Food waste Friday
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Mouldy pears - our food waste for this week
Despite setting ourselves, and some of our readers, a ‘no spend’ food challenge this week, there has still been some food waste.
Admittedly I found it last Sunday evening.
Our fridge was emitting one of those smells.
You know the ones?
The ones that hint of something in there which is way past its best.
I riffled through the chicken, cheese and obvious culprits, but couldn’t find anything.
Then I spotted it.
A lidded, plastic container at the back of the fridge on the bottom shelf.
The danger place if ever there was one.
I guess ‘that place’ isn’t so bad if you have a fridge at eye height; but ours is on the floor and it’s rare for me to get down on the floor when I want to take something out of the ‘fridge.
I opened it up to see the remains of a tin of pears. Fashionably sporting white fluffy brooches.
The picture doesn’t really do these beauties justice, but there we are. A pears – worth of food waste which ended up feeding the resident rat in the compost heap.
Overall though, I’m delighted with our progress this week. I’ve really enjoyed doing my ‘no spend’ food challenge because it’s forced me to be more creative; I’ve tackled making bread again (and plan to continue) AND I’ve added three more family-favourite recipes to my repertoire – banana and walnut loaf, baked beans and banana and brazil brownies (they were indeed very good).
In addition, I’ve saved a fortune.
But the best bit? I reckon I can do this for ANOTHER week!
Yep, I’m starting to view the contents of my cupboards in another way and I haven’t even touched the freezer yet.
So I might set myself another challenge; to have a sort through the freezer and see what is in there for using up.
How about you? How much food waste did you create this week?
If you blog about your food waste, don’t forget to go and comment over at Kristen’s The Frugal Girl, where you’ll find other bloggers sharing their stories too.
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I tried to be so good – baked date and walnut bars and had all of the ingredients in the cupboard or fridge – but they went mouldy after 4 days (unheard of) and had to go out for the birds 🙁
Hi Mrs Green,
The single life is so much easier with repeated items, eg desserts, taking care of opened tins. I cannot remember tin contents going off since nothing is kept beyond a week, save freezer contents: bread, fish, meat and cooked/uncooked preparations. With the October-like weather today, the lentil soup fitted the bill. Pickled herring is a summer delicacy but still welcome on a cold, wet day. Food waste for me is meat rind but the rooks gobble it every time, and a good example of reuse.
I visited the ‘ food ingredients for container’ source today and discussed progress with the owner. He has plans to improve the display by possibly using raised bins, with more details later. Also today, I refilled the Ecover washing-up liquid at Entrading and got some unpackaged, for container, deodorant and bath salt bars from Lush. A good Zero Waste shopping trip.
Mrs. Green, have you tried making beer bread? It’s an easy recipe, and it’s never failed to make a nice, soft loaf of bread for me. This particular recipe calls for a tablespoon of sugar — how does Little Miss Green do with substitutions like honey and maple syrup?
I love it; tracking food waste spurs creativity!
Congrats on saving money (reducing waste) And taking the challenge on for another week.
Too bad about the pears…I have a spot like that in my fridge as well! I think I’m going to go read up on your No-Spend time…sounds like something I should try!
@Katy: Oooo, date and walnut bars – please give me the recipe! I BUY these from tropical wholefoods, but would love to learn how to make them.
Sorry to hear they went off so quickly; I’ll have to freeze them after making.
@John Costigane: That sounds like a great trip, John. Glad to see all is doing well. As you say, the single life lends itself more readily for total zero waste. Also, it’s easier without children as you have to let them take part in ‘normal’ life as well as having your own values.
@SavvyChristine: Hiya 🙂 I made cheese and beer bread once, which she didn’t like, but beer on its own might be ok. It’s fine about the sugar, I can substitute fructose or honey 🙂 Thanks for the recipe link.
@Kate: THanks Kate and thank you for the original inspiration. How are you getting on?
@Valerie: Thanks Valerie – good to see you. Let me know if you decide to do a no spent week and I might join you for another one. I’m half way through my second week and still going strong.