Welcome to the Love Food Hate Waste Diaries
Check out our food waste diaries and keep up-to-date with our Food Waste Champions' progress on reducing their food waste.
You can view regular entries from our Food Waste Champions telling you about their experiences of reducing food waste at home. Read on to find out what hints have worked for them, get some of their tried and tested tips, and find more links to useful advice and recipes to help you reduce food waste.
To share your ideas, tips and recipes for reducing food waste, please visit our forum.
The latest entries appear first. Use the "Go Back 10" and "Go Forward 10" buttons to display the last ten or next ten entries. The icon and name on the left of each entry shows you who it was written by. Click on the name to view only that person's entries.
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Sensible Jo |
| I try not to cook too much food for me and my two kids but if I am cooking a favourite I sometimes make an extra smaller portion.
I usually take the "extra" into my work for lunch in a sealed container usually chilli or a bolognese sometimes a curry.
I work partime and as I only get 20/25 mins to have my lunch it is great to just go sit and eat, no waiting in queues in the shop to buy lunch and there is a kitchen so I can microwave my own dinner.
This is a nice change from home made sandwiches but my dog is not too pleased at this!
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HELP! Running out of tupperware! |
| If you've made extra portions of "squidgy" meals, e.g. soups, stews, etc. and want to freeze it, but you don't have enough containers, or you need them for other things, line a container with a freezer bag and pour the "squidgy" meal in. Put the whole lot in the freezer then, when it's frozen, remove the bag from the container, pop the bag back in the freezer and re-use the container.
You'll have frozen meals in handy container shaped bags which will be easy to store and stack in the freezer and won't take up much room.
Don't forget to label them!
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busy week for team ginger |
| THIS WEEK IS ONE OF OUR BUSIEST WEEKS OF THE YEAR SO NEED TO PLAN OUR FOOD DIARY VERY WELL
SUNDAY: AGAIN I PLAN WHEN WE WILL BE EATING AT HOME AND CHECK TO SEE WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE AT HOME BEFORE DOING MY LIST AND GOING SHOPPING , NOT NEEDING TOO MUCH , MOSTLY FRUIT , VEG AND SALAD STUFF
CAME HOME FROM SHOPPING AND PUT BAKED HAM IN OVEN FOR TEA, LEFTOVERS ARE ALWAYS IDEAL FOR LUNCHES. ALSO MADE A HUGE POT OF MINCE AND USED EXTRA VEG TO MAKE SOUP, A QUICK AND HEALTHY SNACK, KEPT SOME OF THE MINCE AND SOUP FOR MONDAY TEA AND PORTIONED AND FROZE THE REST FOR ANOTHER TIME.
MONDAY: LEFTOVER BAKED HAM SANDWICHES FOR MYLES LUNCH AND SOME WITH SALAD FOR MINE
MYLES FRIEND JACK OVER FOR TEA SO SOUP AND MINCE WAS ENJOYED BY ALL, HAD TO BE QUICK TEA BECAUSE MYLES AT CUBS
TUESDAY:CHICKEN SANDWICHES AND SALAD FOR OUR LUNCHES, GOT JACK AND MY UNCLE FOR TEA, USED STUFF OUT OF FREEZER SO KIDS HAD THE DREADED CHICKEN NUGGETS, WHICH I HATE GIVING MYLES BUT HE LOVES SO I MAKE SURE IT IS CHICKEN BREAST, AND MY UNCLE AND I HAD CHILLI BURRITOS WHICH WERE LOVELY WITH A BAKED POTATO AND VEG, ALSO HAD APPLES THAT WERE GOING OFF SO I QUICKLY MADE AN EVES PUDDING FOR DESSERT WHICH WE ALL ENJOYED WITH CUSTARD, MY UNCLE AS USUAL WENT HOME WITH A FOOD PARCEL WHICH CONSISTED OF MINCE, SOUP AND THE REMAINS OF THE EVES PUDDING , I LOVE NOT WASTING FOOD AND GIVING IT AWAY IS GREAT BECAUSE I KNOW IT WILL BE USED
WEDNESDAY: MY BIRTHDAY, TAKEAWAY FOR US , ALL EATEN , HAD LUNCH IN THE CANTEEN AT WORK AS A TREAT
THURSDAY: MYLES BIRTHDAY , HE HAD SCHOOL DINNERS FOR LUNCH AND I HAD CHICKEN , BEETROOT , CHERRY TOMATOES AND COLESLAW THAT NEEDED TO BE USED UP, PIZZAHUT FOR TEA, MAGIC , BUT BROUGHT HOME LEFTOVER PIZZA IN A BOX AND WE SHARED IT AFTER COMING BACK FROM MYLES BIRTHDAY PARTY , WHICH HE HAD AT MEGAZONE, THEY SUPPLY HOTDOGS AND DRINKS FOR THE KIDS WHICH THEY ATE SO FAST THAT I DIDNT EVEN GET ONE!!{ WAIST AWARENESS. LOL } I CUT HIS CAKE WITH THE INTENTION OF [POPPING SOME IN THE PARTY BAGS BUT THEY SCOFFED ALL THAT TOO, MARVELLOUS , NO WASTE WITH 15 BOYS ABOUT
