There were 5 boxes of free food waiting for The Girl and I when we went to the grocery store this week.
About half of the watermelon and grapes were still edible.
We scored a bunch of fresh mushrooms, cilantro, spinach and 1 green pepper.
3 ears of corn, bean sprouts, strawberries and blueberries.
We decided to pass on the lettuce and gave it all to our pet chickens instead.
A whole case of iceberg lettuce. Holy Cow!
I don’t know why, but I’m still amazed at how much edible food is tossed everyday from local grocery stores, and I’m also thankful to be able to reclaim some of it.
Now, I just have to figure out what to do with all that lettuce.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Would you like to see what else we have brought home over the past 5 months?
Head on over HERE to read all the past stories and to see all the pictures.
Crystal says
Looks great! We have been asking grocery stores all over our town if they have any “scraps for our chickens”. Every single store here donates all the old food to food banks, nothing gets thrown out anymore. We even saw a food charity picking up tons of food at our local Trader Joe’s. So I am really glad to find out that all the food goes somewhere other than the trash.
As for the lettuce, we wrap up all our sandwiches and burgers in lettuce instead of bread. One of my favorite snacks is turkey, homemade aioli, and bell peppers wrapped up in lettuce.
Saralie says
Barter with Chino thee Handy-neighbour!
Zoe says
Seven layer salad. I could eat piles of that stuff.
BaileyP says
All that iceberg has me hungry for a classic wedge salad. Although you may have to do some bartering for bleu cheese and bacon, but you have tomatoes. Or BLTA’s. Oh man.
Lisa says
Big taco salads for dinner!
mer says
After following your success story for a few weeks I worked up the nerve and stopped at some stores. Denied at all six grocery stores I have walked into. Not sure if I am going to be as lucky as you.
Desi says
Taco salad with Doritos, Zesty italian dressing, tomatoes, cheese, olives, hamburger and of course lettuce. So yummy my mouth is watering.
Elizabeth says
Iceberg wedges for lunch or lettuce soup!
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Lettuce-Soup-231995
Sandy says
I decided to try asking for unused produce at a smaller grocery store in the area for the livestock. I was given a box with 8 bags of lettuce, corn, celery, green beans. I was able to use some of the bags of lettuce, the corn and lettuce for corn chowder and froze the green beans. What a blessing!
Laurie S says
Know anybody that has goats? They eat everything!
I ventured into the unknown last week and asked at a store I work in and they gave me a few things…some romaine and red lettuce, 2 plums, and some broccoli.
All was eatable. But I felt kind of bad cause I don’t have any chickens to feed the waste too.
I do have a friend with a goat. 🙂
CathyB says
I agree with the idea of taco salad. Especially if you have some leftover chili. Just heat up the chili (either vegetarian, or add some hamburger) and put it on your salad – top with your choice of shredded cheese, tomatoes, olives, sour cream, tortilla chips. This is how Wendy’s used to sell their taco salads. You got a salad and a cup of chili to pour over the top with the extra fixins. That was my favorite.
Veronica says
There are some pasta (or chicken or egg or tuna, etc) salads that are sometimes served on a “bed of greens”. For me, that means “fill up the bowl with lettuce and then use the pasta/chicken/egg salad as a topping/dressing”. It’s healthier that way and then the salad stretches over more people’s plates.
I’ve also seen soup recipes that call for lettuce instead of kale or other greens.
Lissa says
After 2 weeks off due to vacation/out of town for conferences, I picked up my boxes yesterday:
1 green leaf lettuce
3 romaine lettuce
3 bunches spinach
1 bunch celery
1 bunch radishes
2 lbs strawberries
80z raspberries
6 roma tomatoes
Yay! Seriously I don’t know what I’ll do when I move back to my house if I can’t find somewhere to get free produce from!
Elisabeth S. says
Lettuce Wraps!
Penelope says
Today I got nothing. I walked in and asked grandpa produce boss if I could get the cull and he smiled and said there wasn’t anything to get. It might be interesting to note that this is the FIRST time he has smiled at me.
He was probably proud of the no waste situation…..and I certainly don’t have time today anyway.
*sigh*
Michele says
Lettuce Recipe…..Sounds Yummy.
Pureed Lettuce and Peas with Fresh Herbs
Cooked lettuce is delightful. Increase the peas or double the recipe for more servings. Serve with white fish. 4 side servings
1 medium yellow or white onion, chopped
2 medium garlic cloves, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
1 head green lettuce, ends discarded, chopped
2 tablespoons water
200 g frozen peas, thawed
½ teaspoon salt
½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons chopped fresh herbs, such as tarragon, thyme, mint or parsley
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes or until softened. Add the lettuce and water, and simmer, covered, until the lettuce wilts, about 5 minutes. Stir in the peas and cook until they are heated through, stirring, for 4 minutes. Coarsely puree in a food processor or blender, and transfer the mixture back to the pan. Cook over a medium heat, stirring, until heated through, then stir in the salt, lemon juice and herbs.
Michelle says
I love these posts…my local grocery store (where I know the produce guy) told me they already “donate” it. I’m not so sure if that’s totally true…but there ya go. But someone mentioned going to a “smaller store” and we have a small grocery store, privately owned, around the corner. I rarely go there because they are expensive and their milk tastes icky. But maybe I’ll see if they’ll let me take their produce “for the chickens”.
As for the lettuce…do you have a local soup kitchen that might use it?