Day 1: Spanakopita, Homemade hummus
Day 2: Baked lemon chicken with mushroom sauce, Roasted carrots and potatoes
Day 3: Homemade pizza, Spinach salad
Day 4: Beef and barley stew, Crusty bread
Day 5: Quesadillas with black beans, Apple and orange slices
Day 6: Loaded baked potatoes with steamed spinach, salsa, sour cream, and cheddar
Day 7: Spinach and mushroom quiche, Frozen fruit smoothie
Notes: Eating Out Without Food Waste
First off, a little tip for meals this week. I will be doubling the spanakopita and freezing one for future use. This is a labor intensive recipe so I’d rather do it all at once and reap the benefits later. I’m also doubling (or tripling) the hummus so we can have extra to pair with carrot sticks for lunches.
On to the fifth segment in my miniseries on preventing food waste! Today it is all about eating out. The food service industry is riddled with waste. A lot of it is behind the scenes, so we don’t really think about it. But there are definitely some ways that individuals can stop their own food waste while eating out. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, approximately 17% of the food we order from restaurants goes uneaten and 38% of leftovers that we take home are tossed. Here are my tips to keep some of that food out of the landfill:
- Order smaller portions or share a meal at restaurants. In the past 60 years, restaurant portion sizes have quadrupled! Super-sized is NOT better. Not only is that unhealthy for us, but it is likely that a lot of the food will be trashed. Stick to a portion size that you know you will eat.
- If you are getting fast food, skip the meal deal. It may seem more cost efficient to get the deal with sides, but will you really eat everything? In reality if you order a la carte, you will actually save money and prevent some cold, hard fries from hitting the trash can.
- Be wary of the buffet. It is really tempting to have all sorts of food selections, but inevitably, your eyes are bigger than your stomach and you tend to overload your plate. Also, eating from a buffet often means there will be foods you try that you don’t like. I am guessing that those leftovers won’t make it home with you.
- Refuse the extras. Be sure to read the food description carefully and ask your server to omit the things you do not like or know you will not eat. There is no point to ordering a sandwich that comes with a raw onion, only to remove the onion as soon as your food arrives!
- Box up your leftovers AND don’t forget them. I am notorious in my family for forgetting my leftovers on the restaurant table. Instead of putting the box on the table, place it in your lap or in your bag so you can be sure you leave with it.
- Make a plan for your leftovers. When you get home from eating out, immediately place your leftovers in your lunchbox or front and center in your fridge so that you remember to eat them the next day. Many foods also freeze well to be eaten later. Just don’t forget they are in there!
- Offer leftovers to someone else. If you didn’t enjoy your meal or you know you will not eat the leftovers, you can still bring them with you and find someone who will eat them. There are many hungry people who would be grateful for your donation.
- Eat out less. You have total control of what happens in your own kitchen, not so much in a restaurant. Eating out less will help prevent a lot of waste, including overfilled bread baskets, leftover condiments, and more.
