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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask if you waste a lot of food..

47 replies

IsItSummerYet2018 · 02/02/2018 00:14

So I try so hard not to. I meal plan etc. And I've tried to consciously not buy random stuff like BOGOFS because I think it's a good deal only not to be eaten

But..
I still bin soo much food. Eg
When I peel spuds for mash I peel too many.. But worry if I don't there won't be enough.. Is there a golden rule to how many to peel lol
Bread.. I seem to bin loads. Today I binned a whole loaf I brought on Saturday?.
I meal plan but often it comes to that particular day and either something crops up so we eat different or eat out.. Or I just don't fancy it.. Then in that case I cook for everyone else but I'll eat cereal.. But my portion then goes in bin
And don't get me started on the fruit and veg..lol
I think my mind set is all wrong but I'm so stuck in my ways.

OP posts:

meddie · 02/02/2018 01:04

best investment I made was loads of tupperware tubs (supermarket own brand are cheap, also keep takeaway containers) then whenever I am making something I make enough for 6 and just portion it up and into freezer. I have a selection of meals in there now that do for lunches, dinner at work etc.
Definitely keep an eye on what you have in the fridge and whats about to go out of date and cook it into something and freeze for a later date if you dont fancy it that day.

HoppyHannah · 02/02/2018 01:07

Biggest lesson I learned was just to buy what we like, nothing more nor less, and it kind of works.

You know when you are in the supermarket and just pick up things because they look nice, well that's marketing for you.

I don't do that anymore now, less waste for sure. I have to close my eyes but it doesn't matter, no point in buying stuff that will not be used.

DarthArts · 02/02/2018 01:07

I'm like @heron98

I've found since I food shop daily (local mini supermarket close to home) I waste very little.

I'm pretty good with recycling leftovers if there are any though.

Veg soup is always an option - even if I make it to freeze and eat later. You can even add mash to soup as a thickener.

Another tip is that I purée carrots/celery/onion that is looking about to be done and freeze the mush in containers. I just zap them in a NutriBullet.

It's brilliant added to bolognaise/chilli etc. You just add the frozen mush to the mince. Nice flavour and bulks it out.

I also freeze slices of lemon. Great for but also for having a squeeze of lemon juice in recipes.

Apple/pear purée also freezes well. Makes a great crumble when you add some fresh chopped fruit to the purée base.

halfwitpicker · 02/02/2018 01:07

But even if meant there were 3/4 separate but different portions of something in freezer it would still be an easy dinner one eve.

^
I literally just had one portion of leftover chicken casserole out of the freezer for dinner tonight... We all got sick of eating it but I couldn't bear to whizz it, just enough for one portion. Two weeks later and I'd forgotten about it. Freezer food feels like a free meal!

DarthArts · 02/02/2018 01:13

My best tip is writing on the food container with a sharpie what it is

I had lots in the freezer but couldn't identify it!

Now I know I might have 2 portions of chilli in separate containers and voila- a no cook meal!

I've also discovered that sharpie pens on plastic after being frozen scrub off when being washed.

laura65988 · 08/02/2018 15:56

U notice u are wasting food but it's also wasting money do a shop every few days as u will only buy what u need but if u buy big shop go through it and see what u could give to food bank as there are people who don't have luxury of bining things

Mymouthgetsmeintrouble · 08/02/2018 16:00

I freeze leftovers and make soup from veg thats starting to go a bit limp , most things can be frozen if theyre getting close to date so as a rule the only food wasted is leftovers on plates

TerracottaAmy · 08/02/2018 16:03

with the roast potatoes, I ask mine how many they want - so I only peel what is asked for. I rarely throw food away as I always cook the amount I know they can eat.

Original poster

IsItSummerYet2018 · 08/02/2018 16:17

If I shopped every few days I think I'd end up seeing the offers and caving in and buying them :/
I may try it after baby born in a couple of weeks tho and see how it goes.
I have wasted less this week by actually thinking a bit more.
Even tonight for example.. I don't fancy anything with mince which I defrosted the mince last night... Normally I'd just bin the mince and buy something different that I fancy. But I haven't I've made a point of using it and it's tuff that I don't fancy it. It's me who would go without lol..

OP posts:

meredintofpandiculation · 08/02/2018 16:18

Carrots today are rubbish (they rot rather than dry out) so keep better in fridge; almost all other vegetables are are OK out of fridge. Check before cooking and adapt recipe to incorporate anything that needs to be used soon, or drop into freezer to suspend time.

