Don't Throw Food Away Challenge 2012

squeaky

Morning all

And a Happy New Year and all that rot Here's our new thread for the year - good luck everyone, and remember... you are challenging your self; not the whole world

Throwing food away can have many reasons... things spoiling because you bought too much, or getting lost at the back of the pantry/fridge/freezer, or having leftovers or scrag ends that you just don't know what to do with.

There are lots of threads about on how to use up individual things - but this one is aimed at keeping an eye on what and how much you waste and, should you wish, setting yourself a target (either total, or a reduction).

You could set your target by weight, or volume, or even cost the waste - so if you waste half a cabbage bought for 98p then you threw away 49p.

By the time your total reaches a tenner... just imagine tearing one up and flushing it down the loo !! because that, effectively, is what you will have done.

There are a number of ways to reduce waste... shopping more effectively, organising your stocks, regularly checking use by dates, adjusting portion sizes, and finding ways to use up odds and ends.

So this challenge covers quite a lot of ground.

Do please remember that this is a Challenge thread, so do yer best to stay fairly close to the topic

As for me... I'm not sure what to set myself... my dalek composter, now five years old, is just over half full - and that includes some garden waste; and no food waste goes into my normal bin. My waste is usually the cuttings and peelings from preparing veg etc - and the majority of those are used when making stock before they finally appear in the bin.

If you are not sure what to include... the best suggestion from challenge participants is - if you were going to eat it but had to bin it; that's waste.

Anyway... good luck everybody


Some related links that may help:-

using threads here on Old Style MoneySaving A list of threads about using up all sorts of things.

grocery challenge threads here on Old Style MoneySaving Lots of advice and support on how to budget/shop/manage your overall grocery bill.

Store cupboard challenge While this thread is a challenge - it does contain a LOT of ideas on using up things.

How to survive on what’s in the store cupboard (plus a little money)

Store cupboard - in case of emergency

The "What do I cook with this stuff..." thread

What can I replace this with?

meal plans threads here on Old Style MoneySaving is a weekly thread where members post their plans for the next week. This helps you to focus on your shopping list, your stock cupboards etc and also any leftovers and items that need using up rather than having to buy something else.


Composting:- There are loads of threads on the green fingered board:- Greenfingered MoneySaving

And here's a tip from further down this thread... There is a method of composting called bokashi, which is Japanese, whereby you can compost anything, including cooked food, meat, raw meat, anything of organic origin, this is a quick link, but there is tons of info out there http://www.bokashicomposting.com/


2011 Don't Throw Food Away Challenge

This Year... First post of each month... [post=50685543]February[/post], [post=51448515]March[/post], [post=52156915]April[/post], [post=52841289]May[/post], [post=53552941]June[/post]

Tip:- Many of these threads have lots of ideas in them - so once you have opened the thread, use the "search this thread" link (towards the top right corner of the page) and then put your ingredient in. You'll get a list of posts in that thread that have at least a mention of your word.

Don't tell yourself off for what you lost - pat yourself on the back for what you've saved.

lucy_lemon

I'd definitely like to join in please! I'm usually quite good about not throwing food away, but there always seems to be some manky carrots at the bottom of the fridge, or a half used jar of something or other! I'm also trying to save more money in 2012, so this will be a help with that too.

nannygladys

Count me in on this challange, the only thing I want in my throw out box are coffee grounds and peelings, Im planning on starting a compost heap so hopefully I will get rid on my recycling food container and grow something in it instead!!!
Jxx

Kylieminoag

I think I would like to join in on this one please..... one faq though.... does feeding it to the dog count as waste or saving?

My challenge will to be to not throw away fresh fruit that looked gorgeous in the shop but I didnt get round to cooking/eating because I found something more unhealthy to cook/eat instead.

I think I will add weight loss to my signature in the hope that it partners well with this challenge....

ixia

I am in too. Just posted on boards what to do with blue cheese, would normally throw it out but had some left from xmas o I am going to make soup with it.

wannabee_in_credit

Yes, I'm in for this one as well.
Must try and get the OH converted though - he's a so and so when it comes to eating things made from leftovers. My freezer is overflowing with stuff I've made for me and the kids but he'd still prefer to help himself to convenience food.
Wish me luck because one thing I am terrible with is throwing food away.
Just off to post about some leftover stuff that I have no idea what to do with.

donny-gal

Me throw food away, against my religion. If I do it either has to be mouldy, or gone off smell wise. Out in our tourer now for NY and fridge emptied into this fridge, and had LO buffet for lunch.

Having a chiller drawer in my home fridge really helps as keeps things very cold. DG

moments_of_sanity

I would like to join in this one please. Just need to get my youngest DD (aged 14) to think about what she eats as she has a habit of taking a bite of something and then deciding she doesn't want it!

Got my wormery for this year, just need to get the worms!!

ScarletRaven

Going to continue to do this challenge; only came across the previous thread last week and have been doing a mini challenge over Xmas up to New Year's Eve, so far not too bad but still need a lot of improving! Can't wait to set a new target for January 2012 and hopefully keep getting better at this!

ceebeeby

Okay, another challenge for me! I think I like the sound of this one too .... especially as it links in with all the other food challenges! I guess if you have to choose one, this would be the one for me, as I'm notoriously terrible for over-buying constantly! Thanks everyone.

DebtFree2012

hi all

Please add me too. We're terrible for throwing things away however it's usually due to my portion sizes - i make too much! Therefore I have started freezing left overs and dishing up smaller sizes so slowly making changes. Looking forward to this challenge in 2012!

ETA: I will aim to throw < £10 away in January as I have no idea where to start figure wise. 2 adults, 2 kids, 1 large dog , 6 chickens and other odds and sods who take care of themselves

Good Luck and Happy New Year!

xxx