Food Waste Friday-Oh, the shame!
I had a less-than-fabulous week, as you can see. The watermelon and the apple can at least go into the compost, but I'm bummed about the roast beef. It's from Aldi, and I really, really like it. I made paninis with some of it, and then I was going to use the rest to make a sandwich for my husband's work lunch. Unfortunately, he was home sick (the sort of sick that precludes eating) and it didn't get eaten. I was feeling a little off myself, and so I didn't feel like eating roast beef either.
It's been open for a week now, and I tend to err on the side of caution with lunch meats unless I can find a way to cook them (I use leftover ham slices when I make stromboli, for instance). I'd rather waste a few slices of meat than get sick.
I also have about 1 cup of milk that has gone so sour, I am loathe to use it for anything. It's milk left from a gallon we bought from the store probably three weeks ago. I kept thinking I would use it when it was slightly sour, but I never did, and now it is beyond hope.
Happily, my fridge is quite cleaned out now, so I have high hopes for next week!
On a food-waste related note, check out what's going on in Scotland. They have an official Love Food, Hate Waste site dedicated to helping Scots reduce their food waste. While some of the information there will be more helpful if you actually live in Scotland, a lot of the tips can be applied no matter where you live. There's also a UK-wide site devoted to equipping and inspiring consumers to waste less of their food. It would be lovely if we Americans were as inspired about eating our food instead of throwing it away!
You don't need to wait for an official government initiative, though...YOU can work on reducing your household's food waste, and if enough of us do that, we can make a big difference.
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How did you do this week? If you blogged about your food waste, share with us by using the Mister Linky widget below. Participants will get a spot on my Food Waste blogroll for a week, so come join us! Not only will your blog get some publicity, participating will help inspire you to use up your food, saving you money and reducing your trash output.
Hi- a thought re: the beef - do you have any neighbours who have a dog/cat/ferret? If so, leftover meats which are debatably past the point of human consumption could maybe become a treat for them?
-x-
Tossing roast beef is so sad! It is my favorite lunch meat, but I rarely splurge on it because it is twice as expensive.
Since it is just my husband and I, when we buy lunch meat and it looks like we're not going to use it before the week is up, I stick it in the freezer. It doesn't hurt the quality of the meat and can be convenient if you portion out the meat and put some cheese with it. When I do this my husband can just grab it and some bread as he heads out the door to work.
Kristen,
I hope your husband is feeling better now.
Katy
Ally, there is a dog next door. Is questionable meat safe for dogs?
Katy, he is doing MUCH better now. He went to the doctor and got some antibiotics (he had an intestinal infection, apparently). I'm so glad he went, because he was just getting worse and worse here at home.
If it's just erring on the side of caution making you throw it away, that's the stage at which we usually offer it to our dogs (not that they taste it anyway, fast as they scarf it down!) - if it gets to the stage where you simply looking at it makes you wince in horror (I.e. the 'getting slimy' stage), I wouldn't.
no harm in asking your neighbours though I suppose- 'twould be frugal on both counts - less dog food for them, less waste for all =)
Happy to hear that your husband is on the mend!
-x-
I offer 'bad' meat to the cat as well, and she scoffs the lot. They have much stronger stomachs than us!
I hope you are both feeling better now and considering you weren't well all week, I think your food waste is fine.
Good to have a clean fridge though!
I wasted a mouldy pear which I found in the 'fridge.
Well I have been reading for a good while now and have decided to finally participate seeing as how I have just moved into my first home with my new husband!
Our first ever food waste together in this house is a package of chicken breasts that for some strange reason did not end up in the freezer with it's companions. I saw it four days after the sell by date when looking for the strange smell in the refrigerator(which was the chicken). Also a tiny bit of broccoli and cauliflower which will go into our first compost bin!
Welcome Ashley!
A so-so week, we had a bit of cheese and a bit of half and half, and I'm still tweaking my buying habits to waste less.
Yes Kristen, I have to say after seeing your full fridge, you've got a much bigger job keeping track with a family of 6 than we do with just the two of us!
Sigh. I've got food waste again this week as well. But I managed to avoid wasting some vegetables! I'm definitely motivated by not wanting to put a picture of wasted food up for everyone to see!
I am sorry your and your husband were not feeling well. We always have more waste when anybody in the house is feeling off. Just the extra time taking care of someone who is ill, means I end up letting other things slide.
I had a no waste week, which hasn't happened in a long time!
We are probably throwing away food again this week, too. We bought a bunch of food for my in-laws and then they didn't want to eat any of it. ::Sigh::
We must be on the same wavelength! I just started keeping track of my food waste on Sunday, which led to a post on Simple Living and someone there linked to you. Best wishes for keeping as much as possible out of the trash! Eileen