Approximately each month I clean out my fridge. And I truly hate what I am throwing away. I can't seem to get a grip on what I will use. I had an inn, I had a boarding house, a rental unit in my house (a single mother does everything to keep poverty from the doorstep) and I still shop too largely. I can never get through a head of lettuce of a head of cabbage or for that matter
I caught myself lecturing myself quite brutally as I did this appalling chore today. It was on my to-do list for about 4 days, in caps, to shame me further.
For gawd's sake
What an effin waste
You should be ashamed of yourself
African children
And that poor woman.
The poor woman was one who had popped up on a knitting site today and she kinda haunts me a little. Circa 1900. Ireland. Turf on the back, bare filthy feet, knitting in the hand, looks like a sock for the fellah, could be a sleeve for a coat.
Point of this post is how do you shop and stick to it and plan it and behave yourself so waste does not feature? Do you budget? Do you cook lots of meals ahead of time? Do you buy junk (i.e. processed)? What happens when you get invited out for a meal throwing all careful planning to the dust?
I am heading out shortly to meet Daughter after her Outdoor Women weekend. She goes twice a year and learns so much about foraging and hunting and fishing and living in the wild. I don't know where I got her as that stuff would have me crying in my cabin for 3 days, sulking over my knitting.
We're going to have Singapore Noodles at a restaurant we love (cheap and cheerful eats) where I will hear all about the thrills of bows and arrows and identifying flora and fauna and being amongst 99 other women as enchanted as herself with the whole outdoor thingy.
I write the grocery list and David follows it. Simple, isn't it? Hey, your conversation with daughter should be a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteIt was, some marvelous experiences about outdoor cooking (making cake, can you imagine?)and building your own oven. I once had a David who loved grocery shopping. LOL.
DeleteXO
WWW
That Outdoor Women group sounds fascinating. Now that I am a widow I hate that I waste food. Much produce is sold in portions that are too large for one, like a head of lettuce. That photo of the lady is very poignant.
ReplyDeleteThe portions are disgraceful.I'd say if some genius opened a shop called "Singles" we'd be lined up.
DeleteI love that photo, it's a huge reminder.
XO
WWW
The first time I cleaned my parents’ fridge, I took pictures of the moldy and rotten vegetables and sent them to my cousin. She said, “That makes me feel better about my adulting.” Whatever you had, I doubt it was worse than my parents.
ReplyDeleteNothing quite on the rot, Akasha, but getting there, a 1/2 Romaine was about to give birth to something alien I think.
DeleteI am squeamish by nature (I don't quite know how I managed diapers) so if I used everything up like one friend does I'd be proud of myself.
XO
WWW
We throw out very little, between "Voratio" and the wee dog and the barn cats.
ReplyDeleteBut still the least food is wasted when a supper menu is planned a week ahead and the grocery list is made accordingly.
However, I don't pencil-in the meal for each day; I only plan ahead for every *other* day. This leaves space to get any leftovers eaten and to feel free to do or make or eat whatever else strikes our fancy in-between (or whenever).
Breakfasts and lunches I make no plan for. We wing it.
-Kate
PS your daughter sounds like a hoot!
Yes, I've admired your capabilities before Kate in the food planning department. Breakfast for me is always the same and lunch simple. It's the dinners.
DeleteDaughter had a marvelous time. Humane trapping even. She would survive in the wild now.
XO
WWW
I shop far more often now that I am retired than when I was teaching. Then I shopped once a week, cooked all weekend and we ate leftovers during the week. I also took various easy things, like bagels and peanut butter, for my school lunch.
ReplyDeleteNow, I shop for what we want to eat for the next few days. I cook small amounts. I couldn't cook for a family of 6 if my life depended on it. I still throw lots of stuff away. Like those onions. Carrots, too.
Yes, DKZ, a friend does this shopping thing every couple of days and is successful too. Never throws anything out. I watch how I expend my energy so that would kind of drop me in my tracks for a while as I find grocery stores are so huge they wear me out.
DeleteXO
WWW
I have a phone app, Mealime, that lets me set up a menu, gives me recipe instructions, and a grocery list. So each week I know exactly which veggies (and other ingredients) and how much of them I need. My son told me about it and I would say it is transformational. Cleans up the fridge AND makes shopping trips quick and cheap and efficient.
ReplyDeleteOh wow Annie, I think you mean Mealtime. I must try that, it sounds like a wonderful app.
DeleteXO
WWW
No I actually mean Mealime. Mealtime is something different, I haven't tried it.
DeleteThanks Abbie, my bad. I know you are always meticulous. I will try.
DeleteXO
WWW
I try and cook in advance and freeze/save portions for later consumption.
ReplyDeleteThat said there is STILL a lot more waste than I am comfortable with.
My mother's kitchen (and fridge) were known in the family as the Botulism Factory so I keep trying (and failing) to get on top of it.
You are not alone. Sadly.
I had to laugh out loud at Botulism Factory, brilliant.
