tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post4373636650507754974..comments2024-03-28T03:58:48.788-07:00Comments on creative savv: Many cooks in the house lead to leftover-wasteLilihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-10011695429044013362017-09-27T15:18:53.273-07:002017-09-27T15:18:53.273-07:00As far as food is concerned, my mother always said...As far as food is concerned, my mother always said that if it isn't labeled it's fair game. Maybe if someone wants something specific for their lunch, they could label it, otherwise it's there to be used.Live and Learnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13493777474885053903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-77913157172741552062017-09-27T11:39:41.885-07:002017-09-27T11:39:41.885-07:00Hi Lili,
We have a bit of the same problem. With j...Hi Lili,<br />We have a bit of the same problem. With just the two of us it makes it easier. I started buying disposables(gasp):)You can get 1000 hot dog boats for under $20 dollars if you buy four of the 250 packs at a time. I also buy fold over baggies 150 at 99 cents now. I can write directly on the hot dog boats with a pen and seal and freeze.I freeze things like casserols and baked chicken in these.I still use the clear containers for stew and beans and soup. The hot dog boats fit nicely in a clear plastic shoe box. This way the freezer is organized. I only have the one above the Frig. If Kristi had planned this for lunch for the next day she just grabs it out of the freezer and takes it frozen. I also have a grease pencil or china marker that you can write on containers and it washes off with a scrubbie. I also have a sharpie that I write on grocery bags and then just toss. We mostly use reusable as Ca. no longer has free grocery bags, 10 to 50 cents adds up. Then we do have a sharpie and sticky notes. We also have clear plastic shoe boxes in the frig that say lunch,snack,etc. This helps but we still sometimes have food waste, not too often.<br />Blessings,<br />Patti Precious People Preschoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02284398084100195331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-64380121777049849262017-09-27T10:44:22.477-07:002017-09-27T10:44:22.477-07:00He tends to take leftovers for lunch, so that help...He tends to take leftovers for lunch, so that helps. Something he recently came up with that works for us is to put out plates/syrup the night before, and if we have leftover pancakes, that cues us in to using them for breakfast. Krisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-5811281921554862032017-09-27T08:17:55.642-07:002017-09-27T08:17:55.642-07:00Hi Belinda,
I'm hoping that labeling will help...Hi Belinda,<br />I'm hoping that labeling will help some, especially with foods like opened packages of lunchmeat or hot dogs. Those are expensive items with short lifespans, once opened. I can imagine that was frustrating for you, having a full week of work subbing, and then having to clean up someone else's leftovers on the weekend. <br />I think it is a lot like live and learn pointed out, the leftover waste just is more of a priority to us, the moms, than it is to the rest of the family. Good luck in your efforts with this!Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-69854083914253598602017-09-27T08:13:23.817-07:002017-09-27T08:13:23.817-07:00Hi Kris,
With your husband cooking some of the tim...Hi Kris,<br />With your husband cooking some of the time, I can imagine that you, too, have this situation of leftovers from one dinner not in the mind of the other cook. I certainly don't want to discourage anyone from cooking, for the family or for themselves, so it's tricky. I don't want to sound like a nag or make anyone feel badly if they (or I) have to toss out some cooked rice.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-91636542212632495122017-09-27T08:10:31.136-07:002017-09-27T08:10:31.136-07:00Hi Cat,
I like that idea of a notepad, and I do ha...Hi Cat,<br />I like that idea of a notepad, and I do happen to have a few of the magnetized ones, already at home. At least the cooks who are making their lunch stuff, like batches of soup, or hummus, can list items of theirs that are either not to be used, or free to be used. And they would have those reminders of what they've prepared and need to eat.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-57695168334707949182017-09-27T08:08:42.652-07:002017-09-27T08:08:42.652-07:00Hi Alice,
I think if family members were the ones ...Hi Alice,<br />I think if family members were the ones to actually buy the food, then they would be more aware of cost/value, as your kids having lived on their own. That's a shame about your daughter's university fridge never being repaired. How frustrating for her. <br /><br />With the greens that you get, you can wash and freeze them on a sheet, then use in smoothies as you need them. It's a little extra up-front work, but at least they get all washed at once and that would save time in the moment when making smoothies.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-72017372370508021002017-09-27T08:03:30.565-07:002017-09-27T08:03:30.565-07:00Hi live and learn,
I could add one day per week as...Hi live and learn,<br />I could add one day per week as a leftover-based meal. One problem though is that I don't know if someone plans on using something in their lunches, and everyone else is typically not home when I cook dinner. Maybe I could look over the fridge contents the night before, when family is home. I think the clear containers will be an improvement.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-64633090387101337472017-09-27T07:58:43.460-07:002017-09-27T07:58:43.460-07:00I like the idea of labeling. I need to start doing...I like the idea of labeling. I need to start doing that. I had to clean out someone's leftovers on Saturday after them not doing it. I worked all week and they are home all week, so there is no excuse. Ugh. Belindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17486895127003368291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-20192794282678647722017-09-27T07:50:46.800-07:002017-09-27T07:50:46.800-07:00I am close to entering your stage of life with mul...I am close to entering your stage of life with multiple cooks in the kitchen. Right now I sometimes struggle with my husband and me both cooking, but we seem to be able to handle two cook's leftovers ... but the more users, the greater room for error. I'll just listen to what everyone else suggests and learn from you all! :)Krisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-76644182640758991572017-09-27T04:42:22.545-07:002017-09-27T04:42:22.545-07:00What about a magnetic notepad on the front of the ...What about a magnetic notepad on the front of the fridge? (from Dollar Tree) If something is left, the cook can write that on the list to be used.Cathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00396716408304381802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-43402039708815296012017-09-27T04:24:10.446-07:002017-09-27T04:24:10.446-07:00I never have had that problem yet. I'm guessin...I never have had that problem yet. I'm guessing it's because each of my kids have lived in apartments and had to buy their own food. Their budgets were so tight that everything they bought (the fresh stuff anyway) was used in a timely manner and they didn't let anything ever go bad. Well, my youngest did but not her fault. The apartment refrigerator wasn't keeping food cold but the school never fixed it after many requests. My son is the only one home for the moment and since he isn't buying food, he gladly eats anything that I make and packs the rest for work lunch the next day.<br /><br />The only think I ever have go bad is stuff I get after working at the food pantry. That stuff is already right on the edge so many fresh items have to be used immediately. Since I use greens in my smoothies, it takes longer to use a bag of greens and they go bad very quickly.<br /><br />AliceAlicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06024364480893258511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-34223712817732316032017-09-27T04:09:05.883-07:002017-09-27T04:09:05.883-07:00I have found over the years, that no one is as con...I have found over the years, that no one is as concerned about using up everything in the fridge as I am, so the clean out has to be officially scheduled a couple of times a week. Also, as you've started, using clear containers helps. Good luck. Live and Learnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13493777474885053903noreply@blogger.com