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Post by Arid on Oct 31, 2015 2:11:28 GMT -5
Diane: I have a large refrigerator in my kitchen, and it has a freezer on the top. I store things that are used frequently in that freezer compartment: ice cream, nuts, bags of veggies that are opened, etc. In the basement, I have a somewhat smaller refrigerator. It, too, has a freezer compartment on the top. That's where I store all those processed meats that we aren't supposed to buy ( !!): hotdogs, smoked sausage, ham, bologna, pizzas, etc. The regular refrigerator compartment is kept filled with **APPLES** (you wouldn't believe how many pounds of apples we eat in a year's time!!),pancake mixes, rice, lentils, dried milk, taco shells, baking mix, brownie mixes, a spare gallon of milk, etc. Also in the basement, I have a large upright freezer. It holds things that need lower temperatures and is for longer storage items. It holds such things as chicken breasts, fish, beef roasts, pork chops, berries, cherries, shredded cheeses, bread, bread dough, etc. It also houses more frozen veggies, a few frozen dinner-type items, flours, etc. Normally, I'm feeding only a couple of people here, but during the holidays and/or vacation time, that number can double, triple, or even quadruple. One thing that I can say for my husband--he's great about eating up leftovers! He never complains; in fact, like me, he likes having "planned overs" available. We very, very seldom have any prepared foods to throw away. We usually eat up every last bite! Like anyone, I sometimes don't get fresh produce used up as quickly as I should. "Life happens," and we might find ourselves eating out a meal or two instead of eating at home. Sometimes, time and/or my energy doesn't allow for me to cook what I had intended; we might "make do" with canned soup and grilled cheese sandwiches or a pizza, instead. Still, overall, we don't have all that much food waste. I do occasionally find some "elderly" canned good or other--one of those in the "why did I ever buy this in the first place?!!" category--that I end up discarding. Arid P. S. I grew up on a farm; when we were snowed in, we were snowed in!! Consequently, we learned to keep LOTS of foodstuffs on hand. Besides, we always had a HUGE garden; hence, we canned and froze all sorts of veggies. We had our own beef in the freezer, etc. All that "taught" me to be something of a "food hoarder." A. From Don Aslett's books, I learned to keep my canned foods purchases and dry goods "in check." For example, I've found 6 to be a good number for us. When foods that we use frequently go on sale, we buy 6 at a time: 6 boxes of the cereal that DH eats all the time; 6 cans of particular kinds of soup; 6 cans of pineapple, etc. I almost *NEVER* pay full-price for any foodstuffs. It half-kills me whenever I have to do that! That usually only happens when we have company or something unexpected occurs. P. P. S. Somehow, my "P. S." ended up in the middle of my post . . .! A.
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Post by hollyhock on Oct 31, 2015 5:23:26 GMT -5
Hi all. I am also very guilty of buying too much - especially fresh produce. It calls my name as I walk into the store - even when I know I can't eat it, I still buy it - or I eat part, regret it and the rest goes to waste.
I am trying to really watch what I buy now. I do pre-plan my meals for the week and generally try to only buy what I will use that week, but keep a few basics on hand. Like shells mentioned, I may need to go out every 3-4 days to buy more.
One of my purchases has been a lot of fresh spinach, because I give that to the birds. Most places don't seem to carry loose bunches any more, but huge containers of it. I don't like salads much, and I get tired of steamed spinach just so I can use it up.
Just before Diane started this thread I had wondered what to do about it - and it occurred to me to see if I could make soups out of it. So that is my plan - today I am making a soup using up my spinach, and I will reserve a few of the leaves for the birds. (Sometimes I am also guilty of not eating the soup too.)
Another downfall is buying more bananas than I can eat before they get too ripe, although in the store I think I am buying the right amount. So I am looking for alternative uses for that too - I can make banana bread, but you can only eat so much. Plus I don't really like baking etc.
I find I tend to really go overboard on things like long weekends or holiday times. Or I buy a lot intending to make several things and I don't. I feel like I need to treat me - but then I just end up with a lot more stuff than I should be eating. When I shop I am usually really good about sticking to the list - but the fresh fruits and veggies are always my downfall.
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Post by dtesposito on Oct 31, 2015 7:40:48 GMT -5
Arid, it sounds like you're doing really well "waste" wise, the downside might be your electric bill running extra appliances! I tend to really go overboard on things like long weekends or holiday timesHollyhock, I have this mentality too! It's almost like I'm going to be closed away somewhere for the long holiday weekend and won't be able to get to civilization so I have to buy extra--which is silly, because the only holiday when grocery stores are completely closed is Christmas day, and even on Christmas some stores (and a lot of take-out restaurants) are open. Maybe that's from my childhood when stores really did close on most holidays, but I always get a feeling of having to stock up. Tonight I have a job watching a client's dog at her Halloween Open House, and last year I stayed til the end and went home with a large plate of food--if I do the same this year, I'll have that to eat for the next 2 days. I might not stay til the end though, and she only pushes food on people at the end. Diane
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Post by wit on Oct 31, 2015 8:18:00 GMT -5
Meal planning is the only way that I have ever been able to eat prepared food on a consistent basis. By prepared food I mean something more than just ingredients - that's what C calls it when we open a jar of nuts, a can of refried beans, a block of cheddar, an apple and a box of crackers, ingredients. Nothing wrong with that on occasion but I don't want to teach my daughter that cooking is for special occasions only!
