Frugal ideas: don't waste food. Don't buy junk food, either.

[Flaxbee]

From Treehugger:
Over at NRDC Switchboard, Dana Gunders writes Dear Government: Food Waste is a Matter of Urgency. Please Take It Seriously. It's an important post about a subject that is often ignored: that well over 40% of food in North America is wasted. Worldwide, almost a third of all food is lost to poor harvesting, lousy distribution, poor storage and ridiculous portion sizes. And it isn't just the food wasted; it's also the water, fertilizer and fuel.

More posters at: http://www.treehugger.com/slideshows/green-food/its-time-do-something-about-food-waste/

[cbayer]

1. Great advice, except I don't get the wheat part.

Why should you buy less wheat?

[Flaxbee]

2. Most of the posters are old, pro-wartime effort stuff (if you click the Treehugger link, it

sends you to some more fun posters)

So I think a lot of this was conserve food/help the troops stuff.

But relevant today.... though perhaps not the wheat advice so much.

[cbayer]

3. It seems so current otherwise.

Great post, BTW.

I work hard to not throw food out.

Since I only get to the grocery store every few weeks, I go with a tight list and menus. I stray from my list very, very little, and generally only if I need to make a substitution.

I survey my supplies daily, looking for the foods that are on the edge of spoiling and incorporate them into the day's meals.

Since there are only two of us, we often have leftovers, and I plan my next meals around those.

It's very gratifying.

[Flaxbee]

4. thanks. Treehugger.com has interesting recipes, ideas about frugal use of food, power, etc.

I just cruise Treehugger and other minimalist websites regularly

We used to toss a lot of veggies and fruits that went bad because I overbought or because we couldn't get home in time to eat (my husband and I work together)... but a friend gave us a fantastic juicer, and I just crank the veggies/fruits that are on the edge that I know I won't be able to cook / we won't be able to eat into juices. Always add a significant chunk of ginger root to the mix, too (I looooove ginger).

[cbayer]

5. Nice site.

Juicing is a great idea.

I only have a handheld blender, but that would work, I think.

[Flaxbee]

6. well, it's harder with a blender, especially if you use harder veggies like carrots, beets, etc.

I am not a fan of tons of appliances; I get cranky if there's too much junk on the counter or in cabinets. I know you have minimal space & on a boat every inch of space counts, but a quality juicer is worth it, I think. Especially if you want to toss in some wheat germ or other healthy items; it's nice to have the option of a quick 'liquid' breakfast or lunch or even just snack. I'm not a protein shake kind of person, but I do like a few healthy additions to the veggies every once in a while.

Unfortunately, though, juicers create a lot of pulp; great if you compost, but I'm guessing you don't on a boat

[cbayer]

7. As you can imagine, I have very limited storage space.

The hand blender works great for lots of things. I have never tried it on uncooked veggies, but it easily purees cooked ones. It also takes very little electricity, which is a must.

We need to do more smoothies. Right now we have several browning bananas that would be perfect.

Our *composting* consists of feeding the marine life, which is good.

[abumbyanyothername]

13. Large numbers of people are actually allergic to wheat

or at least the gluten in wheat and they don't realize it because they cannot remember feeling any differently.

Not sure what avoiding wheat has to do with avoiding waste however.

Could be that wheat was exportable while foods with more water content were not.

[Curmudgeoness]

8. I wish that people would start to think about this again.

I read a lot of books that take place in years past. When I hear of how people in the Middle Ages would have such little food, I am guilty when I throw an apple core away. I can imagine how much people who are living on the edge could do with just something as simple as that. Or peeling potatoes---that could probably save the life of someone in Africa.

Needless to say, I am so conscious of food waste that I do not peel potatoes....or carrots, or asparagus, or anything. I also check to see if anything needs to be used before it goes bad. And my freezer is my friend...anything that cannot be used in time will be put in the freezer for later use.

I am appalled at the waste I see at work in an office. Too many people don't even think.

[Flaxbee]

9. I know -- don't think about it, or just get pissed off if you suggest that they be more thoughtful

about their choices.

I only peel veggies if there's a brown/black spot or a ding, and then I only peel strategically to get rid of the mark or hole.

Something like 40% of the food in North America is wasted - heartbreaking for those who need quality food, and such a hideous, unforgivable waste of animal life; it makes me furious and sad at the same time.

[Curmudgeoness]

10. We will never get through to everyone,

and we will not save the world, but we can do our part. And we can attempt to teach others, although that doesn't often go over well. But there are some people who are willing to listen. I have a friend/neighbor who is constantly throwing food out, and I have given her so much grief over it that now she brings it over to me if she knows she will not get to it. Fine with me....no food waste and I don't have to think about what to eat that day!

[Flaxbee]

11. I'd be happy if we just could reduce the amount of meat consumed in this country

Much better for the environment, the animals, and overall human health.

I need to buy a compost bin. I'm feeling guilty about all the carrot pulp I throw away after the carrots are juiced.

Glad you got through to your friend! I worked with someone for a while and he and his wife are just consummate consumers - threw away a lot of food, printed every goddamn email or note going through reams of paper, bought something every time they went out - and I had to move offices because I was so frustrated and was having a hard time not screaming (especially when I heard the printer start up again...)

I think some people waste things so they don't feel deprived. I dunno.

[Curmudgeoness]

12. Your last statement is profound.

I remember hearing about how the wealthy used to have drapes on windows that were so long that they laid all over the floor...and the purpose was to let people know that they had the money to "waste" the material. I have always wondered if people in this country today have that same mindframe---more is better, it shows that they can afford to be frivolous. But maybe it does go further, to some hole they have inside themselves.

But I will say that I do understand waste to a point.....I was not always so aware of what I was doing as I am now. I have always been frugal, but also consumed too much and it was because I never thought about it as waste. I think that there are a lot of people who just don't realize how much they are wasting.

And yes, you do need a compost bin. That friend I was talking about before has one and composts all the pulp from a juicer---and the compost bin was getting so much that she had to buy a second one. But she has lots of wonderful compost to use....I guess that the juicer pulp is great.