Food waste Friday

Filed in Blog by on March 5, 2010 11 Comments
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Food waste Friday - a mountain of waste for us this week

Food waste Friday - a mountain of waste for us this week

What a disastrous week for food waste. I’ve been dog sitting you see; a black dog. Winston Churchill had one too.

Don’t know what I’m talking about?

Well apparently Winston Churchill suffered from depression which he called his ‘black dog’. I guess it can become a rather ever-present and faithful companion, regardless of how welcome it is in one’s life. My faithful companion has come back after a long absence to see me it would seem.
On Sunday night I went through the ‘fridge as is my routine and planned some meals around the leftovers. There was to be chicken soup, fish cakes and pasties amongst other things.

What I’ve ended up with for food waste Friday is virtually all the ingredients for the aforementioned meals. Nearly a whole tin of salmon, some mashed potato, cooked vegetables, raw vegetables and some cooked chicken. It’s shameful really but I simply could not face being in the kitchen. It all seemed like too much work, overwhelming, too much effort. It was easier to dish up convenience food.

I’ve been feeling really bad about the food I’ve been serving Little Miss Green this week too. I was quite sure she’d wake up with two heads, covered in spots or with early onset puberty from all the crap she’s been fed. My morals have slipped dramatically, and I’m quite sure most of this food was the product of battery farming, GM spraying and goodness knows what else.

Sigh.

So there we have it yet again; proof that for me, organisation, plus being in good health are what ensure zero waste success. If a busy schedule slips in, or one of us is ill, it throws the well oiled wheels of zero waste towers into disarray and all manner of misadventure takes place.

So the birds, feral cats, bokashi bins and worms have been well fed this week, but I’m not so sure about us.

How did you get on? If you want to take a peek into other people’s ‘fridges who are attempting to reduce their food waste too, hop over to Kristen’s Frugal Girl for the latest.

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About the Author ()

I am a long time supporter of the Green and Sustainable lifestyle. After being caught in the Boscastle floods in 2004, our family begun a journey to respect and promote the importance of Earth's fragile ecosystem, that focussed on reducing waste. Inspired by the beauty and resourcefulness of this wonderful planet, I have published numerous magazine articles on green issues and the author of four books.

Comments (11)

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  1. Eunice says:

    Don’t feel too disheartened, we all get weeks like that from time to time. The important thing is you get yourself back to full health again.

    Little miss G will be none the worse for a few ready made meals from time to time, her average diet must be miles better than most childrens. On a bad week I have been known to give the children jam sandwiches in thier pack lunches, but you know what thier pack up is still miles healthier than others, shocking but true.

    Look after yourself.

  2. Alea says:

    Oh, when I have a dark week, I live in the kitchen – I find it medicinal! However, good luck trying to find a stitch to wear. When I am down, I find laundry oppressive! The important thing is to not beat yourself up. A week of ready prep food from time to time, is not going to do lasting damage, especially since you usually take such great care to feed your family well.

  3. Goo says:

    When I get down like this (and I think if we’re honest most of us do from time to time) I find walking my dog is the best therapy – but there’s lots of very real evidence to suggest it is also very good for ‘black dogs’ too. I hope you manage to get out for a bit of sunshine this week and then you’ll be back on track.

  4. Sarah says:

    Oh Mrs G, I know just how you feel. ((hugs)) Hope the cloud lifts soon for you.

  5. I’ve had the same thing honey. I’ve been so busy of late, I’ve not visited the fridge in a long time and left it in the safe care of Mr A….[safe? as if.]..so had to bring the Bokashi into action for the first time in months as a result. Don’t feel bad about the food waste. You’re amazing and just make sure you look after yourself and find some time to enjoy the onset of spring. Lots of love K xxxx

  6. Jane says:

    One of us sick or elderly parent has a fall and all plans can be scuppered. Not buying a lot of fresh/short life food at a time helps, as does sharing the food management. It is tiring always trying to play catch-up. When you are tired you can find inspiration and enthusiasm very hard to find. Soup from the freezer – particularly that chicken stock put in there for just such a time – helps. Having a list of some easy store cupboard meals saved for just such occasions helps. Whenever the sun shines my spirits quite noticeably lift. Roll on Spring.

  7. John Costigane says:

    The occasional fridge mishap is unavoidable when the varying family diets and tastes prove difficult to manage. So far I have been fortunate to have only my own requirements to meet but one of my brothers will be staying at the family home for a spell which will need some adjustment on my part. A bigger challenge is the Zero Waste aspect since all my brothers are just average citizens in that respect. The idea will be to minimise the impact though some increase in waste is certain.

    My website has also served its purpose as initial internet exposure but is no longer essential for the trend since MyZeroWaste has become the main focus. I am in the process of closing down the site but may come back in a different type of website at a later date.

  8. Mrs Green says:

    @Eunice: Thanks Eunice; you’re right – it’s about restoring full health; and it’s a challenge to put ourselves first most of the time…

    @Alea: Thank you Alea; bed is my sanctury at the moment rather than the kitchen LOL!

    @Goo: Thank you Goo; I’ve certainly been blessed with the weather this week and have made sure I have sat in the garden every day.

    @Sarah: Thanks Sarah 🙂

    @Almost Mrs Average: Ahhh, the wonderful bokashi bin; what would we do without them during busy and stressful times?

    @Jane: A list of easy meals is a good idea, Jane. Things that Mr G can prepare too. I’ll get to it when I have some more energy; thank you!

  9. magdalena says:

    My mantra when it all goes to seed? (and it does from time to time) – Set your sights on Monday! (I think I got it from the song “Sister Goldenhair.”)

  10. Jane says:

    Delia Smith said something on a TV programme I watched part of recently about the type of cooking we do nowadays. It amused me as I have been complaining about the fact that we seem to try to run restaurants instead of homes. Good simple home cooking is what we should all try to be adequate in achieving – not cordon bleu – and certainly not something different for each person. To do this we shouldn’t keep asking them what they want. I saw/heard a young mother asking her toddler in the supermarket what he wanted for supper and realised that this was a way to make a rod for your own back. It could be chips and just chips every time unless we do the planning and organising. I wish my son had left for university with a large cooking repertoire of things on toast! Has anybody written a book yet?

  11. Mrs Green says:

    @magdalena: 😀 great mantra, magdelena!

    @Jane: Yep, my meals were put on the table as a child and I either ate it or went without. There was little food waste 😉

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