But meal planning every week is such a pain and I just wasn't doing it, feeling really guilty too. So I've just started meal planning once a month and it's actually working so far. I leave blank the days I know we'll be out, I make at least one day a week for leftovers, which can also be a catch-up day if we go out unexpectedly, and I haven't found myself staring dispiritedly into the open fridge in ages! Unplanned produce from the farm share complicates things a little but I am much more able to deal with it now that I am not thinking about the main dish too.
I am gradually eating through pre-meal-planning stuff from the pantry, and I restock it on a big shopping trip once a month for a very few staples and the non-perishables for the meal plan. Then since we have to pick up the farm share once a week or lose money I can pick up more fresh stuff then. I have tried several times to pay attention to coupons, sales, etc, and have failed. At this point I tell myself that buying only what I use is as economical as stocking up on sale stuff I will have trouble using up.
Thanks for this interesting thread!
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Post by phoenixcat on Oct 31, 2015 8:54:40 GMT -5
One thing I like to do with leftover bananas is make them into frozen chocolate treats. 1) Cut the banana into about 1 inch slices 2) Microwave some semi-chocolate chips (about a 1/4 cup per banana) and 1-2 tablespoons of peanut butter - you can mix and match here - use different kind of chips or add nuts at the end 3) Using a fork - dip the banana into the melted mixture and then put on wax/parchment paper. I use a small cookie sheet so they can be frozen in one layer. 4) Have to move a bit quickly because the chocolate starts to get hard and won't evenly coat the banana. 5) Sometimes they may not be pretty but they taste good 6) Once the pieces are frozen =you can transfer them to a tupperware container and they keep a LONG time. PC
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Post by italianlady on Oct 31, 2015 9:16:08 GMT -5
I'll go post my list of staples and things I cook with them in a few minutes. I'm posting this from my phone and it will be hard to do all that with my thumbs.
I'm pretty good at meal planning and also cooking ahead and freezing some things too so I'll post info about that as well. Lots of times I make and freeze extra stuff so all I have to do is thaw it out. One major thing I like to do is brown and drain lots of raw hamburger meat and then freeze it. It makes cooking something with it so much easier. It thaws on the counter pretty quickly, like within 30 minutes and it's ready to use. Or if you put it in a casserole or sauce or hamburger helper you can just throw it in frozen and add five minutes to the cooking time. Just Brown and drain it good, put it on a cookie sheet with lots of paper towels under it and on top and keep changing them till all the grease is gone and then divide it up into slider zip lock freezer bags in the amounts you usually use. Lay it flat on cookie sheets in the freezer until it's frozen solid and then take it off and stack It up in there.
For the banana lady, here is an idea. You try this and I bet you'll never have leftover bananas. Make an Elvis sandwich with them. Mash one up in a bowl and spread it on a piece of white bread. Spread peanut butter on another piece and put them together. Melt a half a stick of real butter in a frying pan. Put it in. When its Brown, turn it over and cook the other side. If all the melted butter is gone when its time to turn it, put in the other half of the stick. The butter helps make the bread crispy and it counts as a serving of dairy. The peanut butter is a serving of protein and the bananas are a serving of fruit and the bread is a serving of grains. Its got everything except vegetables. I'm serious, not being silly either. I don't believe in that new food pyramid and we eat old school here. Before you ask, my cholesterol is absolutely fantastic. Its really so good that when I recently had a checkup the Dr asked what kind of diet I'm on because she assumed I ate healthy. She hardly believed it when I told her. But it's true.
I'll go in yonder in a second and type up the staples, the meals, and how to cook ahead. I'm still laying in bed typing on my phone. I've got to get up and dress in a few anyway. Its Halloween today and I need to start baking cookies for the trick or treaters. Its ok to do that in my town. Lots of people give out homemade things here. I also bake some extra with fake sugar for the diabetic kids. There are more than you think and people never remember them, they only remember peanut allergies.
