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Trying to feed 1

  • lsharp

    Joined: 13 May 2008

    3 posts

    Trying to feed 1 13 May 2008

    i live on my own and its a pain trying to find ways of having different meals each day without throwing out loads of unused food - if i buy a lettuce half of it goes in the bin same with bread, fruit, veg, etc. Why can the supermarkets sell smaller portions of things - i dont want to eat ready meals but i dont want to waste so much food! any helpful suggestions would be great :)

  • Ivegotabag

    Joined: 24 Aug 2006

    523 posts

    Trying to feed 1 14 May 2008

    Do you have a freezer - as I would imagine that this would be invaluable forfreezing half blocks of cheese or butter and half a loaf of bread.

    Large loaves of bread often cost the same or less than small ones. You can make toast with bread straight from the freezer.

  • dlane

    Joined: 23 May 2008

    1 post

    Trying to feed 1 23 May 2008

    HI ,
    My nan has the same problem. She lives alone and doesn't have a freezer. She has discovered that buying meat at the counter works out cheaper. She was confussed with the new weights/ prices. My problem is the reverse. I live alone with 4 children. Most products containg 4 portions,i now eat different food to my children its cheaper.
    Bread, they do small loaves. Try buying the lettuce that is already cut in packets, it tends to last longer.Our Sainsburys is really good.Fruit and veg is sold either in packets or loose. If you can not get that service then speak to the customer service desk.Sainsburys has been really good for us.
    Good luck

  • Ivegotabag

    Joined: 24 Aug 2006

    523 posts

    Trying to feed 1 24 May 2008

    I don't have a freezer (as it stopped working and I haven't replaced it). Nearly everybody used to have a small freezer compartment at the top of their fridge now most fridges are just fridges.

    I actually buy a small loaf of bread because I prefer to have fresher bread more often and not waste it. It also means that I am freer vary my bread without waste (ciabatta, French stick etc).

    Buying vegetables loose and more often will give you fresher and more enjoyable ones!

    Do make sure that you have your fridge at the correct temperature and don't overfill it. Also you can buy a spongefoam liner for the bottom of your crisper tray which helps to better keep your vegetables. (Piling up bags of vegetables means they are less easy to see and you may get condensation in the bags.)

    Use see-through containers in the fridge to make it easier to remember what you have left over.

    Know the difference between 'best before' and 'use by' dates so you are not throwing away stuff unnecessarily. If you get things that need refrigerating to the fridge fast after you have bought them then you can have confidence in eating them - as otherwise they may not even make their 'use by date'. Sainsbury's themselves I think you will find will throw away food that has been out of the chiller for quite a short amount of time just to be on the safe side compared to some people's journeys home.

    Iceberg and Gem lettuces can be eaten leaf by leaf and will keep well (and then the 'pillowpack' mixes make a change). Washed vegetables do not always keep as well as others. Grow your own herbs on the windowsill or in the garden. These will jazz up your salads.

  • lsharp

    Joined: 13 May 2008

    3 posts

    Trying to feed 1 27 May 2008

    Thank you all for your suggestions they have been very helpful : )

  • Zinfandel

    Joined: 28 May 2008

    2 posts

    Trying to feed 1 28 May 2008

    I would say that meal planning would help you waste less so when you buy fresh produce, think of at least 2 ways of using it, preferably 2 days in a row e.g.
    mushrooms - grill with steak, chicken or salmon and chop into a spag bol, shep pie or chilli
    lettuce - fajitas and salad with indiv quiche or cold meat
    green beans - steam or micro as a side veg and stir fry
    Or make double portions and either re-heat at work for lunch (if feasible) or freeze in labelled bags for a mid week rush meal e.g.
    spag bol
    lasagne sauce - make indiv by breaking sheets in half
    shep pie sauce - use frozen mash to top a la Delia
    chilli con carne
    chicken enchillas sauce
    stir fry veg

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