Comments on: Too Much Left Over? http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/06/23/too-much-left-over/ a look at how America squanders nearly half of its food Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:22:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: scifichick http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/06/23/too-much-left-over/#comment-28749 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:18:19 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/06/23/too-much-left-over/#comment-28749 When I bought meat at the grocery store, I would buy an economy size and split it into small portions when I got home. It was easier to thaw out and it was nice to know that I have some extras in the freezer. Now I buy meat at a farm, and it comes in small packages that I end up cooking as a whole. I definitely have to downsize some recipes for my little two-person family. Specially new recipes. But I am also always eating leftovers for lunch. I think it's economical and I don't waste food as much. When I bought meat at the grocery store, I would buy an economy size and split it into small portions when I got home. It was easier to thaw out and it was nice to know that I have some extras in the freezer. Now I buy meat at a farm, and it comes in small packages that I end up cooking as a whole.
I definitely have to downsize some recipes for my little two-person family. Specially new recipes. But I am also always eating leftovers for lunch. I think it’s economical and I don’t waste food as much.

]]> by: Jolyn http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/06/23/too-much-left-over/#comment-28736 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:33:12 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/06/23/too-much-left-over/#comment-28736 We've been trying very hard to cut down on our food waste, and thanks to our efforts, we've recently been able to limit our grocery costs to about $30/week. There are only 2 in our family, but that is a whole lot less than we were spending a few weeks ago! Thank you, Jonathan, for raising awareness about this issue. We’ve been trying very hard to cut down on our food waste, and thanks to our efforts, we’ve recently been able to limit our grocery costs to about $30/week. There are only 2 in our family, but that is a whole lot less than we were spending a few weeks ago! Thank you, Jonathan, for raising awareness about this issue.

]]> by: Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/06/23/too-much-left-over/#comment-28709 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:07:43 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/06/23/too-much-left-over/#comment-28709 It's much more economical to cook once and eat twice, as long as you commit to eating leftovers (or freezing to eat them later). Cheaper to buy in larger quantities (and generally uses less packaging), and uses less energy to cook. But using your leftovers is key. Also, balance that with shopping for produce at farmers' markets and farm stands, where you can buy one tomato if that's all you need. It’s much more economical to cook once and eat twice, as long as you commit to eating leftovers (or freezing to eat them later). Cheaper to buy in larger quantities (and generally uses less packaging), and uses less energy to cook. But using your leftovers is key. Also, balance that with shopping for produce at farmers’ markets and farm stands, where you can buy one tomato if that’s all you need.

]]> by: Dayna http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/06/23/too-much-left-over/#comment-28693 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:54:55 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/06/23/too-much-left-over/#comment-28693 I'm a huge advocate of a deep freezer. Not only can one repackage those more affordable meat trays into sizable servings, celery spinach and other vegetable trimmings freeze well too. Ends and peels make for a quick stock and produce like celery chops up very easily for a sautéed dish. I’m a huge advocate of a deep freezer. Not only can one repackage those more affordable meat trays into sizable servings, celery spinach and other vegetable trimmings freeze well too. Ends and peels make for a quick stock and produce like celery chops up very easily for a sautéed dish.

]]> by: The Sensible Shopper http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/06/23/too-much-left-over/#comment-28690 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:07:51 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/06/23/too-much-left-over/#comment-28690 A really long time ago I read an article about a woman who fed her family of four on $25 a week. As I said, it was a REALLY long time ago. However, her philosophy was pretty good. She felt that abundance encouraged waste. So even though the large economy size might be a better bargain per unit measure, the family looked at the quart container of milk for instance and knew they had to make it last. And by the way, those "personal size" watermelons may seem expensive a $4 each, but there is almost no waste to them and even cut up they last in the 'fridge for about four days in a plastic container. Good, too! A really long time ago I read an article about a woman who fed her family of four on $25 a week. As I said, it was a REALLY long time ago. However, her philosophy was pretty good. She felt that abundance encouraged waste. So even though the large economy size might be a better bargain per unit measure, the family looked at the quart container of milk for instance and knew they had to make it last.
And by the way, those “personal size” watermelons may seem expensive a $4 each, but there is almost no waste to them and even cut up they last in the ‘fridge for about four days in a plastic container. Good, too!

