Umay of Umai Foods? Three ways to prevent Holiday leftovers from going to your trash bin
Realistically speaking, the tradition of accumulating food during the Holiday Seasons would likely persist in the Philippines even in the next century. (Okay, maybe I am exaggerating!). However, we, ordinary citizens, can salvage these foods from going into the trash bin.
Note: Umay is a Filipino word that can mean “fed-up.” Umai (うまい) is a Japanese word for delicious.
If you are a Filipino, you know how much food is wasted after the Holiday season. The Philippines is a nation that pours it all during Christmas and New Year. It’s as if we follow a tradition of binging in celebrating these occasions. And it is because why not?
It’s the end of the year — it is the time to celebrate both the ups and downs of the 12 months that have passed. It is also the time of reunion with your beloved ones. On top of that, you got your year-end bonus — so why not treat everyone and feed them all the luxurious food you can afford?
What’s more? There is an overflowing supply of spaghetti pasta, tomato sauce, processed cheese, and cream — thanks to your generous company and those traditional politicians soliciting your precious vote in the upcoming election. In fact, “Spaghetti ngayon, bukas at magpakailanman” (English trans: Spaghetti today, yesterday and forever), a meme based on the tagline of a popular Filipino drama anthology, has become popular in Filipino social media this holiday season.
Furthermore, twelve round fruits, kakanin, bilu-bilo, lechon — name all round and sticky edibles in a Filipino New Year’s Eve table. Who would not want a year of strengthened relationships and good fortune? Everyone looks forward to a prosperous new year.
How much food have we wasted this Holiday season?
In the Philippines, there is no available data yet on the amount of Filipino food wastage during the holiday season. Regardless, a few days after the celebration, just by looking at your table, you can see your 12 fruits showing early signs of spoilage. Your neighbor’s refrigerator is full of food containers containing New Year’s Eve leftovers; still clueless when will they reach an overly satiated person’s stomach. You will realize that these leftovers are sufficient to feed you during your petsa de peligro.
Can we save these leftovers from waste?
Realistically speaking, the tradition of accumulating food during the Holiday Seasons would likely persist in the Philippines even in the next century. (Okay, maybe I am exaggerating!). However, we, ordinary citizens, can salvage the food from going into the trash bin.
Here are some tips to save those leftovers:
1. Exchange gifts? Exchange food perhaps.
Including your neighbors in food planning can prevent food excess.
For example, it has been a practice in our home to always ask the neighbors what they will prepare during Christmas and/or New Year. If they will prepare spaghetti; then we will prepare pancit (a type of rice noodle cuisine). In this situation, the amount of food to be prepared will be enough to share with the neighbors. No food binging. Plus, you can have a variety of food on your table.
However, as it is post-Holiday already, you may opt to ask your neighbor if he/she would like to taste some of your remaining cooking. But of course, provided that it is still safe for consumption.
2. Turn your rotting fruits into delicious viand.
Aside from eating them fresh, your twelve fruits of New Year can be transformed into an equally delicious menu.
For example, apples can be turned into muffins while lemon and oranges can be turned into crinkle cookies. You can cook pininyahan, a popular dish in the Philippines, as lunch and use your fresh pineapple rather than the usually canned pineapple chunks. Chesa can be transformed into homemade ice cream or pudding. Meanwhile, other fruits can be made into shakes or smoothies. Lechon can be upgraded into paksiw na lechon kawali.
3. Freeze. Freeze. Freeze.
Your refrigerator and freezer are your leftovers’ best friends. On average, cooked food can last for 3–4 days in the refrigerator (less than 10°C). However, when frozen (less than -18°C), can last up to 6 months. US’s FoodSafety.gov developed a FoodKeeper App accessible through a database of raw and cooked foods and their recommended storage.
The Most Practical Tip: Prepare only what is necessary
While there are recommended ways to manage leftovers, it is important to note that at the end of the day, prevention is still better than cure.
Your style of festivity would boil down as part of your personal choice. Not subscribing to the hype of Holiday consumption is fine. It might be a killjoy for some but remember that it is still you who is handling your budget and the dilemma on what to do with your leftovers. And for those who prefer to go all out on your Holiday meals, either homemade or ordered, set plans on how you are going to handle your possible leftovers.
Always keep this in mind, if these foods would bring you prosperity, you shall never let them rot. Why? Well, maybe because it could mean spoiling your fortune in the next 12 months. What do you think?
