Good Morning! It’s Food Waste Friday!
Hi Guys, it’s not my week to host. Officially Food Waste Friday is over at Kristen The Frugal Girl’s today – so head on over and link up. But after you’ve read (and commented) on my blog post! (pretty please?)
Last week I asked for help on how to improve my Food Waste Friday posts. The feedback received I digested and hopefully you’ll agree I’m starting to make some improvements.
I want to thank everyone for the comments and for your honesty. It can be as hard to be completely frank in the comments as it is to ask for help initially. Not one comment or suggestion will be glossed over and everything has been taken on-board.
These 3 areas particularly hit home for me:
1. I’m pretty rubbish at vlogs. My YouTube attempts aren’t great. I’ve been fudging it Guys and I know it. Until I can do a better job I won’t vlog. But be warned – in the words of Arnie ‘I’ll be back!’. And when I do come back there’ll be an option to head on over to YouTube rather than embedding the video directly in the blog post.
2. My online voice has changed. I’m rushed, not as upbeat and even whiny. Oh boy that’s not good. I’m not going to even try to explain why this may be as all that is, is ‘excusitis’ – it isn’t your problem, it’s mine. The truth hurts – okay so maybe it didn’t actually hurt – but it was a much-needed reality check. The suggestion I ‘take a break’ from blogging woke me up. Blogging adds so much to my life that to stop doing it is not an option. Time to pull my socks up because if I haven’t got any readers then my blog dies.
3. Changing the feel of Food Waste Friday was a failure. So it’s back to basics. Starting now.
Every Friday I follow my No Waste Tastes Great routine:
Step 1 – Empty the contents of the fridge onto the kitchen counter top:
Step 2 – Clean inside the fridge with bicarbonate of soda:
Step 3 – Identify any waste:
Step 4 – Place everything that is still has plenty of life left in it yet back inside the fridge:
Step 5 – Devise a plan to use up any items that could potentially go to waste:
How does that all come together this Food Waste Friday?
The grapes and off cuts of ham are my food waste confession (along with some strawberries which you may have seen on Instagram on Wednesday). The grapes will be composted, as the strawbs were, and the ham is being mixed in with some food for Grandma’s cat.
The other ham and cucumber will be included in a cold pasta and ham salad at lunch time (very Paleo!), and the mango will be included in tomorrow’s breakfast smoothie.
This takes about 30 minutes to complete, I then spend another 30 minutes devising a meal plan for the forthcoming week and write out a grocery list. That aspect I will cover next Monday on the blog, as Monday’s are well-known for being ‘Meal Plan Monday’ in the blogosphere.
Next Friday I’m officially hosting Food Waste Friday and it’ll be back to the Friday fridge photo, with possibly a video over on YouTube. It’d be great if you could start your own No Waste Tastes Great routine and join in. I know there’s no linky to input your blog post, but it’s simple to drop your link in the comment box below.
Don’t forget to leave your comment below – confess any food waste and share your success of any food saves. And of course please do head on over to The Frugal Girl today!
I’m joining in for the first time this week. I cleared out my fridge this morning (I’m in the southern hemisphere so I’ve had a while to recover). I am doing this because I can deny it no longer – I am a food waste hoarder! I can’t bear to waste the food, so I don’t throw it out even when it is past the point of saving. I let it sit in the fridge getting slimier and smellier. But it is no more. I need this weekly ritual to own up to my waste and start taking control off it. My full confession is here including a picture of my lovely clean fridge – http://moretimethanmoney.co.nz/2015/06/19/confessions-of-a-food-waste-hoarder
Amy you have made my day! I have shared your NZ fridge over on my Facebook page. That’s what it’s all about. Coming together to make improvements on how much food we waste and how we can keep on top of our fridges! Love it!
Thanks Jo, just have to keep it up now. And straighten the wonky shelf!
You’ll keep it up! We’re in this together!
I’m joining in for the first time this week. I cleared out my fridge this morning (I’m in the southern hemisphere so I’ve had a while to recover). I am doing this because I can deny it no longer – I am a food waste hoarder! I can’t bear to waste the food, so I don’t throw it out even when it is past the point of saving. I let it sit in the fridge getting slimier and smellier. But it is no more. I need this weekly ritual to own up to my waste and start taking control off it. My full confession is here including a picture of my lovely clean fridge – http://moretimethanmoney.co.nz/2015/06/19/confessions-of-a-food-waste-hoarder
Amy you have made my day! I have shared your NZ fridge over on my Facebook page. That’s what it’s all about. Coming together to make improvements on how much food we waste and how we can keep on top of our fridges! Love it!
Thanks Jo, just have to keep it up now. And straighten the wonky shelf!
You’ll keep it up! We’re in this together!
Good morning Jo! I hadn’t read blogs in a week so I wasn’t aware of the feedback that you received. I have to confess that while I love hearing your voice because of the coolness of your British accent (!), I much prefer reading posts with pictures than watching videos. Not just here but everywhere. I rarely watch video links that my own family emails me! So I’m happy to see a return to the photo-based Food Waste Friday post and I especially like how you laid it out this week and show what you have pulled out to figure out how to use up things that might go bad in a bit!
I have no idea how things are going at my house this week, but I emptied out the fridge before I left and cleaned it thoroughly (I should go on vacation more often!) and only left items like condiments and things that I knew my husband would indeed eat while I was gone. I had also made use to freeze or use up all the things that would have gone bad this week. I am happy to report that I’m letting no French food go to waste on my vacation, hahaha. All the croissants are getting eaten and the delicious family homecooking too. I really could get used to having people cook for me all the time like this. Sigh.
