Every week, I post a picture of the food that has gone bad over the last seven days. Why do I do this? Because in March of 2008, I finally got fed up with the amount of food I was wasting, and I thought that showing my waste to other people would motivate me to use up my food instead of wasting it. Because this often embarrassing practice was so helpful for me, I invited other bloggers to join me in posting their food waste photos, and Food Waste Friday was born. If you’re not a blogger but still want some food waste accountability, feel free to participate by leaving a comment.
Well, I had a much better week than last week, thankfully. Going a second week without grocery shopping definitely helped me to clean out my fridge and pantry, so I’m thinking this bi-weekly shopping thing is going to be good for my food waste.
The only thing in my fridge that might go to waste are some radishes…they’re a little bit old and I’m not sure they’re salvageable. Other than that, I’m good to go, and my fridge is delightfully empty.
On a separate note, a reader left a comment yesterday asking for suggestions about using up a box of Safeway brand Cheerios that weren’t fit for consumption as breakfast cereal (sometimes off-brand cereal is like that!), and I know you guys will have some great suggestions to share in the comments.
I’m low on using-up-yucky-Cheerios ideas, but if the reader decides the cereal is not worth salvaging, I’d suggest taking it back to Safeway. Most stores have a money-back guarantee on their private label products and will refund the purchase price. The cereal will still be thrown away, yes, but at least when the product is returned, the shopper can get some money back. And hopefully Safeway tracks that kind of thing so they can learn which of their products need some reformulating.
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How did you do this week? If you blogged about your food waste, link us up by entering your info into the widget below. You’ll save money, reduce your trash output, and get a little publicity for your blog! And if you don’t blog, you can still share about your food waste by leaving a comment.
Today’s 365 post: My children’s favorite store
Kristin
Sunday 14th of November 2010
I'd think using them in some sort of dish/dessert where you add other flavorings would disguise the "off" taste of store label cereal. i bought store label pop tarts like this once and there was just no salvaging them, but luckily children usually don't have the same taste buds as adults so I gave them to my mom (a school teacher) who sometimes has children who come to school without the money to buy snacks or can't afford to bring them from home. I wouldn't recommend doing that with the Cheerios but if anybody buys individually wrapped foods their families don't like, always offer them to your childrens teachers for that purpose. I try to use up extra Register Rewards and Extra Care Bucks for taht purpose as well because sometimes the breakfast, snack and lunch those kids get are the only food they get in a day.
I adore the Honey Nut Cheerios snack mix sold in the store, by the way, as well as the regular kind in the yellow bag. Maybe try and recreate that with your cereal but add some cocoa powder or something to it so you can't taste the cereal so much?
JD
Sunday 14th of November 2010
For me its usually produce :( Ill have to take a pic next week...its good to keep yourself in check.
Nicole
Sunday 14th of November 2010
Grind the cheerios up and add them to toasted stale bread ground up and stale crackers ground up... any types, mix together and you have home made breading for chicken, fish, pork, whatever... I add seasonings as I go - depending on what I'm making or side dishes.
S. Davis
Saturday 13th of November 2010
String them outside & hang in trees/bushes to feed birds - can alternate with popcorn for variety
DON'T THROW THEM OUT
sahm
Saturday 13th of November 2010
Can I just say how clever and creative all of you are? I'm really impressed by all of those uses for yucky store-brand cheerios. Great job!