Sneaking the Leftovers

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

23 Jul 2008 12:27 PM

Using up your leftovers or having planned leftovers for meals is a great way to save money. You can use up all of the food you have through leftovers, especailly getting free meals. Also, cooking in bulk can save money and time. But not everyone is big on leftovers. Before I became frugal, I wouldn't touch a leftover for my life.

People who don't like leftovers either avoid them because of some pre-determined idea that they won't taste as good as the original or a feeling of being deprived, or a worry about being too cheap. Kids especially don't like leftovers.

Here are some ways that you can painlessly sneak in those leftovers and stay frugal.

Some dishes actually improve on the second or third day. Baked pasta dishes are especially famous for this. Choose lasagna, baked ziti, etc., when you want to introduce the family to the idea of how good leftovers can be.

Play restaurant. This is a great idea to win the kids over to eating leftovers. Wait until you have a variety of leftovers, such as at the end of the week. Have the "waiter" or "waitress" pass out a menu listing the items that are available. Take orders (we usually do youngest first, then next youngest, etc). Heat up the entrees and serve! Make it even more fun by including prices and giving the kids play money to "pay" for their meals.

Instead of calling it a "leftover" night, think of a new name for eating leftovers, and make it a regular part of the week. You might choose to call it a Smorgasbord Night a Yankee Supper or whatever makes sense. Sometimes this is enough to win the family over to using up the leftovers.

Make up full "TV dinner" type meals with the leftovers and freeze them for easy dinners later. Purchase divided dishes, shallow aluminum pans or just an extra set of regular dishes (You can purchase these at the thrift store for very little money. They don't have to match). You'll have a variety of meals to just pop into the microwave or oven as needed, and nothing will go to waste.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. Starting June 1st, don't miss her articles in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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Don't Throw that Food Out! Ways to Save Food Gone Wrong

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Ways to Avoid Food Waste

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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thequeenofthecastle (413) 04 Feb 2009 10:06 PM

I use to have a babysitter who would always do this when she watched us. We thought it was so awesome.. such a treat.. She would heat up everything in the fridge and put it out on the table and we could each take turns serving ourselves up, like a buffet line. All the food looks so much more appetizing when it's reheated anyways, as opposed to cold and clammy in the fridge.