Food Planning : Large Scale

Happy_Sloth

ok so far.. i did a stir fry with noodles and chicken yesterday, that used up one of the bok choi, onion, pepper, spinach a couple of carrots and whever else i could find to go in. 

I have just chopped into wedges and im currently in the process of blanching 2kg of the softest potatos. i'll toss them in red salt and freeze them. 

i have  also made 2 frittata's out of some of the soft potatos, eggs,  the worst of the tomatos ,some of the spinach and the tub of feta. Myself and my husband will have some of that for tea tonight with some of the salad stuff. there should be abit left over of the first after that which i can have for breakfast or lunch tomorrow. The second i'll freeze. 

The lads won't eat salad, unless it comes on a burger so for them tonight my plan is the fry some onion, spinach and sad looking tomato's into a sauce, throw it onto some pasta with cheese... wow just realised tonight will be the first wholey vegatarian meal i think i've ever made... hmmm i wonder if they will notice? 

This leaves the following that needs eating sooner rather than later... 

• 2kg more potatos (could mash them i do have some old takeaway containers.. but DH isn't a massive fan, tbh he's not a big potato eater period, he thinks it's boring) 
• 15 more tomatos (We keep getting them in veg box's and no-one likes them raw except my husband and he clearly isn't eating them fast enough) 
• Spinach 
• Cauliflower 
• Broccoli 
• 4 more apples. 

Freezer will be quite full once the wedges and frittata go in, so i won't fit much more.
 
I am feeling alittle more in control, i think sorting some of the bits that are going out of date makes me feel better. I've cancelled this weeks veg box, we simply don't need it.. ill see what we have got left of friday and maybe order one the week after.  The company i use does do a small box which is £20 i don't feel the value is as good as you seem to lose about 1/2 the stuff for the drop of £10 but maybe i could do that instead, or start getting the large once every 3 weeks instead of every 2. As tbh i think you are right we arn't really using everything we get at it is. 

Happy_Sloth

Mummy2cheekymonkeys said:

I was going to say pretty much this. I think you are worried about using your stockpile as you see it as a safety net and are worried about what will happen when its gone (I have been guilty of this) but you need to realise that you bought all of it with a situation like this is mind. Whats the use of having it all sat there and not using it but buying more stuff each month whilst eating into your savings. You cant pay your mortgage with UHT milk so use the milk you have in store and don't buy any fresh for a while. The same with the bread in the freezer. Try and drop one veg box until you have used up what you already have. It might not be much but it will all add up. 

Try and go easy on yourself too. You have done amazingly to build up the stores that you have and its now time to dip into them. You can build them up again when we are all in a better situation. 
Take care x

i think you've both hit the nail on the head, i think in many ways i've still been trying to preserve the stockpile... i need to get my head around using it. 

Wraithlady

Hi Happy Sloth, regarding the tomatoes, if they aren't being eaten raw, roast them then sieve them and add flavourings (herbs etc) to make tomato sauce, then freeze. Instant pasta sauce, with whatever needs eating up. Or, if you prefer, skin them (cut a cross on the bottom, submerge them in hot water for a minute or two then remove and peel off the skin), chop them and cook them down until soft, then either freeze or refrigerate and use like tinned tomatoes.

BTW, I only sieve them because I can't stand cooked tomato skins. If it doesn't bother you then you could dispense with this step. 

Also, check out things like 'Eat Well for Less' and 'Save Money, Good Food' or Jack Monroe's blogs. The 'Save Money' book is on Amazon, 2nd hand, for about a fiver, and it's actually pretty good.

slummymummyof3

You could always freeze your other 2KG of potatoes as mashed potato and then turn into potato cakes, if you fancy something other than mash on the day. You could grate the cauliflower and turn it in to cauliflower rice or cauliflower pizza base? Cook your tomatoes and make a tomato base for homemade pizza?

greenbee

You can bung the tomatoes in the freezer as they are for now to take the pressure off, and then use them like tinned toms when you need them. I frequently find random tomatoes floating around the bottom of the freezer... 

I just skip veg boxes occasionally when I find I have a backlog. But plan all my meals around the box when it arrives. 

joedenise

I'd use the veg to make a curry and then freeze in portions.  You can use the veg you've got including some of the potatoes.  I'd add a tin of chickpeas or beans to stretch it even further.  Even non veggies tend to like veg curry!

Happy_Sloth

Making brocolli soup this morning which hopefully will do 2 days of lunches.

My lists are done, i've theoretically portioned up the items into what i imagine we would use. Some meals might take 2 portions of a thing whilst others might take 3.

Now i'm stuck just staring at the list.  and i keep staring at it ... ugh... any ideas what to do with it now... it's so huge it's hard to even know where to start. 

boultdj

Write down the meals your family likes and see how many you can make with what you've got in, then see how you can fit it in to a meal plan.

Happy_Sloth

I think someone suggested 35g of rice per person? is that really right?  That seems very low or is it just that we normally eat way to much? 
Dry weight i'd normally work on 80-100g for each of the boys and 50g is for me. 

greenbee

Sources vary, but 60-75g seems to be the consensus in terms of dry weight of rice for an adult. Bear in mind that these numbers are usually based on adult men... It will also depend on whether you are restricting carbs as part of your weight loss plan (in which case, keep the veg for yourself and save the white carbs for the boys ). Also take into account whether you are burning more or fewer calories than usual. Many of my neighbours seem to be getting more exercise than ever before!