Worried about food going to waste now I’m on a diet

[Amymegandbethandjo]

I’m on a meal replacement diet as of yesterday, which I’ve done before. The only difference is I now have a toddler aged son to cook for, but obviously his portions aren’t big. For things like cereal it’s not a problem, but for lunch I’d planned fish, mashed potato and peas. The fish and peas aren’t an issue but it will mean I’ll have to buy a whole potato and throw some away.

Anyone got any advice? Also for things liked cooked meats and so on.

Batch cooking is cooking a lot and then giving it in small portions, correct? The problem is it would take weeks to get through!

You can buy frozen mash.

I don’t understand this at all!
You’re worried about throwing away half a potato?

• buy smaller potato
• freeze half the mash
• don’t even freeze just put half (potato or mash) in fridge until next day

@Amymegandbethandjo

Batch cooking is cooking a lot and then giving it in small portions, correct? The problem is it would take weeks to get through!

Why would it, if it’s half a potato?

I heard somewhere that food is as wasted in excess calories that turn to fat as it is in the bin. Ive remembered that and it helps me feel less guilty when we have to throw food away, especially now that we have food waste recycling.

Frozen mash is a good idea. Also frozen mince, sausages, spinach, and stir fry vegetables are great because you take exactly the amount you need straight from the freezer and use it. You can buy salmon frozen in portions too. They would be adult portions though but you could split it between lunch and dinner or over two days.

Isn’t frozen mash processed, though? I want to go for fresh where poss.

@Amymegandbethandjo

Isn’t frozen mash processed, though? I want to go for fresh where poss.

It's just frozen mashed potato.

PS my parents were forever pulling horrible things out of their freezer too, so I know where you're coming from. (Was it also just an oppressive food culture at home generally? Mine was)

It took me a long time to get on with the idea of frozen food because of this but it can be absolutely fine and a very useful tool.

My dad used to freeze bread, it was horrible

They always thought they were so virtuous too, so it’s stayed with me!

Can't you just cook things where it's easy to make a small portion? I would never cook mash for my toddler because you can't really make a handful that easily. I'd always cook rice or pasta or something like that instead. Or make homemade potato wedges what you freeze and just grab a handful when you need them.

Could do. I’m not a massively inspirational cook, so rely on fish fingers etc

@Amymegandbethandjo

Batch cooking is cooking a lot and then giving it in small portions, correct? The problem is it would take weeks to get through!

That's ok though isn't it? Makes things easier for you .

Maybe but doesn’t sound very nice,tbh, although this may be childhood memories returning to haunt me!

@Amymegandbethandjo

Could do. I’m not a massively inspirational cook, so rely on fish fingers etc

So you are worried about frozen mash being processed, but will happily feed your child fish fingers?

go on, hit me with how terrible fish fingers are.

My understanding from vague food tech lessons circa 1995 is that fresh veg is best especially if it’s going to be cut up etc because a lot of the nutrition is lost from it when mashed or cut and frozen.

I also thought fish fingers were all right. They taste good, anyway.

@Amymegandbethandjo

Could do. I’m not a massively inspirational cook, so rely on fish fingers etc

Your toddler doesn't really know what goes with what though - I do fish fingers (which are fine) with rice and peas sometimes.

Am I missing something? Cut the potato in half before cooking and stick the other half back in the fridge for next time. However as others say it would be more economical to cook more and freeze leftovers.

Frozen veg is often better as it's frozen at the freshest point so all the nutrients are locked in until cooking.

I also don't understand your obsession with non-processed foods when you're going on a meal-replacement diet

@Amymegandbethandjo

go on, hit me with how terrible fish fingers are.

My understanding from vague food tech lessons circa 1995 is that fresh veg is best especially if it’s going to be cut up etc because a lot of the nutrition is lost from it when mashed or cut and frozen.

I also thought fish fingers were all right. They taste good, anyway.

My kids ate fish fingers too, and I am not aginst them, it just sounded weird that you worry about mash being processed, but not fish fingers.

What you were taught in school regarding vegetables was wrong though. Many vegetables are more nutritious being fozen, peas for example, because they are picked at the right time and haven't lost nutrition by being picked when they are not ready and then having to finish getting ripe in the back of a lorry without sunshine. They won't lose nutrition by mashing them either, if that was the case they would lose nutrition when we chew them too.

Tomatoes for example gain nutrition through cooking.

Generally speaking it's better to not boil vegetables if you are pouring the liquid away (like broccoli for example) because they then lose a lot of the good vitamins, but frozen vegetables are often just as good or better than fresh.

@JS87 I think what you’re missing is that a week could go by before I need to cook the potatoI again so by that time it would be looking a bit alien like.

Thanks @Snoken. I did know that re peas etc just wasn’t sure about the mash. I might have been thinking about things like eg Smash.

I agree with the advice to freeze as much as you can, but also remember that food you don't need but have cooked is a 'sunk cost'. There is no benefit to eating, say, some extra potatoes for the sake of not throwing them away - and it's better that the waste should be in your food bin than on your waistline.

It seems like you’re determined to make this difficult. Just plan to have mash twice within a few days, make the whole potato into mash and freeze a portion or buy frozen mash you can cook in individual portions… Sorry I’ve missed something but it’s quite easy!

Loads of good practical advice already.

The other angle to take on any minor waste that does result, is to tell yourself “I either waste it or eat it, and it’s better to waste small amounts than sabotage my diet”. That’s the bigger picture here. You’re not really going to forego the health benefits of your regime to “save” half a potato are you?

It seems like you’re determined to make this difficult

Don’t be so ridiculous. There is not one thing I have posted that is showing any inclination, never mind determination, to make things difficult.

YOU are determined to have an argument. And you’re not getting one!

Thanks @Thoosa, it’s not for me, it’s just that it may mean a lot of food being chucked which isn’t ideal and always makes me feel guilty, especially when a lot of people struggle. I used to hate it when first weaning DS!