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The Gift Of Waste

1st December 2015 By Urvashi Roe 17 Comments

Recently I’ve been involved with the Gift Of Waste campaign which is being run for The European week For Waste Reduction.  It aims to promote actions people can take to reduce the amount of waste they generate – specifically food waste.

I got involved with the campaign because I hate waste.  It drives me mad to throw food in the bin.  My daughters will tell you how very little is left on our plates at mealtimes.  I think it’s because I’ve grown up with a mother that will keep even the tiniest amount of food as combined with a little of this and a little of that it could make up a whole meal.  We have little pots of oil, lentils, rice and curry taking up space in the fridge when she comes to stay. It drives my husband bonkers! But it’s an upbringing. Possibly an immigrant upbringing because when you have very little you want to keep as much of it as possible.  We certainly had very little when I was a child.  Food, toys, clothes, shoes it was all carefully purchased and carefully looked after.

That mindset hasn’t left me and I’ve talked about it in this book that was produced for the campaign.  There are many other views too. All very different but complementary.  Click on the image to link through to the book.

HUBBUB_THE_GIFT_OF_WASTE (1)_Page_01

What’s your view? Do you think you are good at minimising waste? Do you have any tips to share? 

Related

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: #giftofwaste, cooking, food, recipe, waste reduction

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Comments

  1. Kitchen-Counter-Culture says

    1st December 2015 at 1:24 pm

    Hope it’s ok to link here to a site where lots of groups working with food waste are crowd-funding: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/campaign/hughs-war-on-waste?utm_source=foe&utm_medium=twitter&utm_content=War%20on%20Waste&utm_campaign=campaigns

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      1st December 2015 at 1:30 pm

      Sure

      Reply
  2. Sara Venn says

    1st December 2015 at 1:26 pm

    Great post as always!! Could i share it on our Food route Local pages please?

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      1st December 2015 at 1:32 pm

      hanks Sara – Yes of course you can share it 🙂

      Reply
  3. efwalt says

    1st December 2015 at 5:21 pm

    The book looks fab! I’m very similar with tiny pots of all sorts in my fridge, freezer and cupboards. We always eat our leftovers. If that means throwing the meal plan out of the window because I cooked too much one night, or eating last nights dinner for lunch the next day then so be it. If it was good enough the first time round it will be just as good the second. I also see my fridge as a bit of a challenge the day before a shop. I like to use up whatever I can in creative ways! You’d be amazed the weird and wonderful combinations you can put in a fritter or omlette….

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      1st December 2015 at 9:30 pm

      I love the fridge challenge too. For us bits Friday nights before market day on Saturday

      Reply
  4. Fuss Free Helen says

    1st December 2015 at 7:18 pm

    I cannot stand food waste, and have also had to accept that to some degree that working with recipe development I occasionally have to throw some stuff away. Which hugely upsets me, but it is that or my health. I do try and eat, freeze, and plan my recipe development around a meal plan.

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      1st December 2015 at 9:32 pm

      I’ve never got on with meal plans but I see the logic behind them. I just would miss the spontaneity of cooking.

      Reply
  5. Nicola says

    1st December 2015 at 9:02 pm

    I think food saving is a bit of a country thing too. My mother in law lives in rural France and she saved every tiny thing and just brought it out at the next meal. I always do the same but then forget to use it and end up throwing it out. Work in progress I guess.

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      1st December 2015 at 9:34 pm

      Indeed. There is always something to learn from different cultures too.

      Reply
      • Nicola says

        1st December 2015 at 9:40 pm

        Very true. Her method of cooking is so different to mine and we enjoy learning from each other

        Reply
  6. Franglais kitchen says

    1st December 2015 at 10:51 pm

    what a lovely idea. I think it is a generational thing with our parents – both mine and my husbands did insist on keeping leftovers to recycle into new meals. We try to minimise food waste but could do better and I shall go take a look at the book to get some inspiration to up our game on the leftover front.

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      2nd December 2015 at 8:40 pm

      Thanks Nazima x

      Reply
  7. elinindia says

    3rd December 2015 at 10:33 pm

    This sounds so interesting, I hate food waste too! Xo

    Reply
  8. landloper says

    30th December 2015 at 1:51 pm

    I think this is fabulous. Seeing food go to waste pains my heart. I’ve lived in London my whole life and see all the homeless on the street and think what idiots anyone would be to just throw away their leftovers – it always makes a new meal in my house. I now also work in a restaurant in Kent and have kicked up a fuss about the sheer volume they throw out. I’ve started to take the decent bits left over to feed the staff on shift! They all think I’m mad but I believe in respecting food and appreciating what we have when so many around the world are dying for just a morsel! I’d like to share your piece also in my food section of my page if that’s ok? X

    Reply
    • Urvashi Roe says

      30th December 2015 at 2:40 pm

      What a great idea you’ve kicked off in the restaurant where you work. You’re right it is shocking what is thrown away and what sometimes has to be thrown away because if regulation even if it’s got a good few days left.
      Thank you for sharing it on your blog too x

      Reply

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Hi I'm Urvashi!

I love food. This blog is a little glimpse into my foodie world which is an escape from two teenage girls, a busy job and my little cafe.

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