Dry bread - have a look at recipes for migas (a bread-rich sausage) or açorda - a filling soup thickened with bread.

Overripe bananas make good ice cream, as long as they're not too discoloured. There's no limit to overripeness for cooking with them.

Sour milk makes the most amazingly soft sweet scones - the lactic acid in the milk reacts with the pinch of bicarb you add to give lots of bubbles for a light dough.

I don't meal plan (I'm just beginning to mull over ideas for tonight's meal) and I do a big shop about every 10 days, but we waste very little. It comes down to being aware of what food is in the house, and the confidence not to need to follow recipes to the letter.

meredintofpandiculation · 08/02/2018 16:21

Normally I'd just bin the mince and buy something different that I fancy. But I haven't I've made a point of using it and it's tuff that I don't fancy it. Alternatively you can cook something with the mince and then freeze it for later, and cook something else for tonight. Or leave the mince in the fridge for tomorrow and see if you feel better about it then.

Snowydaysarehere · 08/02/2018 16:21

Dc x 7
Ddogs x 4
What is this thing called 'waste food'?

inappropriateraspberry · 08/02/2018 16:22

I use masking tape to label food for the freezer. Comes off really easily.

Thistlebelle · 08/02/2018 16:23

I try very hard not to waste food.

I meal plan and as I cook everything from scratch can always be flexible with the ingredients.

I batch cook and freeze left overs.
I make soup with left over vegetables.
I only buy small amounts of salad to ensure that we aren’t throwing it out.

MotherWol · 08/02/2018 16:24

To answer your question about mash - allow around 200g of uncooked potato per person. What I do is think about how much potato I'd put on my plate if it were boiled - say 2-3 small to medium sized ones - then multiply per head.

throwcushions · 08/02/2018 16:27

For bread, freeze one or half a loaf depending on how much you usually throw away. Bread defrosts really well especially for toast. So if we want fresh bread we have the non freezer bread and if we want toast we defrost it slice by slice. I don't waste bread since doing this. For leftovers you just have to eat them or eat a meal you don't fancy. I find having set days for certain meals means I am less likely to be disappointed by a non tasty meal! So we always have stir fry on Mondays but I'll switch up the meat, marinade and veg to keep it interesting. I used to dread having stir fry but now I expect it every Monday so I don't mind.

meredintofpandiculation · 08/02/2018 16:29

To answer your question about mash - allow around 200g of uncooked potato per person. I find we always need more potatoes for mash than for anything else. 4-5 pieces of potato if boiled or roast, so I always add extra for mash. But your family might not be as keen on mashed potatoes as mine.

You can make very nice scones or a soft pastry with some of the flour replaced by mashed potato.

Falconhoof1 · 08/02/2018 16:41

I waste very little. Leftovers can be used in meals such as pasta sauces or fritata. That's a good one for extra potatoes. And don't be too hung up on best by dates. Like pp said defrosted mince can be cooked and refrozen or will keep once cooked for a few days in the fridge. I make a bolognaise and after we've had some of that I make any that's left into a chili. The beans etc make a smallish amount last an extra meal.

flirtygirl · 08/02/2018 16:57

No dont waste anything. Freeze, freeze and freeze some more.

Bananas when frozen are great in smoothies or cake or cookies.

Most veg can be chopped first then put into freezer bags or glass containers.

Coed food, milk, cheese and bread can all be frozen. Theres no reason for waste.

If one portion is left it can be someones lunch or have a meal of leftovers, tapas style.

crispsandgin · 08/02/2018 17:00

if you refuse to eat leftovers and allow your family to turn down reheated food, you are going to waste a lot of food. So I'd put a stop to that silliness right off.

Bookaboo · 08/02/2018 17:02

I meal plan but often it comes to that particular day and either something crops up so we eat different or eat out.. Or I just don't fancy it.. Then in that case I cook for everyone else but I'll eat cereal.. But my portion then goes in bin

Sorry but you need to stop this then! Everyone's advice on meal planning & prep is wasted if this is going to happen.

readysteadyteddy · 08/02/2018 17:15

I never used to waste a thing. Brought up in restaurants and hotels, it was an art form. Then I had DS. Now I cook a lot of food that gets thrown out.

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