FIRDAY: BIT STRESSED BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING FAMILY AND FRIENDS ROUND FOR A BIRTHDAY BUFFET AND I NEEDED TO MAKE SURE HAD ENOUGH BUT NOT TOO MUCH , SO AGAIN I HAD GOT FAR TOO MUCH SO IT WAS DOGGIE BAGS GALORE TO PEOPLE GOING HOME , I MANAGED TO FREEZE THE FILLED ROLLS THAT WERE LEFTOVER AND THE CHICKEN AND SAUSAGE ROLLS , THE LEFTOVER SALAD I WOULD EAT ANYWAY AND THE ROLLS AND SAUSAGE ROLLS
ARE QUICK TO DEFROST FOR LUNCHES, THE CHICKEN WILL BE USED FOR A TEA NEXT WEEK
SATURDAY: MYLES WENT TO HIS DADS AND I WAS TOO TIRED TO EAT VERY MUCH AT ALL APART FROM LEFTOVER QUICHE FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE
A VERY BUSY WEEK AND LEFTOVERS GALORE BUT ONE OF THE ONES WHERE EVERYTHING WAS USED AND EATEN , WE CERTAINLY DO LOVE FOOD AND HATE WASTE
TILL LATER
SUZ X
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Don't always go by the book... |
| I recently made on old favourite of ours, lamb and butter bean casserole. As I was reading the recipe for it, it reminded me of the trick we sometimes do when following recipes from books or magazines.
The very first time I made it, everyone agreed that it was lovely, but that there were maybe a few too many butter beans in it, so I wrote next to the ingredients in pencil that one tin of butter beans was enough rather than the two suggested. I've made it like that every time since, and it's perfect!
If you feel that any of your recipes need to be adjusted, write lightly in pencil next to the list of ingredients the amount which YOU think should go into the recipe. That way you will avoid buying too much when planning your meals and avoid wasting food which you've cooked. You'll also have a meal which everyone will enjoy.
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Shared information |
| On Wednesdays at work we have an hour for training, meetings etc.
Today was a little bit different and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
A colleague gave a presentation on "5 a day" which she gave the office advice on eating 5 portions of fruit and veg a day. She prepared a table of fresh fruit and veg, some cut/chopped and ready to eat and allowed us to eat it.
There were leaflets etc and she asked us to comment on what she told us.
Great I thought , I can advise on what to do when some of your fruit gets a little bit by it`s best. I advised how easy it is to make a smoothie, discussed how cheap blenders are in the shops and how much better it is too use this fruit rather than throwing it away.
I also mentioned how some people especially some kids dont like eating fruit but drinking a smoothie will assist them in getting their "5 a day" and help them save some money.
HOW IT`S DONE:
USE A BLENDER OR A SMOOTHIE MAKER, WASH AND PEEL FRUIT,
CHOP UP LARGE PIECES/ PUT FRUIT, JUICE OR MILK/YOGHURT INTO THE JUG
MIX AT LOW SPEED FOR 10/20 SECS THEN AT HIGH FOR SAME
ADD MORE LIQUID IF TOO THICK IE. FRUIT JUICE OR WATER
YOU CAN DECORATE WITH ANY SPARE SLICES OF FRUIT.
MY FAVOURITE SMOOTHIE:
1/2 HONEYDEW MELON
1 MUG OF STRAWBERRIES
1/2 MUG OF APPLE JUICE
THIS WILL SERVE 4 PEOPLE
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Ripe to rotten in under 5 seconds! |
| What is it about pears? On Sunday they were as hard as bricks so I thought I leave them for a day or two. By Tuesday they were mush!
In my house we sometimes struggle to get through all the fruit we buy, intending rather optimistically, to eat at least three a day.
So on Tuesday I moved the fruit bowl off the kitchen window and onto the kitchen table. Its there at every meal, so hopefully we'll eat more and keep an eye on the ripening fruit.
Tuesday.
Our box of vegetables arrived. I can foresee I'll be making lots of soup this week.
Wednesday
For dinner we had leftover lamb stew that I'd cooked and frozen a couple of weeks ago. The freezer seems to be full of stuff. I'll have to do an inventory before I go shopping again!
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My first food waste week |
| Wednesday:
Night in the house tonight , no kids to drop off or pick up so decided to
make a roast as I had time to cook it and we could all sit down together and
eat, which is a nice change for midweek.
