Comments on: 8 Ways To Cut Down on Food Waste http://naturemoms.com/blog/2010/02/08/8-ways-to-cut-down-on-food-waste/ Green and Natural Parenting Fri, 25 May 2012 00:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: ECC http://naturemoms.com/blog/2010/02/08/8-ways-to-cut-down-on-food-waste/#comment-14126 ECC Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:07:27 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=4117#comment-14126 Great tips, I have to say that I throw out more then I cared to admit.. But these are some good tips! Great tips, I have to say that I throw out more then I cared to admit.. But these are some good tips!

]]> By: erin http://naturemoms.com/blog/2010/02/08/8-ways-to-cut-down-on-food-waste/#comment-14125 erin Tue, 16 Feb 2010 06:21:18 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=4117#comment-14125 Great conversation! Thanks to everyone for their tips, and for the original article. Since I started making carefully planned meal calendars, I have managed to reduce a significant amt of waste - paying close attention to using similar ingredients for multiple meals in one week if there is a special ingredient that I don't normally use or is usually purchased in larger quantities. For example, I noticed that no one likes roast beef leftovers in our house, so now I plan Day 1 to cut the uncooked meat in half and serve a traditional roast, and then on Day 2, we make an alternate meal using the 2nd half of beef, such as a fajitas. And last year i realized that you can freeze bell peppers to be used in stews/soups/quesidillas, etc. When our veggie platter peppers start to look wilty, I send them into a bag which sits inside our freezer door. I have not wasted any peppers since making this discovery. :) Great conversation! Thanks to everyone for their tips, and for the original article.
Since I started making carefully planned meal calendars, I have managed to reduce a significant amt of waste – paying close attention to using similar ingredients for multiple meals in one week if there is a special ingredient that I don’t normally use or is usually purchased in larger quantities. For example, I noticed that no one likes roast beef leftovers in our house, so now I plan Day 1 to cut the uncooked meat in half and serve a traditional roast, and then on Day 2, we make an alternate meal using the 2nd half of beef, such as a fajitas.
And last year i realized that you can freeze bell peppers to be used in stews/soups/quesidillas, etc. When our veggie platter peppers start to look wilty, I send them into a bag which sits inside our freezer door. I have not wasted any peppers since making this discovery. :)

]]> By: Lisa @Retro Housewife Goes Green http://naturemoms.com/blog/2010/02/08/8-ways-to-cut-down-on-food-waste/#comment-14124 Lisa @Retro Housewife Goes Green Mon, 15 Feb 2010 02:46:55 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=4117#comment-14124 I try and meal plan and freeze things before they go bad if they can be frozen. Great tips! I try and meal plan and freeze things before they go bad if they can be frozen.

Great tips!

]]> By: Alan Takushi http://naturemoms.com/blog/2010/02/08/8-ways-to-cut-down-on-food-waste/#comment-14123 Alan Takushi Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:18:39 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=4117#comment-14123 Thanks for the great tips. It's definitely a challenge to not let any food go to waste. One thing we're trying to do is buy the freshest veggies and fruits and our local farmer's market. It tends to last longer than the store bought stuff. Thanks for the great tips. It’s definitely a challenge to not let any food go to waste. One thing we’re trying to do is buy the freshest veggies and fruits and our local farmer’s market. It tends to last longer than the store bought stuff.

]]> By: Jackie Lee http://naturemoms.com/blog/2010/02/08/8-ways-to-cut-down-on-food-waste/#comment-14122 Jackie Lee Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:55:25 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=4117#comment-14122 The big things I do are to meal plan weekly. I love to cook and I love to try new recipes. The one thing I am really doing now is checking how much recipes make before I buy the ingredients. If it's going to serve more than 4 I cut the recipe. There are only 3 of us and I know even if I plan leftovers for lunches it doesn't usually work out that way. Better not to make more than we need in the first place. Great tips, thanks! The big things I do are to meal plan weekly. I love to cook and I love to try new recipes. The one thing I am really doing now is checking how much recipes make before I buy the ingredients. If it’s going to serve more than 4 I cut the recipe. There are only 3 of us and I know even if I plan leftovers for lunches it doesn’t usually work out that way. Better not to make more than we need in the first place. Great tips, thanks!

]]> By: sheri http://naturemoms.com/blog/2010/02/08/8-ways-to-cut-down-on-food-waste/#comment-14121 sheri Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:22:03 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=4117#comment-14121 My husband will not eat leftovers so I have had to learn how to use portion control. I cook for the two of us instead of four. I also buy only enough to cook for two. If I have leftover ingredients I freeze, or plan several meals using cilantro or parsley. I also freeze my fruit and then cook muffins, cakes, and breads with them when I have free time. These are great because they can usually be frozen and then pulled out one at a time when we are in the mood for them. If I have to cook in larger portions I invite friends or family to come for dinner or I take some to them for them to enjoy. (which usually results in us getting some great meals in return, and wonderful social visits!) My husband will not eat leftovers so I have had to learn how to use portion control. I cook for the two of us instead of four. I also buy only enough to cook for two. If I have leftover ingredients I freeze, or plan several meals using cilantro or parsley. I also freeze my fruit and then cook muffins, cakes, and breads with them when I have free time. These are great because they can usually be frozen and then pulled out one at a time when we are in the mood for them.
If I have to cook in larger portions I invite friends or family to come for dinner or I take some to them for them to enjoy. (which usually results in us getting some great meals in return, and wonderful social visits!)

