Category Archives: Household

You Gonna Eat That, Neighbor?

Eating other people’s leftovers isn’t for everyone, but it is for someone. LeftoverSwap app founder Dan Newman hopes that others aside from me (and foragers and freegans) are interested in the notion. The app, due out by the end of this month, will facilitate leftover sharing or trading. You post a picture of your leftovers and […]

August 1, 2013 | Also posted in Leftovers, Restaurant | Comments closed

When Life Gives You Pineapple Rinds…

This past weekend I cut up a whole pineapple with a regular knife. As you can imagine, I literally and figuratively try to cut it as close to the rind as possible when I’m carving up a pineapple. I’m aiming for maximum fruit with minimum objections from kids. Still, just like the previous time, I was […]

July 9, 2013 | Posted in Household | Comments closed

Declare Your Independence from Food Waste!

While we’re celebrating declaring independence from the British Crown, it’s worth remembering to declare your independence from food waste. How does one do that? Here’s one way: Whether you’re planning a cookout, a picnic or a regular old meal, plan ahead! Think about how many people will be eating and the amount folks are likely to […]

July 4, 2013 | Also posted in General, History and Culture | Comments closed

Some Light Leftover Reading

I’ve been doing some reading on leftovers lately, and yesterday I read this beauty: It’s part leftover advice book, part advertorial for Hood’s Sarsaparilla, a cure for all that ailed folks in 1891. It’s quite a combination, and the two topics are interspersed throughout the 17-page booklet. So after some helpful advice on using stale […]

June 19, 2013 | Also posted in Leftovers | Comments closed

Clean Your Plate, Because…You’re in China

Many of us grew up hearing the admonition, ‘Clean your plate, because there are children starving in China.’ Well, it turns out Chinese kids heard (and some experienced) similar things. That’s one of the many fascinating anecdotes reported in The World‘s fascinating piece on food waste in China. As part of the What’s For Lunch? series, The World focused […]

June 12, 2013 | Also posted in Hunger, International | Comments closed

Politicizing Waste Reduction Advice?

Well that’s unfortunate. British politicians and/or the British media have politicized advice on reducing food waste. The Independent reported Environment Minister Richard Benyon’s remarks about families losing £50 per month through waste and follows it with objections from the opposition. As an American, I’m not aware of all the subtle class machinations and tax policy at […]

April 29, 2013 | Also posted in International, Leftovers | Comments closed

Oddities: Orange Italy

As you might guess, I’m a fan of odd-shaped produce. I’m drawn to ugly fruits and veggies that have more character than perfection. I like to give them a home, because too often they end up being wasted. Besides, it’s taste, not appearance, that matters most. I usually end up with these items at the farmers’ market […]

March 11, 2013 | Also posted in Alphabet Produce, Supermarket | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

Since food prices are set to increase in 2013, it’s the perfect time to cut waste to keep your food costs steady. The Globe and Mail concurs. Meanwhile, that article contains the astounding fact that “Canadian households waste 38 per cent of their food purchased in store and restaurants.” Whoa. — — This Pittsburgh Post-Gazette […]

January 4, 2013 | Also posted in Friday Buffet, International, Supermarket | Comments closed

Yule Waste Less

Ashley Koff recently asked on Twitter when I was going to post some simple waste-saving tips for the holidays. Good question, Ashley! Here goes: While I already covered similar ground in a longer Thanksgiving post, here’s a simplified version: 1. Get a firm head count. Knowing how many people you’ll be hosting helps the planning. 2. […]

December 19, 2012 | Also posted in History and Culture | Comments closed

Zapping Bread Waste?

Texas company MicroZap has found a way to redefine bread’s shelf life by keeping it mold-free for 60 days. This isn’t done by using a freezer or all-powerful preservatives, but rather by sending bread through a “sophisticated microwave array” resembling an assembly line. While this solution feels a bit…unnatural, it’s similar to pasteurization of milk (which […]

December 3, 2012 | Also posted in Food Safety | Comments closed