Kids were not as hungry as I thought so there were some boiled potatoes left
over and some small scraps of meat. I put the potatoes in the fridge in a
container and decided to roast them tomorrow night. My dog Larsson`s luck
was in, he got a little treat with the little meat that was left.
Thursday:
Needed a quick tea tonight due to both kids going to clubs and as always
they are hungry and in a hurry. Put the potatoes from last night in the oven
in a roasting tray, covered them in a little oil and let them roast, turning
them occassionaly. I dont own a chip pan or a deep fat fryer. Fried the beef
ham and cooked some peas and sweetcorn.
Friday:
Treat tonight for us all, picked up a take away. Only bought two meals
between us three as the portions are usually very generous and in the past
have never managed to eat it all.
Saturday:
Decided to do my weekly shop today as I have a busy week ahead. Had a look
through my cupboards and fridge freezer, checked what main meals I have
still to use. Have mince, chicken breasts and fish so only put another
couple of main meals on my list bearing in mind my son will not be here
Tuesday and Thursday so will only need enough for my daughter and myself
these two nights. Still had a few tins left so less on the list this week.
My dog Larsson likes his food but prefers ours! Unfortunately for him, we
dont waste much so he has to make do with the odd left over treat. Doesn`t
stop him waiting patiently to see what, if anything is left on our plates!
Used a chilli tonight that I had taken from the freezer yesterday, had made
it last week when i needed to use up mince I had bought. Cooked some rice
and kids and I shared a naan bread.
Sunday:
My sister invited us down for dinner today so I agreed to make us some soup.
I always make a very large pot and after I put what we needed for dinner in
a plastic container, I put what was left into plastic trays and after they
cooled I put them in the freezer.I can use them through the week.
My kids enjoy homemade soup with some buttered bread especially when they
come in from school.
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Saving money and being insulted! |
| As a student on a tight budget, I learned the value of planning meals, portion controls and not wasting food, including leftovers.
One Sunday afternoon at the supermarket checkout, I carefully placed my small loaf, small tin of beans, small lump of cheese (bought from the deli counter, small packet of mince (again from the deli counter), half pint of milk, single apple and banana on the conveyor belt.
The lady behind me in the queue smiled as she loaded her "2 for 1's" and bumper pre-packed "special offer" meats onto the conveyor. "I'll bet you live on your own", she said to me. I was surprised that she knew this, but then I realised, "Ah, you know that because you've seen my carefully planned and portioned food shop?" I enquired. "No, it's just that you're quite ugly." she replied.
"I may be", I replied, "but at least I'm not wasting £366 a year on food which will either go off or be thrown out."
She went quiet after that and gazed at the food mountain she had just piled on the conveyor...
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the first instalment |
| Sunday: need to do shopping so as usual i checked all cupbords, fridge/freezer and planned out what to have. Its a busy week this week so i need to have quick fixes for tea. As its Sunday, my son Myles and i usually cheat and have a takeaway but both were hungry so no pizza/chicken tikka leftover at all.
Monday: quick tea of grilled fish and rice , all scoffed
Tuesday: Took leftover stew out of freezer for tea , magic with mash and veg. Having the girls round for an Avon party , bit stressed about the buffet and the amount to make
Wednesday:Everyone left last night with a 'doggie bag' and a little left for me so no need for making packed lunches today. Uncle round for tea, chicken breasts and veg, no waste apart from some apple pie which i gave him to take home for his supper.{Actually bought too much chicken so popped extra in freezer for next week}
Thursday:Lasange which is Myles current favourite. Doing ok this week so far with nothing being flung out apart from a bit lettuce and a few slices of bread, used up other salad veg for lunch on Friday along with col meat /chicken and coleslaw which had to be used , made banana bread to use them up and took it to work for the staff
Friday : fridge looking a bit empty but thats a good thing , at least i know its all been used/eaten. need to get new list done for next weeks shopping
till next time
suz x
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My week of food waste so far |
| Sunday
Friends round for Sunday lunch. I had made an almond cake from a new recipe which used up some egg whites I had left over. It was lovely...and low in fat! The chicken was delicious and there's meat leftover for sandwiches. I also boiled up the chicken carcase and made some stock. Gave the cat some titbits and put the bones my green cone.
Monday
Graeme had chicken sandwiches for lunch. For dinner it was de-frosted stew from last week. Nice and easy after a working day. Forgot to put the chicken stock in the freezer! Hope its still OK.
Tuesday
Chicken sandwiches for Graeme's lunch again! Veggies, milk and eggs delivered today. Had to put some of the milk in the freezer. Veg box included a lot of parsnips. Had Mum's lasagne for dinner tonight. There's never any waste with that. I had to throw away a mango as it was too rotten, even for a smoothie. That's one for the compost heap.
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Orchard fruits are in season now
