All the fun of Christmas but at a fraction of the cost

It’s a fact every month the average family throws away £50’s worth of edible food. That’s £600 of food which has been purchased but forgotten about or just wasted. Wouldn’t it be better – and more fun to spend this money on Christmas presents or in the January sales?

Most food at Christmas is wasted because we buy too much, over prepare food and fill our fridges fit to bursting, whilst forgetting our freezers. One solution to help you get the most out of your food is Count On It® food labels. These easy to use, stick on labels feature a scratch off panel which show at a glance when a product was first opened, stored or frozen – meaning you can keep track on what needs eating first, reducing the amount of food which gets thrown in the bin whilst also helping keep a few extra pounds in your pocket.

As well as keeping the costs down by getting the most out of our food, there are other ways in which Christmas can be affordable. Saving money does not mean cutting down on luxuries and fun, if anything, having a well planned, affordable Christmas will make it even more enjoyable.

Here are a few tips:-

Save money by getting the portions right
Be realistic about how much you can and will eat on the day - don’t spoil the day with indigestion and wasted food.
Rather than a whole turkey, why not a have fresh turkey crown, chicken or duck
If you do get carried away with your preparation and have leftovers - don’t worry, just freeze (if made from fresh) or store them for later in the fridge- using a Count On It® label of course. These prepared meals will be especially handy if you have unexpected guests arrive later or for eating on the days following Christmas Day.
Keep it fresh and save yourself time
Don’t spend all your holiday in the kitchen cooking and preparing food – use your freezer.
Sausage rolls, mince pies, vegetables and fruit can all be prepared days or even weeks earlier and stored in the freezer, just pop them in a food container or bag, stick on a Count On It® label and they are ready to be cooked if and when you need them - leaving you free to enjoy time with friends and family.
Love your leftovers and save waste
So good, you could eat it all again - well, store it as leftovers and you can. Bubble and squeak, soups, curries are all possible with leftovers and a bit of imagination. Cheeses, chutneys, deli goods are perfect for storing in the fridge, just stick on a Count On It® label and use at a later date to liven up a sandwich or jacket potato.
And finally …. Count On each other - it’s Christmas
Invite some friends or family over for dinner. It doesn’t have to be a formal affair- just an occasion to enjoy each other’s company. Suggest everyone brings along a dish (even perhaps leftovers), that way you keep your grocery bills, cooking and leftovers to a minimum - never mind the washing up.!

Count down has begun to Count On It's offer

Farm shops, delis, cookshops, butchers, grocers and online retailers, we have a special offer in the run up to Christmas - 24 boxes of Count On It labels for £24. Perfect for Christmas goodies and not forgetting, leftovers. Click on the image for more information, alternatively, drop me a line at lyndsey@count-on-it.co.uk. Thanks, Lyndsey

The Nose Knows - Most Americans rely on the 'sniff' test

I have just been reading another article from 'Plastics-make it possible' blog, about how many Americans 'sniff' their stored food to see if it is still safe to eat. This is something we are all familiar with, but what a lot of people don't realise is that not all bacteria on food smells. In fact many bacteria are odourless and tasteless - and these can be potentially harmful if eaten, particularly for vunerable adults and children. It seems that many people lack confidence in understanding how long food can safely be stored and two thirds of people which were interviewed, wished their food could tell them when they should be thrown out. This is where Count On It labels can help, whilst they may not speak, they do let you know at a glance when you food was first opened, letting you be sure that you're eating stored food within it's safe limits.

Here's the article...

THE NOSE KNOWS: MOST AMERICANS RELY ON “SNIFF TEST” « Plastics Make It Possible