Sunday, September 19, 2010

Dumbing Us Down

While wasting time on my computer yesterday, I came across a newspaper article titled "Getting Smart About Food Waste."  Hey! I thought.  That is something I need to read!


Check out this advice:

After 46 years of marriage, John and Willie Wright have hit upon a winning system: "We eat 'new' food on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights, then on Thursday we have 'smorgasbord' with the leftovers from those three nights." 

(Time-out for a triple forehead smack right here)

46 years?  Tell me, what is more disturbing - that it took these rocket scientists more than 4 decades to realize they could eat leftovers for dinner or that the writer of the Slate column regards this as a newsworthy way to avoid food waste?  I just can't decide.

Slate seems to be trying to give the Wall Street Journal a run for its money, as it were, in the doling-out-idiot-advice category.  Thanks to the hard-hitting journalism practiced by these 2 institutions, I know that not only can I save money by continuing to drive my "old" car, I can also join the frugal revolution by eating the still-edible food left in my fridge.  Wow.

[Image credit: screenhog.com]

17 comments:

  1. its amazing how much people waste by being stupid! The term common sense no longer has value as very few people now days can say they have "common sense".

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  2. I'm surprised to hear that from people who are that old--didn't they come of age before wasteful living.

    The bring all the leftovers out of the fridge night is called "Defend for yourself" night. It comes from my husband's childhood friend who misunderstood his mom's directions to "fend for himself."

    Though I will say that raising boys doesn't leave a lot of leftovers that make it past after-school snack the next day.

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  3. So what happens on Thursday, Friday or Saturday? They starve?

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  4. That's what we do, too, except it isn't quite as planned out. I can't stand to throw away food. Usually I take it for lunches too.

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  5. We have "Fend for yourself" night a couple of nights a week... It's kind of a no brainer... In fact, if a meal is not going to make enough to have leftovers, I will purposely make extra so that we have home cooked leftovers in the refrigerator for snacks and quick meals throughout the week.

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  6. I once read an article about a new movement in American Film where they were actually taking "books" and making them into "movies."

    What will they think of next?

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  7. Every time I try to plan for leftovers, the two older ones hit a hunger spurt and eat almost all of it. So the rest feeds the husband lunch the next day, and then I have to plan all over again :)

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  8. Isn't that amazing lol!

    I work with a gal that is all weird about eating left overs. I told her she just hasn't ever been broke!

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  9. I have some spaghetti sauce that is just a week old in there. Trying to decide that if I heat it to boiling, do I kill any potential lethal bacteria? Can I slather it on some pasta and call it dinner again?

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  10. We have regular episodes of leftover night. We call it "find dining" because I don't even bother to serve it. It's definitely a fend-for-yourself situation.

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  11. Taking the triple forehead smack timeout with you (oh do I love that phrase! Thank you!)
    Betcha she figures out soon that taking off your shoes at the door means less wear and tear and dirt on carpets and floors.

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  12. You know, I read somewhere that (at least where adults are concerned) the damage done from the oils from your bare or sock-clad feet are as bad for the rug as the dirt from the shoes! Who knows? I still have the kids remove their shoes. I keep mine on, per the dictates of the Flylady.

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  13. Wait, so let me get this right, you can eat the food left after a meal for another meal?

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  14. They are not left overs, they are planned overs. I cook a large meat, say a ham, knowing that there will be enough left for scalloped potatoes with ham, ham and cheese omelets, ham sandwiches for lunch, and ham and pineapple pizza. I bag the leftovers in portions small enough for another meal and throw them in the freezer. That way I don't have to finish them in a few days and it doesn't seem like leftovers when I serve them the next time.

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  15. Astonishing. BTW, I heard a totally hot tip the other day, which is that APPARENTLY you can cut down on dryer costs by hanging clothes IN THE WIND! I KNOW! But that's what I heard!

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