How to Use a Leftover or Not Consumed Food Planner

How to Use a Leftover or Not Consumed Food Planner

A not consumed food planner is a helpful tool for reducing wasted food and saving money. This type of planner allows you to track leftover ingredients or uneaten dishes and plan future meals around them. Using a planner to creatively repurpose leftovers takes a bit of strategy but pays off in the long run.

Benefits of Planning Not Consumed Food

There are several advantages to utilizing a leftover food planner:

• Saves money by reducing food waste
• Makes grocery shopping more efficient
• Cuts down on repeat meals
• Encourages creative recipes
• Helps use items before they spoil
• Keeps a running inventory of on-hand food

A little bit of effort meal planning around leftovers saves time and money while also cutting back on food that gets tossed out.

Choosing a Not Consumed Planner Format

Not consumed planners come in different formats to suit various preferences:

• Paper planners - Simple notebooks or printed planner pages
• Whiteboards - Displayed in the kitchen for easy reference
• Apps - Digital planners with handy features for meal planning
• Online templates - Customizable and printable planners

Consider your lifestyle and cooking habits to determine whether a tangible format like paper or a digital planner works best for you.

Setting Up Your Not Consumed Planner

To start using a leftover food planner:

1. Take inventory of ingredients and leftovers currently on hand
2. Note items that need to be used up soon
3. Make a list of upcoming meals for the week
4. Incorporate leftovers into the meal plan
5. Determine any additional grocery items needed
6. Shop for supplemental ingredients as needed

Having an overview of what needs to be used up and what meals you want to cook helps match up leftovers with recipes efficiently. Assign leftovers to specific dishes on the planner schedule.

Tracking Not Consumed Foods

Consistent tracking takes some diligence but makes a significant difference in reducing waste. Be sure to:

• Note any uneaten foods after each meal
• Include information like quantity, storage, shelf life
• Cross used items off once incorporated into dishes
• Add new leftovers or ingredients as they accumulate
• Update the planner whenever you cook or grocery shop

Getting in the routine of recording not consumed ingredients takes little time but yields great payoff in cutting down food waste.

Creative Ways to Use Leftovers

With a little creativity, many foods can be reinvented into new dishes:

• Old vegetables = soup stock, sauts, casseroles, omelets
• Stale bread = croutons, breadcrumbs, strata, bread pudding
• Wilting produce = smoothies, juices, pureed soups
• Extra meat = salads, sandwiches, fried rice, frittatas
• Day-old rice = stuffed veggies, rice porridge, rice salads
• Odds and ends = quiches, fritters, stir fries, casseroles

Check cookbooks, websites, and social media for inspiration on creative ways to breathe new life into leftovers.

Sample Not Consumed Planner

A basic not consumed planner could be set up as follows:

Current Inventory

• 1 cup leftover rice
• 1/2 onion
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• 1 chicken breast

Meals for Upcoming Week

1. Chicken fried rice with leftover rice, peas, onion, chicken
2. Pasta with tomato sauce and veggies
3. Roast chicken with potatoes and carrots

Shopping List

• Pasta
• Jar of tomato sauce
• Vegetables for side dishes
• Potatoes
• Carrots

This focuses the shopping list on ingredients needed to complement what's already on hand, saving money and reducing waste.

Apps for Not Consumed Planners

For a high tech option, apps can streamline logging and tracking leftovers:

• Fridge Companion - Scans barcodes and tracks dates and quantities.
• BigOven - Find recipes based on leftover ingredients you enter.
• SuperCook - Enter foods on hand to get recipe ideas using just those items.
• MealBoard - Photo-based app to track leftovers and plan upcoming dishes.

Apps cut down on manual data entry and provide resources like recipes and reminders to maximize leftover usage.

Planner Tips for Families

For households with multiple members, some handy strategies include:

• Schedule leftovers for lunches so they don't go to waste
• Involve family in brainstorming leftover recipes
• Cook larger batches and repurpose multiple times
• Let each person claim leftovers to finish
• Teach kids about reducing food waste

Making it a family effort creates less resistance and teaches children good habits around not wasting food.

Storing Leftovers Properly

To extend shelf life, observe safe storage methods:

• Refrigerate perishable leftovers within 2 hours
• Divide large amounts into smaller containers
• Label items with name and date
• Use oldest leftovers first
• Don't mix old and new leftovers
• Freeze items you can't use within 3-4 days

Follow recommended storage times for different types of foods. Freezing buys additional time to plan ways to incorporate leftovers into future meals.

Watching Portion Sizes

To generate less waste:

• Serve smaller plates to avoid excessive leftovers
• Only prepare what can be eaten in a few days
• Use leftovers in complementing side dishes
• Repurpose multiple times, like roasted chicken into soup
• Compost scraps if not using for stock

Thoughtful meal planning and strategic repurposing helps minimize leftovers languishing in the fridge or freezer.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Some leftovers prove more tricky than others:

• Forgotten foods - Make a point to check planner and leftovers daily.
• Picky eaters - Disguise leftovers in new recipes or let them select reuse meals.
• Busy schedules - Opt for meals that

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.