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Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?


  • Claire Pardubsky's avatar
    Claire Pardubsky 8/30/2024 2:30 PM
    I'll be honest team, it's been a hectic month to also try to reduce food waste! I think my goal leaving the month is to try some different meal prep methods heading into the fall. I read about the "schedule-based" method where you identify your tired/busy nights for easy meals, and your less busy nights when you'll cook something. Does anyone here have meal prep tips that work for them?

    • Margo Ashmore's avatar
      Margo Ashmore 8/31/2024 4:42 AM
      The schedule-based method sounds good. I'm a big fan of taking part of a weekend day to process fresh food (really any kind of food) for later use - freeze fruit, make chili, something cabbage-based, tuna or pantry beans+, something that can be refrigerated in jars and tastes even better days after first cooking. I'll freeze at least one plastic container full from each of those selections, and thaw in the fridge in anticipation when fresh supplies start to run low. (Thawing in microwave is frustrating.) I'll bake 2-3 whole chicken legs and eat just one drumstick or thigh so that lasts 4-6 lunches/dinners. When I need to eat I'm not rigid about combinations; I just grab something from each food group...or not even that. Some meals I forego starch knowing I'll snack later, for example.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Planning Keep a Food Inventory
    Are there food items you have been better about using up and not wasting since you started keeping an inventory of what's in your fridge?

    Cindy Jacobs's avatar
    Cindy Jacobs 8/23/2024 3:18 PM
    vegetables, sauces are two top ones
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Cooking Revive Limp Produce
    What successes have you had in reviving limp produce? What can you do so that your produce doesn't go limp in the future?

    Cindy Jacobs's avatar
    Cindy Jacobs 8/23/2024 3:18 PM
    With fresh greens I no longer waste them because I steam them, put them in "pucks" on silicone cooking sheet in freezer, bag them up in freezer once frozen, and use in smoothies throughout the year
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Cooking Cook Just Enough
    We often worry about running out of food so we make too much. What thoughts and feelings have come up when you make just the right amount to eat up all the food?

    Cindy Jacobs's avatar
    Cindy Jacobs 8/23/2024 3:16 PM
    Satisfied but not wasteful; wonderful feeling!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Cooking Revive Limp Produce
    What successes have you had in reviving limp produce? What can you do so that your produce doesn't go limp in the future?

    Sharon Williams's avatar
    Sharon Williams 8/19/2024 10:16 AM
    I wish my basil would last longer! I trimmed the stems and put a wet paper towel around the bottom in the fridge and it actually seemed to get a couple extra days. The I cut the limp basil into strips and put on a grilled cheese sandwich. Still tastes great!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Planning Plan to Use My Garden or CSA Produce
    How easy has it been for you to plan your garden or CSA produce into your meals? Do you ever let your seasonal food go to waste?

    Megan Van-Cao's avatar
    Megan Van-Cao 8/17/2024 8:46 PM
    Easy, we use our basil for pesto.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Cooking Swap This for That
    How comfortable are you with making ingredient swaps? Where do you go to find substitutes if you don't have what you need?

    Sharon Williams's avatar
    Sharon Williams 8/15/2024 9:48 AM
    I am used to swapping because of my family's likes and dislikes, so getting creative with substitutes isn't hard for me.
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Cooking Cook Just Enough
    We often worry about running out of food so we make too much. What thoughts and feelings have come up when you make just the right amount to eat up all the food?

    Sharon Williams's avatar
    Sharon Williams 8/15/2024 9:46 AM
    Today was my trash day and I usually pull out things from the fridge that are past edible. Today I only had a very small container of leftovers and an almost completely used pack of dill that had gotten a little watery. Although the leftovers went in the bin, I put the dill in one of my patio plants to naturally compost. It was satisfying not to be tossing so much!

  • Jamila Boudlali's avatar
    Jamila Boudlali 8/15/2024 9:35 AM
    Need some ideas for leftover zucchini from the farmer's market.

    • Jodi Abbott's avatar
      Jodi Abbott 8/15/2024 10:31 AM
      Chocolate Zucchini muffins are a favorite for us.

    • Megan Van-Cao's avatar
      Megan Van-Cao 8/17/2024 8:45 PM
      Stir fry's with garlic and oyster sauce or ginger! Just add a bit of oil to the pan and then garlic and ginger, or without the garlic toss in the zucchini and then throw in the oyster sauce.

    • Jamila Boudlali's avatar
      Jamila Boudlali 8/16/2024 9:21 AM
      Thanks for all the ideas everyone, this is super helpful! I don't bake as much as I used to, but I could also use the freezer method to add them to soups!

    • Layl McDill's avatar
      Layl McDill 8/16/2024 5:58 AM
      If they are large you can shave them down and put them in the freezer to make zucchini bread in the winter months. Measure out the correct amount of the recipe so you can just defrost and use. Make sure to put in all the liquids when you defrost it. I've found it saves for over a year (made it two year's once on one year's harvest!)

  • Jamila Boudlali's avatar
    Jamila Boudlali 8/15/2024 9:31 AM
    Pretty good! Made soup for the week with my farmer's market produce and used shrimp I already had in my freezer. I also froze some leftovers before they went bad.