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Post by Arid on Oct 31, 2015 13:39:49 GMT -5
While butter *is* a dairy product, a stick of butter does *NOT* count as a serving of dairy! !! It counts as many, many, many servings of FAT!! To "count" as a serving of dairy, it would have to provide a significant amount of calcium, which it does not. (My dad was a dairy farmer; so, I know my "business" here!) "Meanwhile, back at the ranch, . . . " Besides the old standard of using up over-ripe bananas in banana nut bread, I use them in a couple of other ways, too. I have a recipe for Banana-Ginger Waffles that uses up one, lonely, banana! I sometimes put a banana into pancake batter. I often put an over-ripe banana into a big batch of oatmeal. I've occasionally used them in cookies and in Branana Brownies. (Admittedly, the latter were none to "popular" with some folks! The bran provided extra fiber, though. !!) Arid
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Post by italianlady on Oct 31, 2015 13:51:31 GMT -5
While butter *is* a dairy product, a stick of butter does *NOT* count as a serving of dairy! !! It counts as many, many, many servings of FAT!! To "count" as a serving of dairy, it would have to provide a significant amount of calcium, which it does not. (My dad was a dairy farmer; so, I know my "business" here!) "Meanwhile, back at the ranch, . . . " Besides the old standard of using up over-ripe bananas in banana nut bread, I use them in a couple of other ways, too. I have a recipe for Banana-Ginger Waffles that uses up one, lonely, banana! I sometimes put a banana into pancake batter. I often put an over-ripe banana into a big batch of oatmeal. I've occasionally used them in cookies and in Branana Brownies. (Admittedly, the latter were none to "popular" with some folks! The bran provided extra fiber, though. !!) Arid Hey now Missy! Don't be getting technical with me. Fat isn't on my pyramid and you can't make me put it there. Also I count things different than you! ( now I AM being silly) As for the food groups with fat in it, there is one perfect thing that has them all. Irish Coffee. It has sugar, fat, caffiene and alcohol. You could live on that if you had to. Slap on a nicotine patch and you are set for the day. ;-)
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Post by Unswamping on Oct 31, 2015 19:12:44 GMT -5
Lots of good ideas here. I struggle with pantry issues too. One thing i found to help combat my tendency to overbuy produce is to get a shopping cart, put my purse in the kiddy seat, then all produce has to go in the "seat". Since i tend to carry a big purse, it really limits what i can buy produce wise. I freeze bananas in the peel. I slice them and put in smoothies. Frozen, they help make it creamy. I also like mashed banana on a peanut butter sandwich with raisins. (I usually mix the raisins into the mashed banana before i spread it on the bread, it helps keep them from falling out).
Im starting to write meals on index cards. Not the whole recipe, just good ideas for meals. I have a file box i keep them in and will look through them when im stuck on what to cook or shop for. You could put dividers for breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc. I dont, i live alone. No one cares if i eat pancakes for dinner.
I do use a small dry erase board on my frig for frig and freezer contents. Im not good at changing the number of an item when i take stuff out. Sometimes i do, sometimes don't. I think the more important habit is writing down what goes in. I do freeze alot of planned overs. I find i am very bad about eating food in the frig. Im horrible about eating from the pantry. Its packed full and i almost never go in there. Im actually thinking of moving the food stuff out to open shelves in my dining room and putting my bread machine and baking stuff in the pantry. If its behind closed doors, i tend to forget its there.
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Post by magda on Oct 31, 2015 21:42:40 GMT -5
I manage this ok most of the time. Part of it is because I am time-stressed. I try to go to the grocery store only once per week because it is hard to have more time than for that one trip. Before I go, I make a list. To help me remember what I need, I have a dry erase board that I jot things down on during the week. I also make a list and always try to use a list. When I don't have a list I buy things I don't need and spend extra money. So each weekend (mostly) I plan out the week's dinner menus. Then I check my pantry and refrigerator to see what I need and also what I can use. I use this weekly check as a time to do a quick clean out too of old food and just tidy up. Then I make up my list and I also check my needs for soap, cleaners, laundry stuff etc. I really try to just make one trip a week so I try to have a thorough list. I keep a small stock of back up stuff so if we were stuck or snowed in or I am sick etc, we'd have food on hand. but I don't go overboard for reasons of space and money. I also always keep a frozen pizza on hand and soup, so if we are running late or I am tired, I can do a quick meal. I design my meals based on our schedule, such as on a night with practice, I need a quick meal, on nights we are home, I have a little extra time for a better dinner. I really put my mind to this about two years ago and it has made a huge and good difference - I think the planning helps us eat better, have what we need on hand, and save money. I actually enjoy this process.
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Post by dtesposito on Nov 1, 2015 8:55:53 GMT -5
Magda, what you're doing sounds very much like what I would like to do. Use my dry erase board regularly (for what's in the fridge to eat up, and for my shopping list), plan what I'm going to eat for the next week before shopping and taking into consideration sales and coupons, then making my list and sticking to it on a once a week shopping trip to the major grocery store. Also, taking the planning time as the opportunity to throw out anything spoiled, and to move forward to the head of the menu list anything that's been sitting in the pantry or freezer for too lomg.
