Use it up! Don't throw it in the bin!

msb5262

Hello OP,
It does sound as if you'd find it easier to shop each day for food - but that might well cost you even more as you'll be less inclined to use stuff up. If you could stand it, how about planning 1 meal each week from the food you've got in cupboards etc already? That way you can start using up the things that are hanging around, and you won't feel it's such a waste. Ideally what you need to do is start sticking to your meal plans; can you think WHY you keep deciding on something different? I know when I plan a week's meals, sometimes I think of something we don't like that much...and then I don't make it. Pointless!
Re packaging - apart from trying to buy less packaged stuff, did you know you can remove unnecessary packaging in the supermarket and it's their responsiblity to get rid of it? Hopefully that will remind big supermarkets that they need to reduce packaging still further!
Sorry to be of limited help but no doubt someone will be along shortly with some ideas for you.

Horace

Don't buy stuff in supermarkets - use your local greengrocers, butcher etc - it cuts down on waste and only buy what you need and not what the supermarket thinks that you need. What's the point in buying a bag of 100 carrots if you're only going to use one?

Make a list of what you have and pin it to the front of the cupboard - then when you go shopping look at the list and see what you have run out of..make a shopping list showing only the items that are needed - don't buy stuff you won't eat - if its not on the list then don't buy it, if you forget to buy it add it to the next week's list.

The only time I use a supermarket is to buy toilet rolls - I get cleaning products in Wilkinsons and my washing up liquid I get the bottle refilled at the eco station in a local shop.

Linda32

tinkerbellsmum wrote: »

i know i need to do something with my meals cause i throw loads of food away and cupboards r full of stuff i don't use but i make a menu plan then we decide on something different. i have to go into town every day for work so do u think it would benefit shopping daliy

If you have the time then yes I completely agree with shopping daily, and I don't think you would spend more. When I think you spend more is doing a weekly shop then running out of milk/bread and popping in for that, its oftern said on here, that milk and bread ends up costing £10.00 because you see loads of "bargins", to give an example today I popped into Sainsburys for some over the counter medicine and on the same shelf was Dove creams for £1.00 - no I wasn't tempted as I don't buy Dove but you can see the point.

Anyway, sorry, back to the point. I think that if you can shop daily then you are less likely to throw things out because you have only bought those items needed. See what you have in the cupboard/fridge and buy one thing to use with that. Just to give an example, we have Chicken Chargrills in the freezer (yes I know, not MS at all but there you go) and mushrooms, so today I bought baps, which will be used as pack-ups, and a meal from the chargrills, mushrooms, onions and caulslaw or the like.

tinkerbellsmum_2

thanks all great tips

buxtonrabbitgreen

I do one big shop a month then buy daily, mainly because I work in a supermarket and buy a lot of bargains including just for staff ones. I am very strict with myself. Anything I buy that I don't want to use straight away, gets prepared and frozen.
I was just thinking the other day that I don't really need such a big bin as it is only ever half full. And I only put out the recycling about every 6 weeks
But I do re use all the jars for jam etc.

tru

Fab website here

angela110660

wanted to mention a great little book I bought recently - The Thrifty Cookbook by Kate Colquhoun. Saw it in a National Trust shop but came home and bought it via Quidco from The Book People. There is another thread about it on the forum too.

janejustjane

A couple of weeks ago I found a half used resealable packet of Tesco ready to eat prunes. I sort of knew they were there but had gone off prunes. The best before date was Jan 2008, but they looked and smelt fine. I sometimes use out of date products but this was a new record! As I didn't fancy eating them, I decided to use them in a cake, figuring that the heat would kill anything nasty. Most recipes for prune cake on the internet seem to call for either tinned prunes, prune puree or lots of additional exotic ingredients, so I just adapted an old fruit loaf recipe. It turned out fine, and nobody suffered any ill effects!

Shereen

In the middle of a cooking for the freezer fest yesterday I turned 7 slightly freezer-burnt, meaty pork ribs into 4 portions of tasty pork rib stew.

catznine

I have just got "The use it all cookbook" by Bish Muir from the library. It has an A - Z of leftover ingredients and how to use them up. Also pages on planning the shopping, storing food, composting and what to keep in the storecupboard. Brilliant book but as it would cost £12.95 to buy it might be worthwhile tracking it down from your own libraries.

Today I made up a couple of bags of ready to wok frozen veg using up leftover chard (shredded,) bean sprouts, carrots, courgettes and onions. We love stir fries:D