tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post7932759314518035759..comments2024-03-26T00:14:00.509-07:00Comments on Crunchy Chicken: Project Nowaste - meal planning to reduce wasteUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-20967467125597102552008-02-13T19:59:00.000-08:002008-02-13T19:59:00.000-08:00My fiance and I just saw this challenge and decide...My fiance and I just saw this challenge and decided to join. We have been meal planning since November but haven't been really good about going through the fridge and seeing what is about to expire and planning around that. So every Saturday when we menu plan now we are going to start by taking stock of the fridge and freezer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-22003420119491188122008-01-30T21:51:00.000-08:002008-01-30T21:51:00.000-08:00OK - I am so not good at planning more than one me...OK - I am so not good at planning more than one meal at a time. Reading this made me think I have no such plan and just buy random stuff. My new approach is to look in the fridge and just start throwing all the leftovers in a pan. I have to say that my kids are very excited about the new creations. Tonight we had fake chicken (new package) and leftover spaghetti sauce, corn, broccoli, and Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-41130734482695472632008-01-28T09:12:00.000-08:002008-01-28T09:12:00.000-08:00For singles or anyone who freezes leftovers and th...For singles or anyone who freezes leftovers and then forgets them, keeping a list of what you HAVE in the freezer can help. <BR/><BR/>Also, when you plan meals, don't overestimate -- it's easy to get all enthusiastic and plan 7 dinners for the week using fresh food ... and forget you are going out or to a friend's one night, everyone's busy and foraging for themselves one night ... and pretty Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-10416626143756618612008-01-28T08:28:00.000-08:002008-01-28T08:28:00.000-08:00I loved hearing how one CSA member explained her p...I loved hearing how one CSA member explained her process for dealing with her share. When she got home, she did "triage", organizing her refrigerator by what vegetables needed to be dealt with first and which would keep. Beet greens are separated from the beets so they could be used up within a day or two of the weekly pick-up. The beets will last through the week for later use. Same with theChilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11406176434011890590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-75443536048829793732008-01-28T07:41:00.000-08:002008-01-28T07:41:00.000-08:00cave-woman, i was raised in a once-a-month family,...cave-woman, i was raised in a once-a-month family, and I wouldn't do it now - I like the fresh veggies and fruits. <BR/><BR/>But we are working towards buying staples (flour, beans, rice, oats, tamari, dried mushrooms & sea vegetables) once per quarter, because we get a quarterly discount at our new coop, but I wouldn't push it with the veggies. I don't believe we bought any fresh vegetables Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-39338050698474544402008-01-28T06:39:00.000-08:002008-01-28T06:39:00.000-08:00Have you seen the book "America's Cheapest Family"...Have you seen the book "America's Cheapest Family"? There is an interesting chapter on groceries that covers their once a month grocery planning/shopping practice.<BR/><BR/>Interesting stuff. I've been adopting some of these practices, and it has been helpful.<BR/><BR/>I go to the grocery store twice a month, but I'm working my way towards once.Cave-Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06888781509791113960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-68373831600666187162008-01-27T21:15:00.000-08:002008-01-27T21:15:00.000-08:00Yeah, Erika, we plan about 9 meals for two weeks. ...Yeah, Erika, we plan about 9 meals for two weeks. That means I plan on eating out about once a week, and having surprise/whim food once or twice, and having at least one meal that turns out to last 2 or 3 days.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-68802826005229774332008-01-27T12:53:00.000-08:002008-01-27T12:53:00.000-08:00I love the internet for this reason! There are a ...I love the internet for this reason! There are a couple different big recipe sites that have search options where you can type in what you have on hand, and they'll come up with recipes for it! Unfortunately, my household can't quite master eating what we've planned a week ago, but do try to use up older food first. <BR/><BR/>--ErikaErikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08273431755984995387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-65157268295837273552008-01-27T11:08:00.000-08:002008-01-27T11:08:00.000-08:00We used to do okay when there were more people liv...We used to do okay when there were more people living with us and we had more collective free time.<BR/> <BR/>We have *just* started meal planning, two weeks at a time - helped by the pressure cooker & Lorna Sass cookbook I got for Christmas & Yul - and it's going great. One weekend we go to the coop, the next we go to the Midtown Market just for milk and fruit. We haven't thrown away anything Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-72636318112212709272008-01-27T11:04:00.000-08:002008-01-27T11:04:00.000-08:00Two more thoughts after thinking more...An easy wa...Two more thoughts after thinking more...