DeleteI forgot to mention cleaning out those glass containers of rotting leftovers is really disgusting. My inner miser forbids me to throw them out tho I have been tempted.
XO
WWW
oh so like you
ReplyDeleteI try to keep a full pantry
just in case I cannot drive (still do locally) someone always comes by and hands me a cart and I am fine. Market is my walking place 3 times a week.
wish they sold smaller amounts and 1/2 lettuce and cabbage.
In the past cooked for my 4 children, him and his one.
Difficult to cook for one, Do take something out once a week
and it is enough for 2 or 3 meals but like my food.
So pleased I have gained 5 lbs and has taken several months.
My pantry is reasonably laden with canned and packaged it's the fresh does me in. You are very successful in your food maintenance and it's brilliant how you have gained much needed weight.
DeleteYes, we do need a Singles shop. I would not mind paying a bit extra.
XO
WWW
Laura was a good and mindful shopper, but I never could convince her to establish a pantry. I went shopping today on my own, and learned in future to pace myself. A pound is still a pound and several make more than I can carry up the stairs!
ReplyDeleteJoanne, I have a cart which I find super useful. I thought you said you were getting one. I hope that was successful. Lugging is totally beyond me now. I just can't.
DeleteReactive grocery shopping I view as a waste of time so I could live off the pantry for a while if I had to.
XO
WWW
Easier for two I suppose, but we have virtually no food wastage and certainly not anything already cooked. I am a great consumer of leftovers. Although often a bit more expensive, we tend to buy half a cauliflower, half a bunch of celery, half a pumpkin. That helps I guess.
ReplyDeleteI wish we could buy halves here, Andrew, and if I hit the cheaper stores they don't even have scales all bulk buying. I try and stay in the one store, as my energy is limited and wish there were such a thing as "Singles" to buy just what I need.
DeleteXO
WWW
I've learned to buy tomatoes one or two at a time, and lettuce I buy the loose leaf mix where you can pick and choose which leaves you want and how many. I usually get just enough for one salad or one sandwich. Cabbage I buy only a quarter. Most things I buy get used in a "big batch" cook up, where I'll make big pots of things like soups and spaghetti sauces and then those are frozen in meal size portions. It does mean I have to plan the next day's meal to get something from the freezer so it thaws in time. I'll often eat the same food two days in a row so there's no leftover to throw away. Sometimes I do have to throw out something I forgot to use or just didn't feel like cooking it and it sat in the fridge and went bad, but then I don't buy that particular thing again unless I'm sure I want to cook and eat it that same day. It is tricky, cooking and preparing just for one, a whole new learning curve.
ReplyDeleteIt is very tricky River and I haven't yet mastered it, tho am trying. I hate waste and feel like a failure when I'm decanting the mouldy stuff from my fridge.
DeleteYou seem to be doing a fine job!
XO
WWW
I don't have the problem! In fact, I am not allowed to shop or even inspect the fridge!! I am blissfully ignorant of that aspect of running the home. The DIL does it and I believe quite well too.
ReplyDeleteI should move in with you Ramana, you have a pretty perfect life all told :D
DeleteXO
WWW
That will be icing on the cake WWW!
DeleteI would go crazy over the food indeed, Ramana!!! And oh yes, the dogs.
DeleteMay be the dogs first.
XO
WWW
I would love to hear about her time learning. Sounds like ideal to me. So, we are everywhere, my mother would never do that either, but you would only have to ask me once to go.
ReplyDeleteFridge clean out, each meal is planned out of the fridge ingredients left.
She had a marvellous time Gemma was very emotional at the closing session. Always learning. Imagine making your own oven and baking bread in the bush! Also trapping in rivers, etc. And she had quite an experience with the night sky as there was no light pollution.
ReplyDeleteGood for you and such great fridge planning!
XO
WWW
Jenny plans all the meals for the week, makes a list of what ingredients she needs, and I get them all at the supermarket. Plus I eat a lot of things like figs, dates and brazil nuts which keep for ages. We waste virtually nothing. It's hard to buy for one though. My mum was buying food for two long after my dad died.
ReplyDeleteYes, I just wish a shop would accommodate us and if I were younger I would love to start one up. I think it would do well.
DeleteSounds like you guys have it nailed.
XO
WWW
Like a lot of folks who have already replied, I plan the meals ahead and only buy the veg I need. I'll also try to plan the meals so that the veg are conplementary (e.g. if I want a salad that has celery, I'll also plan for a chilli / stir fry etc. that will use up the remainder of the bunch / half bunch)
ReplyDeletePlus having some "generic" meals which can take any veg is really handy for using up the last of something (stir fries and shepherds pies are good for these)
And making extra to put a portion or two in the freezer is really good - it means that you will have a nutritious meal handy for the days you don't want to or don't have time to cook.
Dammit - blogger told md I had to use my gmail to stop being "anonymous", then posted me as "Unknown"...
DeleteStupid technology...
That is indeed a haunting photo.
ReplyDeleteMy younger boy would love a workshop like that - he's into foraging and being able to live off the land.