Mr. Greedy loves his food and rarely has any leftovers. But even he is guilty of forgetting about that packet of peppers or lonely cucumber until it’s too late, and they’ve turned into an unpleasant, sticky mush in his salad drawer.
No one wants to be wasteful, but amidst the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it can be easy to lose track of what we have in our fridges. Ecover has teamed up with Little Miss Waste Less to help Mr. Greedy serve up these handy, simple steps that anyone can take to make use of leftover fresh produce. And it all starts by wasting one less thing.
Mr. Greedy rarely has leftover food, but when he does, he likes to make sure he can put it to use. If you have leftover veg that’s past its best, it can still be used in a hearty stock. From a slightly dried up carrot to discarded mushroom stalks or some parsley that’s begun to lighten in colour, don’t be afraid to chuck it all into a big pan with some roughly chopped onions, garlic and seasoning. Let it simmer away for a few hours, then skim off any impurities and leave to cool. You can then freeze it in batches for whenever you need it. Of course, whether Mr.Greedy's using the stock to make soup, a pasta sauce, or simply boiling rice in it, it never lasts long in his house.
Perfect portions for Mr. Greedy tend to be large, but he still sometimes ends up buying more than he needs at the supermarket. If you’re trying to avoid overbuying, Little Miss Waste Less recommends making a weekly meal plan, and a shopping list to go with it. That way, you’ll be less likely to get drawn in by supermarket offers, as you’ll have your list to guide you. Following recipes also helps when you’re planning meals, as these will give you the exact weights you need for each ingredient. This is particularly helpful with veg, as you can weigh them at the supermarket and buy them individually, instead of in a big 1kg bag – which also reduces your plastic waste.
If you have a garden, don’t waste your leftover cauliflower leaves or squishy tomatoes. According to Little Miss Waste Less, a food composting bin is always a worthwhile investment – especially if you grow your own fruit or veg. In a matter of weeks, your old produce could transform into a rich, fertile compost to use around your garden and vegetable patch. In fact, many newer compost bins on the market can generate higher temperatures, allowing you to compost your food waste in even less time.
If you’re anything like Mr. Greedy, you won’t want even a scrap of food to go to waste. So, next time you’re peeling some root veg for a Sunday roast – whether it’s potatoes, parsnips, carrots or beetroot – don’t throw anything away. Instead, toss the peelings together in a bowl with some oil and a spicy seasoning (try combining turmeric, ground cumin, ground coriander, chilli powder, salt and a little sugar for an irresistible curry flavour). Transfer to a baking tray, then roast in the oven for around 25 minutes, and hey presto, you’ll have yourself a delicious homemade snack!
While millions of people across the country make use of their gardens and greenhouses to grow their own fruit and veg, not everyone has the space to do that. The good news is, though, if you have running water and some wilted spring onions, a chunky lettuce stalk or even a solitary stick of celery in your fridge, you can regrow them! Take the spring onions. If you chop off the wilted green part and leave the white roots about an inch long, you can simply stand them up in a tall glass filled with water, then leave in direct sunlight, and you’ll see growth within days. A similar method can also be used for leeks and other root vegetables, so Mr. Greedy never has to worry about running out!
Read the new book with your little ones to discover how we can all waste a little bit less #OneLessThing
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