<BR/><BR/>An easy way to start meal planning is to get a bunch of index cards or other small papers. On one side wrtie the recipe in the exact amount you want to make. On the other side, write the ingredients you need to buy. Write down ever meal you can think of- even a grilled cheese sandwich! Then, on shopping day, take stock of what you have alreadyJenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17377889829748572675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-33907693191801827372008-01-27T07:01:00.000-08:002008-01-27T07:01:00.000-08:00Another suggestion of those who can do livestock.i...Another suggestion of those who can do livestock.<BR/>i.e. those who live in the country or have forward thinking city planners.<BR/>Pigs, chickens and goats will eat anything. WHen you do have food waste you can feed it to the animals. GreenPa and I are talking about getting two or three pigs. I'll let you know how or if it works out.<BR/>Otherwise food waste makes excellent garden compost. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-11142163247975219902008-01-26T21:58:00.000-08:002008-01-26T21:58:00.000-08:00We, too, have been doing this for years. We sit d...We, too, have been doing this for years. We sit down on Sunday and plan out the whole week. We also plan a lunch meal, which is a big pot of something like chili or enchiladas which we reheat all week for lunch. It's so nice!<BR/><BR/>What I can improve on is taking advantage of on-sale items... I'm so afraid of buying too much that i don't take advantage of stocking up on things I use every Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17377889829748572675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-3920547167586579732008-01-26T13:54:00.000-08:002008-01-26T13:54:00.000-08:00Village Green-I live alone, and when I meal plan, ...Village Green-<BR/><BR/>I live alone, and when I meal plan, what I try to do is to pick a few meals that overlap in ingredients as well as meals that freeze well (ie ones that taste good after being frozen as opposed to ones that are passable.)<BR/><BR/>For instance, I'll buy ingredients to make lasagna and turkey sloppy joes knowing that I can use extra marinara for spaghetti, and extra turkey ruchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17043512641324366469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-41031577425969863502008-01-26T13:23:00.000-08:002008-01-26T13:23:00.000-08:00Crunch,Good advice. It certainly reduces waste to...Crunch,<BR/><BR/>Good advice. It certainly reduces waste to know what you have and know what you need.<BR/>I find it's easier not to waste if I plan on using leftovers for the next meal. If I've got some leftover pot roast from last night, I make soup for the next lunch with it.<BR/>We're at a little advantage in one way out here in the woods. We HAVE to plan our meals since we get into town Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-56746286756050266692008-01-26T10:11:00.000-08:002008-01-26T10:11:00.000-08:00For singles (or couples), I recommend "clean out t...For singles (or couples), I recommend "clean out the fridge" cuisine. First night you cook your meat, steam or blanch your vegetables, cook a nice pot of rice or other grain.<BR/>Then for the rest of the week, you have the options of:<BR/><BR/>quickly saute a bit of chopped meat, veggies and rice, and roll it up in a burrito;<BR/><BR/>chop up some leftover meat and veggies and toss it in a pie Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-14035288178645747532008-01-26T09:07:00.000-08:002008-01-26T09:07:00.000-08:00Would be interested to hear from other single peop...Would be interested to hear from other single people -- how do you plan your meals? Shopping for one should be easier and less wasteful, but I don't find it that easy. I find myself making something that I eat for several days until I am bored to death with it, such as a crock pot full of veg stew. So I'll freeze the remainder and then never thaw it out. It's a stupid and wasteful way of foodVillage Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10299021164466991478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-50560133871079878912008-01-26T08:07:00.000-08:002008-01-26T08:07:00.000-08:00This has been my habit for years as well. I keep ...This has been my habit for years as well. I keep a stenographer's notebook in my kitchen, and on one page, write down items we need that we are close to running out of. On a second page, I write down the recipes I plan on using that week, and where to find them. The recipes are planned based on what we already have in the house. Before I go shopping, I quickly take inventory in the pantry and Miss Musichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02152828507073687167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-85885713725562749762008-01-26T07:50:00.000-08:002008-01-26T07:50:00.000-08:00This is great advice for experienced cooks. For t...This is great advice for experienced cooks. For those who are just getting started, try shopping for just the food you need for 2 or 3 dinners at a time. One of the things that goes bad the fastest is bagged salad. Lettuce from the farmer's market or even the grocery store lasts longer (and tastes better) if it's not packaged in a bag. I throw almost nothing out, but I've been cooking for a Anna Bananahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10824356086811880655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-51505339223169862422008-01-26T06:19:00.000-08:002008-01-26T06:19:00.000-08:00we've been doing this for years - not just because...we've been doing this for years - not just because of the waste reduction/cost savings, but also because planning ahead means not having to think about what to make on any given day. The best however is that by planning ahead, I can think about/try out new dishes so that we're not falling into the rut of making the same things over and over again. In doing so, our family meals (and we eat Arif Mamdanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05215622574492008105noreply@blogger.com