Unfortunately food waste often goes up during the festive season, so I asked the amazing hive mind of Jane Berry’s Facebook Group ‘My Second Hand & Frugal Life’ for their best food (and money) saving ideas.
The lovely folks in this corner of the internet had some great suggestions and also shared a few of their favourite recipes, like Jamie Oliver’s Get Ahead Gravy.
Buy what you need and like!
- Many advised not to get carried away and over buy, perhaps just adding one nice cheese, a special dessert or box of chocs.
- Meal plan carefully and take a list when you go shopping. Remember the shops are usually only closed for a day or two.
- Some frugal folk said they don’t buy anything extra before Christmas and then make the most of the reductions in the days afterwards. It can definitely pay to be flexible (or unprepared in my case) and make the most of last minute bargains.
- Don’t be tempted by the ‘buy one, get one free’ deals – will you actually use two jars of cranberry sauce? Of course, if you love cranberry sauce and eat it all year like me, then buy four!
- Don’t buy things you don’t like just because they are ‘festive’ or ‘traditional’. It’s OK to have broccoli if sprouts aren’t your thing.
- Buy loose fruits and veggies if you can, so you don’t over buy. Use the BBC Good Food Christmas portion planner to work out how much you’ll need for your number of guests.
- If you want a few ‘just in case items’ make sure they are shelf stable and then there is no rush to eat them.
Leftover dinners and desserts
Making good use of your leftovers was a common theme from the group. The piled high ultimate ‘Christmas dinner sandwich’ with leftover turkey and all the trimmings was a firm favourite. After all, adding chunky slices of fresh bread improves most meals in my opinion. Try combining leftover cheese(s) with cranberry sauce for any veggie guests – brie works especially well.
Cooked meat and veggies can be frozen for future dinners – from pies and pasta sauce to risotto and wraps. A giant twenty portion pie for the freezer was one members’ way of using all the savoury leftovers. ‘Mix together turkey, stuffing, veg, roast tatties, gravy, cranberry sauce, add pastry top and bottom – amazing and filling!’ Another member said ‘the same, but topped with mash and leftover cheese’, instead of pastry.
Turkey and veg soup was also popular – portion it up for the freezer to make a quick meal another week. The freezer was definitely everyones friend when it came to preventing food waste. From freezing bones and veg scraps for stock, to portioning out trays of turkey and gravy and even freezing wine for cooking. Just remember to label everything clearly.
Sweet leftovers featured too with ideas to add extra mincemeat to apple crumble or a frangipane tart for a festive twist. Or try gently frying leftover Christmas pudding in butter. Too many satsumas or clementines? Turn them into a lovely orange cake – Nigella’s recipe was recommended.
Leftover chocolate (how is that even possible?) is perfect in brownies, cookies or a no-bake fridge cake. Someone went one better making a ‘chocolate log thingy from leftover xmas chocolate, digestive biscuits, marshmallows, glace cherries, nuts, coconut and condensed milk. Chop everything roughly and roll into a log shape. Roll the log in coconut and melted chocolate and toffee’. Christmas calories don’t count – right?
Thank you to everyone who commented on my post and wishing you all a merry, waste-free Christmas. Jane also runs a fantastic YouTube channel called Shoestring Jane, where she talks about ‘all things thrifty, frugal and money saving’. She is currently recording a festive vlogmas series, so head on over and subscribe. Also take a look at her blog at Shoesting Cottage.
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