It’s Friday Guys – time for No Waste Tastes Great
Click here to learn more about my Friday routine
No Friday Fridge this week. Rather I’ll cut to the chase.
Above is my food waste.
Almost an entire bag of carrots. Not yet a week old.
This is bad. Very bad.
But a common problem. This week it hasn’t been possible to turn the TV or radio on without listening to reports of how much food is going to waste in the UK.
Tesco recently reported that it’s estimated across the UK food industry, 68% of salad sold in bags is wasted – 35% of it thrown out by customers.
If you follow this blog, you’ll know bagged salad gets me every time. Every time.
However generally, my wastage is minimal. And I attribute that mainly to meal planning.
(Spot the spelling mistake!)
The benefits, for me, to meal planning are :
- It saves time – No more wandering round the store with no direction, or wondering what to cook for dinner that night. No emergency trips to the store for ingredients you don’t have, or ad hoc dinners out due to lack of supplies.
- I save money – By only buying what we plan to eat and resisting impulse purchases, it saves money. There is no doubt. I also reduce costs by not throwing away unused foodstuffs.
- Less effort is exerted – Being disorganised requires more effort than being organised (in the long-run). You know what/when you are eating and can prep in advance. It requires less decision-making on a daily basis.
- My waste is reduced – It is estimated that in the UK 8.3m tonnes of food each year is thrown away by households. This equates to almost £700 a year of food waste for an average family.
Do you meal plan? What benefits does it bring to you?
(p.s if you want to check out some aesthetically pleasing planners click here)
How’s your Fridge looking this Friday? Anything to declare? Or is it nice and bare? Please share…and don’t forget to drop a link in the comments if you’ve blogged about it!
No Waste Tastes Great is bought to you (as always) with thanks to The Frugal Girl for the original inspiration.
Yes I plan meals, I have been trying to plan a months worth, but have decided that two weeks worth is simpler, its along the lines of – mince on a monday, chicken on a tuesday, curry on a friday, roast dinner on sunday etc. I have also planned simple puddings for each day – yoghurts, cake, angel delight and icecream as I got fed up of the question “whats for pudding?”
I’m guessing that pudding is what I would call dessert?
Yup pudding is dessert… it’s also a term of endearment. We call kids ‘pudding’ in the UK sometimes!
Yes I plan meals, I have been trying to plan a months worth, but have decided that two weeks worth is simpler, its along the lines of – mince on a monday, chicken on a tuesday, curry on a friday, roast dinner on sunday etc. I have also planned simple puddings for each day – yoghurts, cake, angel delight and icecream as I got fed up of the question “whats for pudding?”
I’m guessing that pudding is what I would call dessert?
Yup pudding is dessert… it’s also a term of endearment. We call kids ‘pudding’ in the UK sometimes!
Re Salad Bags. Have you tried placing one sheet of kitchen towel/roll inside the bag? It soaks up the moisture and keeps the salad fresher for longer – it works really well. x
I’ve heard this works a treat…going to give it a go…
Re Salad Bags. Have you tried placing one sheet of kitchen towel/roll inside the bag? It soaks up the moisture and keeps the salad fresher for longer – it works really well. x
I’ve heard this works a treat…going to give it a go…
Hi. To me those carrots are usable! Peel them instead of scrubbing them and use them for whatever you wish. Never would I throw them out.
Do you reckon? I’ll see if I can salvage any…but currently they look like they may be headed for the compost!
Yes I reckon. Unless they are black through and through (then cut it out) or mushy, I would use them. I hate waste!
Hi. To me those carrots are usable! Peel them instead of scrubbing them and use them for whatever you wish. Never would I throw them out.
Do you reckon? I’ll see if I can salvage any…but currently they look like they may be headed for the compost!
Yes I reckon. Unless they are black through and through (then cut it out) or mushy, I would use them. I hate waste!
I am really, really trying. Honest!
http://lizzieshomeworld.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/food-waste-friday.html
Lizzie – and that’s what counts. We’re trying!
I am really, really trying. Honest!
http://lizzieshomeworld.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/food-waste-friday.html
Lizzie – and that’s what counts. We’re trying!
You mention an important part of meal planning for me–less decision making and mental effort in the end. Now, I just need to remember that and do more meal planning than I do.
A minutes worth of planning is worth an hour (or something like that – can’t remember exactly)… worth doing!
You mention an important part of meal planning for me–less decision making and mental effort in the end. Now, I just need to remember that and do more meal planning than I do.
A minutes worth of planning is worth an hour (or something like that – can’t remember exactly)… worth doing!