Last night I went to the Open House, and did bring back a huge plate of food. I brought 4 veggie wraps, I ate 2 last night and am eating the other 2 this morning for breakfast, although I added some cream cheese to the tortilla on the ones I'm eating for breakfast to make them more substantial. I also brought home a serving of mostaccioli, some cubes of cheese, and some cookies. Since the other people there were leaving with shopping bags full of food (mostly meat), I thought I did well not to take more.
So that adds some food to my stock, but it's really delicious and was free, so I figure it was good for my budget to take it.
Yesterday for lunch I found a small container left over from the last crockpot dish I made, so even with the new food in the house for dinner, I managed to eat something from the freezer.
So, so far so good, but the real test will be the shopping, not just the eating up of the old food.
Diane
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Post by dtesposito on Nov 1, 2015 9:03:46 GMT -5
Its packed full and i almost never go in there.
There's definitely something to be said for "seeing" food in order to be reminded to eat it (at least, it certainly works with junk food!) I think for me I always look for the easiest thing to eat. I do feel that if I had a functional kitchen cooking would be a lot easier and I would make more actual cooked meals--but who knows?
So I have to make sure I always have nutritious options in the fridge and freezer that just need to be heated up, otherwise I eat non-nutritious easy things. Gotta use the crockpot more!
Diane
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Post by aa on Nov 1, 2015 13:30:04 GMT -5
I use a white erase board. Left hand side is shopping list; right hand side is meals that I can make (either with what is on hand or after shopping trip.) I update this list each week and we do our shopping once a week. An F beside it lets me know some of the ingredients are frozen, so I need to plan ahead if we want to have that meal. If we don't eat it, it stays on the board for another week. If we do eat it, I normally erase it or mark it off. This is what mine looked like today before we went shopping:
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Post by Arid on Nov 1, 2015 13:35:22 GMT -5
This is a little bit "off topic," but not really . . . Here goes: Diane, your comment about having "a functional kitchen" triggered these thoughts. As many of you know, in the past, I've had a bad time with a "Mt. Washme" of dirty dishes in the kitchen. It took **A FULL YEAR** of washing the dishes **EVERY SINGLE DAY** for me to "train" myself to "automatically" wash the dishes every day. (Nothing "slow" about me!! !!) One "stop-gap" measure that I took leading up to that transformation was helpful. That is, I instituted the "rule" that I couldn't cook anything "new" until I'd cleaned up the "mess" that I'd made cooking the previous thing. For example, one of the things that had led to "Mt. Washme" was that I'd cook, and cook, and cook, and cook . . . With the "new rule," if I made a batch of soup, I wouldn't allow myself to make a pie until **AFTER** I'd washed up all the dirty dishes that I'd generated while making the soup. If I didn't have the "energy" to wash those dishes . . . , well; too bad--so sad!! NO PIE!! (It also was during this time that I'd add on ONE item from my "backlog" of dirty dishes every time that I washed dishes [i.e. soup-making items + one] It took me **TWO MONTHS** to work through my "backlog" this way, but it worked . . . !) So, I'm thinking that, perhaps, one of the reasons (out of **MANY** possibilities!!) that some of us don't get our leftovers and/or produce used up in a timely manner is because our kitchens are one big mess!! If/when one "gets a handle" on keeping the "mess" at bay, it makes the actual cooking easier. Healthier eating often is a consequence! Also, (to "beat a dead horse!") this is a great way to practice the time-honored method of "ETE"--Eliminate the Evidence. I heartily recommend "eliminating the evidence" of one meal/baking episode/etc. before creating more "mess." Furthermore (sorry; I'm being "long-winded" at the moment!), I take all this into consideration when I go grocery shopping. *NOW,* if I see some wonderful-looking produce at the grocery store, I ask myself, "OK; how busy are you this week? Will you have the time or energy to prepare that? Do you already have enough in the vegetable and fruit drawers of the refrigerator to take care of this week? Is this an item that will keep well (such as cauliflower or cabbage; broccoli--not so much!)?" When I ask myself those questions, it *sometimes* (not always, I'll admit!) keeps me from buying something that otherwise might end up becoming "slime" in my refrigerator. OK; I'm going to "shut up" now!! Yours truly, Arid
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Post by howardsgirlfriend on Nov 1, 2015 13:55:17 GMT -5
Over the past few years, we have had problems with ants and pantry moths, and have had to discard/compost much of our food. Plus, my husband loves to buy in bulk and stock up. I understand about being prepared, but geez, we leave the house almost every day, and pass a store every time.
In order to avoid cramming our cupboards with food that will attract pests and eventually be discarded, I started storing cookware in the backs of the cupboards, so they look full most of the time. I don't hide them or otherwise deceive DH, but this optical illusion has helped decrease our food hoarding significantly.
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