeping an eye on how this unfolds. Stats in the UK are that a household throws away £600 of food a year. Which could be as much as 10% of what we buy. Interestingly I also read something the other day that in the UK we have approx £600 of redundant items that could be sold to generate some cash. Oh I do love my stats! Have a lovely weekend 🙂
Hope you feel better soon Jo. I LOVE your posts! a) I’m completely nosy and love looking in people’s fridges (and bookshelves, and CD racks…it tells you a lot about a person!) and b) they are so inspiring! We currently spend $200 give or take a few (it’s NZ dollars, so it’s about the equivalent of 100 pounds) meaning about $800 a month. But with menu planning we have got that down from $1000NZD per month! We kind of stopped paying any attention to what we were spending last year when my son was very sick with Coeliac disease (it took a while for us to figure out what the problem was, and much $$$ at the allergy specialist!) but going back to planning our meals has saved us so much money! And I am striving every week to get the amount we spend on groceries down (even so far as separating out the food and household items budgets, not just lumping the laundry detergent in with my food budget. It helps!) particularly groceries that come in packets, and making fresh food our priority. Being conscious about where you spend your money is so important and I thank you for all your inspiration 🙂
Thank you so much Clare (I type this at 6am having been up 5 hours! This cold is winning the battle at the mo – but I’m desperately trying not to moan!!haha!)
There is something very satisfying about looking in peoples fridges, in fact it’s also as interesting looking at what they put on the conveyor belt at the till point – I saw a horrifying basket yesterday but I won’t go into it… anyhow…
You’ve done so well with your budget, particularly with the added stress and complication of your Son’s Coeliac disease. My friend’s son has it and I understand what it entails to prepare suitable foods, and also ensure they get to eat socially with other youngsters.
You sound very organised, a gal after my own heart with the planning! and you are so right conscious spending all the way, I never thought a few years back I’d be so mortified that my usual eggs cost me £1.09 instead of 89p this week… I can visualise 20p being chucked in the bin! Have a lovely weekend 🙂
Hope you feel better soon Jo. I LOVE your posts! a) I’m completely nosy and love looking in people’s fridges (and bookshelves, and CD racks…it tells you a lot about a person!) and b) they are so inspiring! We currently spend $200 give or take a few (it’s NZ dollars, so it’s about the equivalent of 100 pounds) meaning about $800 a month. But with menu planning we have got that down from $1000NZD per month! We kind of stopped paying any attention to what we were spending last year when my son was very sick with Coeliac disease (it took a while for us to figure out what the problem was, and much $$$ at the allergy specialist!) but going back to planning our meals has saved us so much money! And I am striving every week to get the amount we spend on groceries down (even so far as separating out the food and household items budgets, not just lumping the laundry detergent in with my food budget. It helps!) particularly groceries that come in packets, and making fresh food our priority. Being conscious about where you spend your money is so important and I thank you for all your inspiration 🙂
Thank you so much Clare (I type this at 6am having been up 5 hours! This cold is winning the battle at the mo – but I’m desperately trying not to moan!!haha!)
There is something very satisfying about looking in peoples fridges, in fact it’s also as interesting looking at what they put on the conveyor belt at the till point – I saw a horrifying basket yesterday but I won’t go into it… anyhow…
You’ve done so well with your budget, particularly with the added stress and complication of your Son’s Coeliac disease. My friend’s son has it and I understand what it entails to prepare suitable foods, and also ensure they get to eat socially with other youngsters.
You sound very organised, a gal after my own heart with the planning! and you are so right conscious spending all the way, I never thought a few years back I’d be so mortified that my usual eggs cost me £1.09 instead of 89p this week… I can visualise 20p being chucked in the bin! Have a lovely weekend 🙂
Hope you feel better soon Jo. I LOVE your posts! a) I’m completely nosy and love looking in people’s fridges (and bookshelves, and CD racks…it tells you a lot about a person!) and b) they are so inspiring! We currently spend $200 give or take a few (it’s NZ dollars, so it’s about the equivalent of 100 pounds) meaning about $800 a month. But with menu planning we have got that down from $1000NZD per month! We kind of stopped paying any attention to what we were spending last year when my son was very sick with Coeliac disease (it took a while for us to figure out what the problem was, and much $$$ at the allergy specialist!) but going back to planning our meals has saved us so much money! And I am striving every week to get the amount we spend on groceries down (even so far as separating out the food and household items budgets, not just lumping the laundry detergent in with my food budget. It helps!) particularly groceries that come in packets, and making fresh food our priority. Being conscious about where you spend your money is so important and I thank you for all your inspiration 🙂
Thank you so much Clare (I type this at 6am having been up 5 hours! This cold is winning the battle at the mo – but I’m desperately trying not to moan!!haha!)
There is something very satisfying about looking in peoples fridges, in fact it’s also as interesting looking at what they put on the conveyor belt at the till point – I saw a horrifying basket yesterday but I won’t go into it… anyhow…
You’ve done so well with your budget, particularly with the added stress and complication of your Son’s Coeliac disease. My friend’s son has it and I understand what it entails to prepare suitable foods, and also ensure they get to eat socially with other youngsters.
You sound very organised, a gal after my own heart with the planning! and you are so right conscious spending all the way, I never thought a few years back I’d be so mortified that my usual eggs cost me £1.09 instead of 89p this week… I can visualise 20p being chucked in the bin! Have a lovely weekend 🙂
a carrot birthday-cake ? 🙂
Laura what are you doing up? You’re not ill as well are you? 🙂
The birthday cake I’m making this week is definitely madeira – but will have a mermaid on it (hopefully)… still a carrot cake sounds just the ticket as comfort food.
Better go… I can hear two 6-year olds up and about (my daughter had a sleepover playdate!)
a carrot birthday-cake ? 🙂
Laura what are you doing up? You’re not ill as well are you? 🙂
The birthday cake I’m making this week is definitely madeira – but will have a mermaid on it (hopefully)… still a carrot cake sounds just the ticket as comfort food.
Better go… I can hear two 6-year olds up and about (my daughter had a sleepover playdate!)
a carrot birthday-cake ? 🙂
Laura what are you doing up? You’re not ill as well are you? 🙂
The birthday cake I’m making this week is definitely madeira – but will have a mermaid on it (hopefully)… still a carrot cake sounds just the ticket as comfort food.
Better go… I can hear two 6-year olds up and about (my daughter had a sleepover playdate!)
Feel better soon, Jo!
My fridge has NEVER looked like yours, but it’s better than it was a year ago. Little steps!
Thanks Jo – and you are so right, little steps. I looked back on some of my first waste posts last year and I had so much more to use up each week. It’s just forming new habits and keeping at it. Congratulations on making the progress you have!
Feel better soon, Jo!
My fridge has NEVER looked like yours, but it’s better than it was a year ago. Little steps!
Thanks Jo – and you are so right, little steps. I looked back on some of my first waste posts last year and I had so much more to use up each week. It’s just forming new habits and keeping at it. Congratulations on making the progress you have!
Feel better soon, Jo!
My fridge has NEVER looked like yours, but it’s better than it was a year ago. Little steps!
Thanks Jo – and you are so right, little steps. I looked back on some of my first waste posts last year and I had so much more to use up each week. It’s just forming new habits and keeping at it. Congratulations on making the progress you have!