]]> By: Chriss http://naturemoms.com/blog/2010/02/08/8-ways-to-cut-down-on-food-waste/#comment-14120 Chriss Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:28:05 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=4117#comment-14120 We freeze and use leftovers for lunches. We also plan a weekly menu, that way I am buying what we will use not what is on sale or a good buy. We also compost and make lovely soil for our Garden. I will also use leftover squash or yams in muffins. Great post. We freeze and use leftovers for lunches. We also plan a weekly menu, that way I am buying what we will use not what is on sale or a good buy. We also compost and make lovely soil for our Garden. I will also use leftover squash or yams in muffins.

Great post.

]]> By: Bridget http://naturemoms.com/blog/2010/02/08/8-ways-to-cut-down-on-food-waste/#comment-14119 Bridget Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:00:52 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=4117#comment-14119 I'm trying my hardest to get better about incorporating more fruits & veggies in our diets...and not have too much waste. I agree that meal planning is a must for less waste too...some times are better than others for me. It's a challenge. My kids don't always eat what we eat so I try to modify somethings but we always have fresh/frozen fruit & veggies for them. And always making sure hubby takes fruit to work. Anyway, our waste goes into the yard waste bin that's picked up by Waste Mgmt. Love it. Bananas are easy for us - if getting too ripe we smash & make muffins...a lot. If I don't have time to make them I'll smash the bananas, freeze & have them ready for the next batch. Sidenote - got a 5lb bag of frozen organic green beans at Costco today for $6! They had peas & corn as well. I typically shop at TJs for frozen veggies/fruits but my kids love these green beans! Thanks for the posts Tiffany - I really do enjoy them. I’m trying my hardest to get better about incorporating more fruits & veggies in our diets…and not have too much waste. I agree that meal planning is a must for less waste too…some times are better than others for me. It’s a challenge. My kids don’t always eat what we eat so I try to modify somethings but we always have fresh/frozen fruit & veggies for them. And always making sure hubby takes fruit to work. Anyway, our waste goes into the yard waste bin that’s picked up by Waste Mgmt. Love it.

Bananas are easy for us – if getting too ripe we smash & make muffins…a lot. If I don’t have time to make them I’ll smash the bananas, freeze & have them ready for the next batch.

Sidenote – got a 5lb bag of frozen organic green beans at Costco today for $6! They had peas & corn as well. I typically shop at TJs for frozen veggies/fruits but my kids love these green beans!

Thanks for the posts Tiffany – I really do enjoy them.

]]> By: keith wilcox http://naturemoms.com/blog/2010/02/08/8-ways-to-cut-down-on-food-waste/#comment-14118 keith wilcox Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:51:41 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=4117#comment-14118 good tips. We freeze so much stuff that we've got an extra freezer in the garage. It takes the worry out of expiration dates, and allows us to buy some things (like frozen fruit and veg) in bulk. good tips. We freeze so much stuff that we’ve got an extra freezer in the garage. It takes the worry out of expiration dates, and allows us to buy some things (like frozen fruit and veg) in bulk.

]]> By: Lisa C http://naturemoms.com/blog/2010/02/08/8-ways-to-cut-down-on-food-waste/#comment-14117 Lisa C Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:57:30 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=4117#comment-14117 If dinner is leftover, I enjoy it at lunch. Planning is crucial in not wasting vegetables. I also utilize a vacuum sealer. If the bananas are turning brown faster than we can eat them, I peel them, wrap in wax paper individually, and freeze. Great snack! Lisa If dinner is leftover, I enjoy it at lunch. Planning is crucial in not wasting vegetables.

I also utilize a vacuum sealer.

If the bananas are turning brown faster than we can eat them, I peel them, wrap in wax paper individually, and freeze. Great snack!

Lisa

]]> By: andiscandis http://naturemoms.com/blog/2010/02/08/8-ways-to-cut-down-on-food-waste/#comment-14116 andiscandis Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:38:37 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=4117#comment-14116 #1 is a fantastic idea. It also saves energy because you don't have to hold the door open to browse the shelves! #1 is a fantastic idea. It also saves energy because you don’t have to hold the door open to browse the shelves!

]]> By: Stephanie - Green SAHM http://naturemoms.com/blog/2010/02/08/8-ways-to-cut-down-on-food-waste/#comment-14115 Stephanie - Green SAHM Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:59:24 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=4117#comment-14115 I like using leftovers for my lunch as getting my husband to take them to work has proven to be a pretty much lost cause, no matter how much he enjoyed the dinner or says he will take them. I like using leftovers for my lunch as getting my husband to take them to work has proven to be a pretty much lost cause, no matter how much he enjoyed the dinner or says he will take them.

]]> By: Kristen's Raw http://naturemoms.com/blog/2010/02/08/8-ways-to-cut-down-on-food-waste/#comment-14114 Kristen's Raw Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:55:01 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=4117#comment-14114 Great article, just tweeted it. :) Great article, just tweeted it. :)

]]> By: Rachel http://naturemoms.com/blog/2010/02/08/8-ways-to-cut-down-on-food-waste/#comment-14113 Rachel Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:59:34 +0000 http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=4117#comment-14113 i try to meal plan every week, and make sure that whatever i made for sunday dinner, i make enough to turn into a sandwhich or a cassarole dish by wed. We have one of those amazing food sealer machines that cuts down on freezer burn and waste . its amazing. i try to meal plan every week, and make sure that whatever i made for sunday dinner, i make enough to turn into a sandwhich or a cassarole dish by wed. We have one of those amazing food sealer machines that cuts down on freezer burn and waste . its amazing.

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