The management of waste is an important part of cooking, which is part of household management. One of the first items to comprehend while contemplating waste is the distinction between waste and refuse. Waste is the disposal of something that could have been consumed, whereas refuse is the disposal of something that could not have been eaten.
This is an important distinction, because there is little you can do with something like, say, egg shells, but if you buy so many eggs that half of them go off before you can use them, it is a different question. Over buying is tough, particularly if you strive to do most of your shopping in one session.
The secret to wasting less is in experience and knowledge. For example, if beef rises above a certain cost an inexpert cook might choose to buy pork or lamb, yet the choice is not that easy, because there is much more inedible fat in pork and lamb than there is in lean beef.
After poor selection of products, the next biggest source of waste is selecting the wrong way of preparing or cooking the food. Peeling too thick or cooking at a very high heat are good examples of this problem.
A successful week's menu ought to supply all the nutrients, vitamins and fibre that a person requires. We do not have to eat all vitamins and all nutrients every day, but there are some that we ought to eat each day and we ought to eat enough fibre each day too. This is not difficult to set up. Experts recommend eating five portions of fruit and vegetables every day, but maybe the skill comes in providing variation to prevent boredom.
Some people can achieve this variety pretty instinctively, but for the remainder of us there is another line of attack and it is called planning. You can easily plan the meals for a week before you go shopping. Planning your meals like this will also save you money, because it discourages impulse purchasing. If you still have a problem with impulse buying, order your groceries through the Internet.
Two good tips for holding costs down yet for still providing variety were also largely ostracized in the Seventies and Eighties, but which are also experiencing a come-back now are: eating seasonal, local food and preparing three (or at least two) course meals.
Local seasonal ingredients are cheaper than stuff flown in from half-way around the world (or should be) and beginning dinner off with soup and a bread roll and finishing it with a dessert means that you do not have to eat so much of the main course, which is normally the most expensive of the three courses.
This is an important distinction, because there is little you can do with something like, say, egg shells, but if you buy so many eggs that half of them go off before you can use them, it is a different question. Over buying is tough, particularly if you strive to do most of your shopping in one session.
The secret to wasting less is in experience and knowledge. For example, if beef rises above a certain cost an inexpert cook might choose to buy pork or lamb, yet the choice is not that easy, because there is much more inedible fat in pork and lamb than there is in lean beef.
After poor selection of products, the next biggest source of waste is selecting the wrong way of preparing or cooking the food. Peeling too thick or cooking at a very high heat are good examples of this problem.
A successful week's menu ought to supply all the nutrients, vitamins and fibre that a person requires. We do not have to eat all vitamins and all nutrients every day, but there are some that we ought to eat each day and we ought to eat enough fibre each day too. This is not difficult to set up. Experts recommend eating five portions of fruit and vegetables every day, but maybe the skill comes in providing variation to prevent boredom.
Some people can achieve this variety pretty instinctively, but for the remainder of us there is another line of attack and it is called planning. You can easily plan the meals for a week before you go shopping. Planning your meals like this will also save you money, because it discourages impulse purchasing. If you still have a problem with impulse buying, order your groceries through the Internet.
Two good tips for holding costs down yet for still providing variety were also largely ostracized in the Seventies and Eighties, but which are also experiencing a come-back now are: eating seasonal, local food and preparing three (or at least two) course meals.
Local seasonal ingredients are cheaper than stuff flown in from half-way around the world (or should be) and beginning dinner off with soup and a bread roll and finishing it with a dessert means that you do not have to eat so much of the main course, which is normally the most expensive of the three courses.
About the Author:
Owen Jones, the writer of this piece writes on several subjects, but is at present concerned with French dip sandwich recipes. If you want to know more or check out some great offers, please go to our website at Vegetarian Sandwich Recipes.
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