Throwing food away

allIcouldwishfor · 2 September 2007 at 7:51PM

daisyroots wrote: »

I was thinking more about that one third of food that we buy being thrown away, and my questions were a genuine attempt to find out how and why this happens.

That's an even more shocking statistic when you consider that someone else is throwing away my 1/3 as well as their own!

My 5yo DS came out with the "It's wrong to throw food away when there are people starving in Africa" comment on Friday when DD didn't want her risotto. No idea where he got that from as I've never said it!

I think that if people were to view food as a more valuable resource they would certainly be more creative with their leftovers. I bet nothing was wasted during rationing!

annie-c · 2 September 2007 at 8:03PM

daisyroots wrote: »

I'm sorry if I sounded judgmental, it was not intended. I was thinking more about that one third of food that we buy being thrown away, and my questions were a genuine attempt to find out how and why this happens, rather than to judge. I have a dear friend who is rapidly approaching 20 stone, and when we shop together she throws food in her basket as if she hates it, and never looks at prices. At home, she opens her fridge, takes stuff out, looks at it briefly, then chucks it in the bin, and I don't dare ask her what is wrong with it, because this woman has serious food and money issues (often complaining they can't afford to live in that house, it's too expensive to run) She would never eat old broccoli and potatoes ! I wonder if she looks down on me for buying reduced price items and my fruit and veg in the market. I suppose I was asking questions I don't dare ask her. It's funny, because I know all about her sex life, but the food and money thing seems far more personal and I simply don't feel I can go there, so I posted the question here instead.

I'm sorry for implying that you were being judgemental. It sounds as though you and your friend are just polar opposite in these matters!

Possibly, at 20st, her concept of what quantities of food she needs to buy is a bit shot through. Possibly she shops more bizaarely with you because she feels embarassed by the difference between the two of you. Maybe she has lost control of her eating and her money. Who knows... My guess is that you are as self conscious as each other and that talking about it might help you both to feel better about your respective choices? I doubt very much that she looks down on you; most likely she either envies your self control or is simply bewildered by how you do it.

Waxy_Bean · 2 September 2007 at 8:05PM

I always use up leftovers in the pot. Everyone helps themselves to what they want and is expected to eat what they want. I wouldn't use up leftovers from someones plate in another meal, but I would eat them there and then if they didn't want them.

Very little goes in the bin, and it tends to be the short-dated bargains that I've bought not realising quite how they will fit into everyones eating plans for the week (i.e. I've bought ready meals not packed lunch food or vice versa.) I try and use up as much as possible or whack it in the freezer for another day, and throw almost nothing away.

Penelope_Penguin · 2 September 2007 at 9:13PM

allIcouldwishfor wrote: »

I think that if people were to view food as a more valuable resource they would certainly be more creative with their leftovers. I bet nothing was wasted during rationing!

It was actually aginst the law to throw away, or even feed to animals, any food fit for human consumption.

moanymoany · 2 September 2007 at 9:25PM

Leftovers in our house go in the fridge and are either frozen or eaten for lunch the next day.

I do have a little bit of a thing about food - well it's a big bit of a thing really. I can't bear having food put on my plate for me. The meat or main dish - yes, that's ok, but the rest :eek: it really freaks me out. I put everything in dishes even if we divide it between us. I don't know where it comes from.

moogiegirl · 3 September 2007 at 2:11AM

Having been homeless for a short while when younger I hardly ever throw food away, to be quite honest the thought makes me feel sick. I always use the left overs and if something hasn't been nibbled at it gets frozen to be used again. I wouldn't want to eat somebody elses nibbled food, buts whats wrong with freezing your own meal and having it another day? Surely freezing it and reheating would kill any germs anyway?
But I also believe that its up to the individual to decide if they are happy eating leftovers or they would prefer to chuck it away, after all it's their money.

chalky_75 · 3 September 2007 at 7:05AM

1 of my happiest memories is all sitting down to eat with my mother and grandmother. Mum had revolted against her very frugal homelife on a farm during the war and loved the best of everything. Including M&s as much as possible -- even pouched drinks !!!! But Grandma was always squirreling bits away " just put it im my little white dishes dear" She could concoct wonderful meals out of anything. Watching both ways has made me realise how like my dear Grandma I am -- nothing pleases me more that batch baking, debris soup and magic meals from thin air. I cant walk into M&S without thinking of dear Mum though !!!

jovichick123 · 3 September 2007 at 8:56AM

I don't keep food that has been on plates - I tend to serve portions of a reasonable size so any waste there is kept to a minimum. If there is any food left (usually the odd carrot or potato) on plates, the cats have it. Food that has not been 'plated up', gets put in containers in the fridge to be used the following day and save me a job... One of my favourite meals from childhood was when my Nana used to cook Sunday Roast and we all knew that the next day would be bubble and squeak - mmmmmmmmmmm leftovers!!!!

tiff · 3 September 2007 at 9:02AM

We went to a bbq at my friends house, when we were clearing up at the end she asked if my dog would like the meat but as it was sausages and burgers (I didnt see the pork chops till too late) and he is a puppy I said no. She then scraped the lot into the bin, and I was shocked. Kids could have had sausage sandwiches the next day, cut the pork up and put it in a stir fry etc.

I think she does it because she has just lost 5 stone and knows she would pick at it. Her kids and husband are very fussy eaters so maybe they wouldnt use it.

thriftmonster · 3 September 2007 at 9:57AM

We tend to put most things in serving dishes - so I do keep any leftovers for another meal. On the plates - bones go for stock, and any other leftovers go to the dog. We had a roast duck on Friday and the dog got some of the skin as a treat. Then I made stock with the bones (having taken off all of the meat for us for another meal). When the stock was strained, I went through and took any other meat off the bones and the dog had that and the mushy stock vegetables for his dinner.

I also quite often cook extra deliberately to make a rice salad, for example, or bubble and squeak the next day.

In our old house, the neighbours wouldn't eat leftover meat, so they would give us a chicken or half a leg of lamb on Sun evening with two portions eaten - for the dog!!! Guess how many meals we got off it! Maybe they were trying to give us stuff tactfully?

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Throwing food away

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