Don't Throw Food Away Challenge

Karb

Had to bin the last few leaves in a bag of salad leaves yesterday. Salvaged what I could to take with me to work today, but there were a few that were just beyond help. The whole bag had only cost 49p at Aldi, so I estimate that 10p worth were wasted.

Lilyplonk

One roast chicken, with stuffing, roasties, broccoli, carrots and gravy, yesterday for lunch.

Left-overs - including stuffing, but no spuds or veg - have been clingfilmed on a plate for using up later and carcasse is now broken up and bagged in freezer. No others at the moment, but as soon as there's at least three of them, they'll get used up for stock.

I'm thinking of a Chicken and Stuffing Pie for tomorrow - already got stuff that needs using up this evening and we don't like to have lots of potatoes/pastry/carbs two days running.

redlady_1

I have a bag of spinach which looks very sad and am in need of inspiration please.

Solstice_3

redlady_1 wrote: »

I have a bag of spinach which looks very sad and am in need of inspiration please.

If it's fresh spinach you can add walnuts, garlic, parmesan and oil to make a pesto - have made it before and it's nice.

sparrer

redlady_1 wrote: »

I have a bag of spinach which looks very sad and am in need of inspiration please.

Karb wrote: »

Had to bin the last few leaves in a bag of salad leaves yesterday. Salvaged what I could to take with me to work today, but there were a few that were just beyond help. The whole bag had only cost 49p at Aldi, so I estimate that 10p worth were wasted.

Spinach freezes well if you sweat it in a mw for a couple of minutes with no more that a teasp of water and covered in film, otherwise any leaves that are past their best (unless they've gone brown of course) I throw into a stirfry to add a touch of colour and a few extra vitamins

Recyle_London

loverofwine wrote: »

just before Christmas I took part in a food waste challenge organised by Recycle London.

The aim was to cut down grocery bills by throwing less stuff away. I learnt some really good tips (like how you can eat the stem bit of broccoli if you peel the outer skin off - it's really good). When I completed the challenge I found I'd saved about £20 off my weekly grocery bill so it was really worthwhile but I sense that I could do more

Have you got any great tips for cutting down food waste? i.e. preserving food, eating things you might normally chuck or compost, buying less but producing more food etc.

Hello all,

As mentioned in this post, Recycle for London recently ran a £ood Waste Challenge with over 50 households in London. We regularly post tips on our twitter page @Recycle_London. You can also look on the Love Food Hate Waste London page where you can find lots of tips and recipes to help you with your Don't Throw Food Away Challenge 2013.

If you feel inspired by your challenge, and you are interested in volunteering you can also find some information on becoming a Food Waste Champion in London.

Sainsbury's is currently running a campaign with Love Food Hate Waste too called 'Make Your Roast Go Further'. There is information and recipes on their website to help you reduce your food waste.

I hope this helps you can contact us if you would like any more information.

icontinuetodream

well, the router problems continued!!:mad: Now sorted with a new router and all going according to plan....don't know how long for though!!;)

Welcome aboard all the newcomers....

ImDoingItForMe - you're in at number 23
lizzietish - number 24
sparrer - number 25
mumof2 - number 26
thehappybutterfly - number 27 (do you have a target happy??)
Firemunchkin - number 28

I have been doing very well - I had a tomato and onion tart, green salad, garlic crushed potatoes, puy lentils and mango salsa for dinner on saturday and have just finished that for lunch, I am going to make something from the freezer for dinner...not sure what yet, but am looking to use up the half packet of vegan mince that I have in there so may make a chilli as its quick and filling

My one 'throw out' to date is the half a cucumber which had been crushed to death by potatoes and a butternut squash which dh had thrown in the fridge without looking!!!:o so, my total is about 50p so far which is a lot better than it was towards the end of last year.....

Onion and garlic skins.....I put them into whatever stock I am making.....;)

I must say, I think that we are all doing brilliantly, even if we don't hit our targets the fact that we are taking the time to think about it means that we are doing so much better than we were!! Well done everyone :T

Frogletina

All I have thrown away this year so far is some bran which I sieved out of some bread flour when I was making cakes with it.

I have thrown away vegetable peelings, and hard stalks and leaves of a cauliflower but I've never considered that as wasting food. Some people I notice use such things for stock but I don't use stock in the cooking that I do.

Katzen

Hi, I've been reading this for the last couple of days and feel inspired. I'm not yet ready to declare a target but will be trying my best to reduce waste anyway.
I had a sad looking 2-week-old bag of watercress which I turned into soup. It was foul! Do not recommend that, had to chuck 1/2 as couldn't force any more down :rotfl: On the plus side, the bag of spinach I also had went into a curry tonight and was delish.

I've got a vacuum pack of pickled whole beetroot with a useby of 24th Dec on it. Any ideas would be appreciated!

Lilyplonk

Oh well, the best-laid plans etc etc - my chicken and stuffing - was being reserved for a pie tomorrow - was turned into a Chicken Curry (also used up half a red/half a yellow pepper, half an onion and some mushrooms) for tonight with the stuffing being used for 'stuffing and pickle butties'.

Portion of the curry was left over and is now in the freezer for another day .

Certainly didn't go to waste :j.