Food Waste

Ever since I began living independently I have planned menus a week at a time and shopped once a week. Each plan starts with a survey of what needs to be used up. This scheme has worked well even though DH had a job that required frequent short notice work trips for indefinite period. It keeps food waste to an absolute minimum.

I grow most of my vegetables. Vegetable waste goes back on the compost tip and nowadays when meat is bought deboned, deskinned and ready diced the amount of food waste is minimal. When I put a food waste box out it usually contains no more than two bacon rinds, some fish skin and a chop bone.

All of us only have a finite income and to throw handfuls of money into the dust bin, which is what chucking unused food is, strikes me as wicked, particularly as the same people probably them complain about being unable to afford their fuel bills

I usually grow 'salad bowl' type lettuces which are a 'cut and come again' variety. However, in the winter, if I do fancy a salad, I will buy either little gems or a small bag of leaves which don't last very long. When the weather is colder I prefer something warm anyway. If I buy frozen veg (broccoli and peas) or buy a big pack (carrots) and freeze them, there is no waste as I only take out what I know I will eat.

Never quite sure what those leafy salads are for . Bit of dietary fibre. Fill up the plate. Add colour.
Not many nutrients in lettuce. Does not fill you up. I don't know why it is viewed as a healthy food.
I remember once, in a brief phase of vegetarianism, being presented with the "vegetarian option" which was a mound of grated cheese, surrounded by a substantial rampart of shredded iceberg and a couple of slices of tomato.

Salad is the main culprit for me when it comes to waste, but mainly because the S.O. buys too many bags of it for the weekend [and it is the one thing that I use by it's use by date]. I'm not a great veggie eater so most meals are accompanied by a bag of salad [always the watercress and rocket one] mixed with beetroot, cucumber, tomatoes, grated carrot etc. Then yesterday I bought some deli wraps to use up some left over chicken, planning to mix it with lettuce and mayonaise only to find that the S.O. had, for once, listened to me and there was no lettuce left. Lettuce is very good for helping you sleep, which is probably why I'm such a dozy type [as in 'the soporific effect of eating lettuce'].

Anno you can buy winter mixes which will give you salad leaves during the winter. I've just planted mine but I think I've thrown the packet away. If I summon up any enthusiasm for rooting through the compost bin to find it I'll let you know what it was called.

Thanks Aka, I will have a look in the garden centre - if I can fight my way through all the Christmas decorations.

Found it! It's called Suttons speedy veg Leaf Salad winter mix. Sow Feb-October harvest all year round.

I've not tried it before but for £2.45 worth a go

Number on bar code

5 011567 185395

That's very helpful. Aka, thank you. If the rain stays away, I think I will go and have a look in the garden centre this afternoon. I meant to get a big bag of daff bulbs last time I was there but got distracted by something else and clean forgot.