]]> by: Katy Wolk-Stanley http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/06/23/too-much-left-over/#comment-28684 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:47:30 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/06/23/too-much-left-over/#comment-28684 Jonathan, Thanks so much for featuring my Non-Consumer Advocate blog. The wasted food issue is certainly huge. I have always been a bit ashamed about how bad my family is. It's good to know we are not alone. Simple being conscious of food wastage has been the key to non-wastage for us. To not be blindly stuffing leftovers into the fridge without some sort plan. I am still wasting a small amount of food, but am so much better than before I started my "Waste No Food Challenge." A good example of this is watermelon. We bought a big watermelon the other day and ate from it heavily with dinner. Even doing so, we were only able to polish off 1/4. I then shared with two different neighbors (down to 1/2 now). We had it again with dinner last night and I plan on offering it one more time again. This all took conscious planning. Without a plan, it wold have gotten all mushy and inedible. As mush as I love my compost pile, I don't need to be feeding it with perfectly good food. Thanks again for the shout out. -Katy Wolk-Stanley "The Non-Consumer Advocate" http://thenonconsumeradvocate.wordpress.com Jonathan,

Thanks so much for featuring my Non-Consumer Advocate blog. The wasted food issue is certainly huge. I have always been a bit ashamed about how bad my family is. It’s good to know we are not alone.

Simple being conscious of food wastage has been the key to non-wastage for us. To not be blindly stuffing leftovers into the fridge without some sort plan.

I am still wasting a small amount of food, but am so much better than before I started my “Waste No Food Challenge.”

A good example of this is watermelon. We bought a big watermelon the other day and ate from it heavily with dinner. Even doing so, we were only able to polish off 1/4. I then shared with two different neighbors (down to 1/2 now). We had it again with dinner last night and I plan on offering it one more time again.

This all took conscious planning. Without a plan, it wold have gotten all mushy and inedible. As mush as I love my compost pile, I don’t need to be feeding it with perfectly good food.

Thanks again for the shout out.

-Katy Wolk-Stanley
“The Non-Consumer Advocate”
http://thenonconsumeradvocate.wordpress.com

]]> by: Jonathan http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/06/23/too-much-left-over/#comment-28681 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:36:44 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/06/23/too-much-left-over/#comment-28681 I know the feeling, Gabrielle. There was a thoughtful comment on Non-Consumer Advocate's update post by "Shymom" that mentions not being able to finish celery stalks or bunches of basil. I wish all produce came loose, allowing us to choose how much we want. Packaging is a real cause of waste. I know the feeling, Gabrielle. There was a thoughtful comment on Non-Consumer Advocate’s update post by “Shymom” that mentions not being able to finish celery stalks or bunches of basil. I wish all produce came loose, allowing us to choose how much we want. Packaging is a real cause of waste.

]]> by: Gabrielle http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/06/23/too-much-left-over/#comment-28680 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:28:46 +0000 http://www.wastedfood.com/2008/06/23/too-much-left-over/#comment-28680 When I was a meat eater I always bought meat in bulk and re-packaged it for freezing when I got home from the store. I loved being able to pull out steaks or ground beef to thaw for dinner the next night. Being a single vegan is a bit harder - vegetables and fruits are best consumed fresh, and unless you grow your own, or share with a friend, the single person ends up wasting when it's not possible to consume an entire bundle of celery stalks, or carrots, or even a bunch of parsley before rot sets in. When I was a meat eater I always bought meat in bulk and re-packaged it for freezing when I got home from the store. I loved being able to pull out steaks or ground beef to thaw for dinner the next night.

Being a single vegan is a bit harder - vegetables and fruits are best consumed fresh, and unless you grow your own, or share with a friend, the single person ends up wasting when it’s not possible to consume an entire bundle of celery stalks, or carrots, or even a bunch of parsley before rot sets in.

]]>