Have a great weekend! (also, I never thought you were whiny, personally).
French food is parfait! Have a wonderful holiday – hope the Hubby is keeping his waste down at home 😉
Good morning Jo! I hadn’t read blogs in a week so I wasn’t aware of the feedback that you received. I have to confess that while I love hearing your voice because of the coolness of your British accent (!), I much prefer reading posts with pictures than watching videos. Not just here but everywhere. I rarely watch video links that my own family emails me! So I’m happy to see a return to the photo-based Food Waste Friday post and I especially like how you laid it out this week and show what you have pulled out to figure out how to use up things that might go bad in a bit!
I have no idea how things are going at my house this week, but I emptied out the fridge before I left and cleaned it thoroughly (I should go on vacation more often!) and only left items like condiments and things that I knew my husband would indeed eat while I was gone. I had also made use to freeze or use up all the things that would have gone bad this week. I am happy to report that I’m letting no French food go to waste on my vacation, hahaha. All the croissants are getting eaten and the delicious family homecooking too. I really could get used to having people cook for me all the time like this. Sigh.
Have a great weekend! (also, I never thought you were whiny, personally).
French food is parfait! Have a wonderful holiday – hope the Hubby is keeping his waste down at home 😉
I like the pictures this week-especially where you can see that you fridge fits under the counter and is small. For a long time because there was not that perspective, I thought you had a much larger refrigerator. Seeing how little space you work with makes me think about how I use mine.
For the US, your fridge is very small. Is that typical where you live or is it small there too? Do you have a freezer?
British fridges were always like this as I grew up. Then a few years back – not sure how long – larger fridges became popular. In fact they were called ‘American style’ fridges. When we first moved into our house 7 years ago I did contemplate having a new fridge fitted. We had an extra one in the garage from our old house that we used also – mainly for drinks etc. However as my Food Waste habits improved and I got to grips with effective meal planning the need to change the fridge reduced and we sold the additional fridge. I do struggle a little at Christmas or if we have an event and I buy in extra food, but I always manage to sort it. In the UK we tend not to have prolonged periods where the weather is warm so the majority of fruit etc can be kept out.
My freezer is the same size, I’ll be talking freezers soon at the blog.
Fridge size is a really interesting point. I think part of my problem is the size of my fridge – its too large for what I really need on a week to week basis. I can buy more than I eat.
I like the pictures this week-especially where you can see that you fridge fits under the counter and is small. For a long time because there was not that perspective, I thought you had a much larger refrigerator. Seeing how little space you work with makes me think about how I use mine.
For the US, your fridge is very small. Is that typical where you live or is it small there too? Do you have a freezer?
British fridges were always like this as I grew up. Then a few years back – not sure how long – larger fridges became popular. In fact they were called ‘American style’ fridges. When we first moved into our house 7 years ago I did contemplate having a new fridge fitted. We had an extra one in the garage from our old house that we used also – mainly for drinks etc. However as my Food Waste habits improved and I got to grips with effective meal planning the need to change the fridge reduced and we sold the additional fridge. I do struggle a little at Christmas or if we have an event and I buy in extra food, but I always manage to sort it. In the UK we tend not to have prolonged periods where the weather is warm so the majority of fruit etc can be kept out.
My freezer is the same size, I’ll be talking freezers soon at the blog.
Fridge size is a really interesting point. I think part of my problem is the size of my fridge – its too large for what I really need on a week to week basis. I can buy more than I eat.
My online voice keeps changing too! I like that you are real and admit it. It’s easy for it to happen. I think it’s good for us to evolve.
Here is how I did: http://eatdrinkandsavemoney.com/2015/06/19/apricot-glazed-barbeque-chicken-for-food-waste-friday/
Thanks Hannah – its hard to know when you hit the right balance between being ‘IRL you’ and being ‘virtual you’. My life has changed considerably this year and it seems to be reflecting, but I am trying to keep my chin up! Will pop over soon x
My online voice keeps changing too! I like that you are real and admit it. It’s easy for it to happen. I think it’s good for us to evolve.
Here is how I did: http://eatdrinkandsavemoney.com/2015/06/19/apricot-glazed-barbeque-chicken-for-food-waste-friday/
Thanks Hannah – its hard to know when you hit the right balance between being ‘IRL you’ and being ‘virtual you’. My life has changed considerably this year and it seems to be reflecting, but I am trying to keep my chin up! Will pop over soon x
I also had no idea your refrigerator was under the counter! Wow it puts everything in perspective.
My house is small and my refrigerator is one of the smallest “American style” that is made. My friends and family comment on the small size, but it is double the size of yours!
Thanks for the photos 🙂
It’s small but perfectly formed haha!
I also had no idea your refrigerator was under the counter! Wow it puts everything in perspective.
My house is small and my refrigerator is one of the smallest “American style” that is made. My friends and family comment on the small size, but it is double the size of yours!
Thanks for the photos 🙂
It’s small but perfectly formed haha!
Fun to see your routine! It’s pretty similar to mine.
Routine is key to reducing food waste – as you know 😉
Fun to see your routine! It’s pretty similar to mine.
Routine is key to reducing food waste – as you know 😉
I like the step by step photos. I too was so surprised to see you have an under the counter fridge, which I would consider a half-size fridge! I keep so much long-term stuff in my fridge just because there is room and there’s no urgent need to clean it out.
I like the step by step photos. I too was so surprised to see you have an under the counter fridge, which I would consider a half-size fridge! I keep so much long-term stuff in my fridge just because there is room and there’s no urgent need to clean it out.