I have been thinking for a while now that I am not the thriftiest food shopper. I cook on a whim, I change my mind about what I want to cook and buy new ingredients at the last minute, leaving what was to have been cooked with languishing in the fridge. I have three opened bottles of thai fish sauce in my cupboard. Not to mention how many jars of opened jams and chutneys in the fridge.
This wasteful and wanton culinary behaviour seems to be nothing new or exclusive to me and is in fact sweeping the nation as we speak. Apparently over a third of all food bought in the UK is thrown away, unused. I find this really shocking but knowing that I am part of this problem is even more shocking. I wasn't brought up like that! I remember as a child very little got thrown away in our house. OK, we weren't well off so maybe there's part of a reason but when I think about it, it just wasn't something you did, throw away food, let it go off in the fridge, change your mind and leave some perfectly nice salmon to go off because you fancy take out. People made use of leftovers. Sometimes, God forbid, you ate the same meal, or the various assembled ingredients of it, twice in a row.
I used to think the reason I did this and allowed myself to waste food was because I was creative, on the crest of the wave of the latest food ideas, excited by a recipe in a magazine or Sunday supplement. But it isn't creative to waste food. Its wasteful and actually, quite uncreative and a bit lazy!
The world's population is exploding and resources are getting scarcer. Food is a resource which we in the west must stop chucking out (and no, I don't care and it doesn't make it better if you compost it!).
Think about that statistic again. Over 33% of food bought in the UK is WASTED.
So, as of this weekend when food shopping and menu planning start again I am going to commit to the following;
1. to waste as little food as possible
2. to buy seasonal and economical food instead of expensive, imported, silly food
3. to eat only delicious food.
Point 3 is really important. I am not going to do this and suffer! Where's the point in that?!
I have other thoughts about food price rises, the right to eat meat as often as you like and bugger the consequences but I am now tired and so will blog again with more musings shortly..
But don't worry, I am not going to go all radical and militant and NO FUN. In fact, I reckon this could be a truly creative and delicious month ahead!
I was only thinking the same thing recently. On New Year's eve, as usual, I cleaned out food cupboard and fridge and I'm ashamed to say I chucked out 2 bin liners full of half full jars of pesto, pickles, soy sauce, jams, pasta, rice, biscuits and other foods well past their sell by date. I remember feeling very guilty at the time and thinking that this was so wasteful.
So, I'm with you on your three commitments and glad you brought this up.
Happy New Year Sarah. Love reading your blog as usual - it's on my favourites.
Janice xxx
Posted by: Janice Robertson | 22 January 2008 at 10:20 PM
I'm totally with you on this. I heard a really interesting episode of the food programme on Radio 4 on this very subject a few weeks ago. It was so interesting and really got me thinking about my own wastefulness. I have really been making an effort to use up more and actually I've really enjoyed being a bit more creative. I think in this respect, being single has worked to my advantage as I have eaten some slightly odd combinations that I have loved but perhaps wouldn't have served up to someone else!
I still need to work on my jars though as like you I have way too many jars of pickles, jams and pestos in the fridge. I think it must be a family habit as I've notice Mum and Dad and my Sis have far too many in their fridges too!
Posted by: nonnie | 23 January 2008 at 12:23 PM
i like your commitment list very much. i have always been a bit thrifty and try not to waste anything, so have gotten into the habit of using things up. we always have stuff like cous cous in which is great for making salads to use up half jars of pesto, capers, olives etc. and if there are any vegetables looking tired in the fridge they always get made into soup. i find using whatever we have in makes me more creative and is a good challenge. lots of luck in your wasteless quest and i'm sure you will enjoy just as delicious food x x
Posted by: jayne | 25 January 2008 at 10:32 AM
Hiya Chick,
If you have nay left ober dried fruits crackers nuts etc pass them my way i shall feed them to the allotment birds!
Looking forward to seeing you 2 too! bigh kisses H xxx
Posted by: Helen | 25 January 2008 at 04:09 PM
I agree!.......... And shall be forcing Hugo to read this entry! He could learn a thing or two, and then I won't have the depressing job of throwing away mouldy foods that have'nt been used, from the fridge.
Good on you! An interesting challenge ahead.
Posted by: vanessa | 02 February 2008 at 12:02 PM