Food waste free! Mostly because I like leftovers.
http://roadnotchosen.blogspot.com/2013/10/food-waste-and-fun-money.html
Well done Elizabeth!
Food waste free! Mostly because I like leftovers.
http://roadnotchosen.blogspot.com/2013/10/food-waste-and-fun-money.html
Well done Elizabeth!
It’s simple for us. Everything needs to be planned, or we have a dreadful, chaotic week.
I talk to the family and make a menu for the week. I do it on the laptop and include all components for the meals on the menu. It’s then easy to cut and paste a shopping list. It all gets printed off – list in my bag ready to go shopping or in a busy week, online shop. The menu goes on the fridge so everyone knows what’s going on. Planning also makes it easier to find food for days when there are after school activities or easy meals for busy days. After the shopI can switch my brain off as my thinking is on the fridge! It means that we use up what we buy and we don’t over-buy (or buy unnecessary takeaways cos we can’t think of something for dinner! ) Life is so much more straightforward, and runs smoothly. I don’t have to dash out for extra ingredients midweek (which spoils the flow of my day). Everyone should do it!!
Helen – I agree – meal planning is the way to go!
It’s simple for us. Everything needs to be planned, or we have a dreadful, chaotic week.
I talk to the family and make a menu for the week. I do it on the laptop and include all components for the meals on the menu. It’s then easy to cut and paste a shopping list. It all gets printed off – list in my bag ready to go shopping or in a busy week, online shop. The menu goes on the fridge so everyone knows what’s going on. Planning also makes it easier to find food for days when there are after school activities or easy meals for busy days. After the shopI can switch my brain off as my thinking is on the fridge! It means that we use up what we buy and we don’t over-buy (or buy unnecessary takeaways cos we can’t think of something for dinner! ) Life is so much more straightforward, and runs smoothly. I don’t have to dash out for extra ingredients midweek (which spoils the flow of my day). Everyone should do it!!
Helen – I agree – meal planning is the way to go!
I don’t meal plan, but I have a limited number of standard meals that I make based on what meat is on sale each week. When I shop I get protein and vegetables for 4 or 5 meals. The rest of our meals are leftovers. We do not eat dessert except on special occasions. My problems begin if I buy too much food, especially now that there are only two of us at home. Too much choice always means something will go bad before we can eat it.
Jo – this certainly is the next best option to meal planning, for me. Too much food does mean waste!
I don’t meal plan, but I have a limited number of standard meals that I make based on what meat is on sale each week. When I shop I get protein and vegetables for 4 or 5 meals. The rest of our meals are leftovers. We do not eat dessert except on special occasions. My problems begin if I buy too much food, especially now that there are only two of us at home. Too much choice always means something will go bad before we can eat it.
Jo – this certainly is the next best option to meal planning, for me. Too much food does mean waste!
Jo, I have meant to ask you before since you seem to know all the UK/US terms (I’m guessing maybe Canadian terms are the same as US? not really sure) and I remember you once saying you had a hard time finding a mother’s day card that said “mom” instead of “mum” … did you grow up outside of the UK? Just curious. I will be in your neck of the wood for the next two weeks – visiting friends in Cumbria, my first trip back in 4 years. I am so excited! We will be covering a lot of ground visiting their children in uni in Liverpool and Wales. Another first – have not been to Wales before & very much looking forward to it. Am also hoping for a taste of genuine bara brith 🙂
Hi Susan – no I’ve always lived in the UK. I read a lot of US blogs and appreciate that my readers are international – so try (when I remember) to include other variations. My Gran was a US citizen but came home when I was just 3. Enjoy Cumbria – it’s a beautiful part of the UK, and will be stunning this time of year.
Jo, I have meant to ask you before since you seem to know all the UK/US terms (I’m guessing maybe Canadian terms are the same as US? not really sure) and I remember you once saying you had a hard time finding a mother’s day card that said “mom” instead of “mum” … did you grow up outside of the UK? Just curious. I will be in your neck of the wood for the next two weeks – visiting friends in Cumbria, my first trip back in 4 years. I am so excited! We will be covering a lot of ground visiting their children in uni in Liverpool and Wales. Another first – have not been to Wales before & very much looking forward to it. Am also hoping for a taste of genuine bara brith 🙂
Hi Susan – no I’ve always lived in the UK. I read a lot of US blogs and appreciate that my readers are international – so try (when I remember) to include other variations. My Gran was a US citizen but came home when I was just 3. Enjoy Cumbria – it’s a beautiful part of the UK, and will be stunning this time of year.