Category Archives: History and Culture

Finish Your Liver!

I attended the 8th annual Organics Recycling Summit yesterday in Massachusetts. It was a useful conference that focused on how to prevent food waste from going to landfills. Lots on composting and, my favorite, anaerobic digestion. Among other things, I learned more about the impressive Massachusetts Supermarket Recycling Program, in which almost half the states’ […]

March 5, 2008 | Also posted in Composting, Household | Comments closed

Providing Abundance

I recently received this comment from Brett, a student at Allegheny College, on his school’s dining practices: the reasoning I get for the overpreparation is so they don’t run out of any item. The rationale is you are supposed to be able to come at the last minute of the meal (9:59 for breakfast, 1:29 for […]

February 21, 2008 | Also posted in College, Institutional | Comments closed

Try to clean your plate

A reader recently sent me this article about Haitians so poor they’ve resorted to making cookies from mud, salt and vegetable shortening and I’ve been wrestling with whether to pass it along. While I don’t want to be manipulative and say, ‘See, these kids eat mud cookies, you shouldn’t waste food,’ I sort of do. […]

February 7, 2008 | Also posted in Household, Hunger, International | Comments closed

Zeitgeist: Thrift

How do I know this trayless dining hall thing is really taking off? Harvard is giving it a whirl. As The Harvard Crimson reports, Quincy House will eliminate trays during Thursday dinners in February. While four nights isn’t a huge commitment, that hasn’t stopped students from complaining. To wit, this whiny lead: The daily challenge […]

February 5, 2008 | Also posted in College, Trayless | Comments closed

Leftover Buffet

Boulder, Colo., is contemplating curbside food waste collection by truck. Alternately, they could reduce costs and emissions by sending around Ralphie (see right). Well, most of the emissions. — — This interesting New York Times piece examines North Jersey beefsteaks, the mostly male, meat-eating affairs. In it, the author (who also keeps an entertaining blog […]

February 4, 2008 | Also posted in Household, International, School | Comments closed

MLK Day

I have a dream. A dream that more school districts will follow the example of Wisconsin’s Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagen School District. Their composting program makes too much sense not to be emulated. And while there are certainly larger problems in our country, I hope we see a day ‘when little black boys and black girls will […]

January 21, 2008 | Also posted in School | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

This is a strange story, but any idea that diminishes food waste and increases doughnut supply is a winner in my book. — — From the Jetsons Design Institute: The Loofen Packy. I wonder if the Loofen is related to my Ikea blanket “Bibbi Snurr?” I’m all for this invention, if it actually works. Until […]

January 18, 2008 | Also posted in Friday Buffet, Household | Comments closed

Wasted Food Funnies

Here’s a little food waste humor courtesy of Joe Martin and his Mister Boffo comic strip: I guess I often ‘walk on the wild side.’ After more careful consideration, I’m totally a wild and crazy guy.  Of course, there’s nothing too wild about eating food a few days past its “sell-by” date. Consuming items past their “use-by” dates, […]

January 16, 2008 | Also posted in Supermarket | Comments closed

Merry Christmas, etc.

If t’is the season for you to be jolly–Merry Christmas! Just a quick reminder: Try to divvy up that Christmas goose or whatever you’re currently roasting. Sending guests home with leftovers ensures that the season of giving keeps giving (and that you don’t end up giving food to your trash).  If, like some lucky folks […]

December 25, 2007 | Also posted in Household, Restaurant | Comments closed

Friday Buffet: Christmas Edition

Here’s some food for thought when you’re out shopping for your Christmas meal or New Year’s bash: UK food waste increases by 80 percent during the Christmas and New Year’s period. — — This article provides some all-purpose green tips for the red and green season. The food-related advice is similar to that given on […]

December 21, 2007 | Also posted in Friday Buffet, Household | Comments closed