# What does your household consume more of than usual? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 26, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396 "2024-03-26T15:50:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396/61 "2024-03-27T01:19:08Z")
Apples for us too. The kids will dally with other fruit for a while but apples (and stone fruit) are the only ones they will consistently eat a lot of. It makes me feel fairly good as a parent except when I say “eat” I am being a bit a generous, only a percentage will get eaten vs left in random places (we also get through a lot of pest control products too, apropos of nothing 😉 ). As it write this I’m looking at a huge chunk of half eaten apple on the coffee table. They have also decided maple syrup is the only sweetener acceptable for any breakfast food. Not just pancakes and waffles, also cereal. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396/62 "2024-03-27T01:36:37Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Electricity. > In the winter it’s about $900/month Whoa! What’s up with that? ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396/63 "2024-03-27T01:38:55Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > That’s another thing I eat every day. But I only go through one can of steel cut oats a week. Is that a lot? I buy at Costco so I’m not sure what a can measures up to. > [@Moriarty](#): > > Whaaaa?? You eating Quaker oats? How old are you? I’m old enough I don’t want kids so I don’t care. > **[Pesticide linked to reproductive issues found in Cheerios, Quaker Oats and...](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cheerios-quaker-oats-infertility-chemicals-in-cereal-ewg/)** > > Study detected chlormequat in 92% of oat-based foods in U.S., raising concerns about its impact on public health. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396/64 "2024-03-27T01:41:02Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > More ideas welcome! [Spanakopita](https://www.hourdetroit.com/restaurants-food/from-their-table-to-yours/), if you can get phyllo there without too much trouble. It freezes well and uses up 2 lbs. of greens at a shot. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396/65 "2024-03-27T01:50:08Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > You eating Quaker oats? No, I eat McCann’s steel cut Irish oats. And I _think_ I’m ok. > **[EWG's Food Scores just took the work out of grocery shopping for me!](https://www.ewg.org/foodscores/products/072463000200-JohnMccannsSteelCutIrishOatmeal/)** > > Check out the food score for John Mccann's Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal from EWG's Food Scores! EWG's Food Scores rates more than 80,000 foods in a simple, searchable online format to empower you to shop smarter and eat healthier. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396/66 "2024-03-27T01:50:45Z")
I eat more whole milk than most people. My husband and i go through 3-4 half gallons a week. I really like milk. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396/67 "2024-03-27T01:52:23Z")
When I was a teenager, I went through a gallon of milk every week all by myself. I love dairy products - cheese and yogurt (which I make myself) are always in the house. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396/68 "2024-03-27T02:15:08Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > No, we are just me and Pardel-Wife. I cook with it. I use it generously. Does most of that get discarded? A liter of olive oil has 8048 kcal. 5 liters over 21 days for 2 people is 958 kcal _per day_ of oil alone. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396/69 "2024-03-27T03:20:30Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > If I stick with the consume rather than buy, I should also mention tomatoes in season. My Mother-in-law has a medium large garden and grows them by the buckets as they all come in for a glorious couple of months. Oh, how I envy you this. 🥺 Here is the most delectable, delicious, decadent recipe for Gazpacho that can only be made with perfectly ripe, homegrown tomatoes. This is not a chunky, salsa-like gazpacho, but a silky, garlicky, refreshing, drinkable food-of-the-gods emulsified with the best olive oil. You will need a good blender-- I use a Vitamix. Food processor might work. > **[Authentic Gazpacho Recipe - Blue Zones](https://www.bluezones.com/recipe/el-gazpacho-autentico/)** > > This authentic gazpacho recipe straight from Andalucía can be a great way to get in extra helpings of lycopene-rich tomatoes and finish off the last of your summer harvest. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396/70 "2024-03-27T03:24:14Z")
Oranges in my household. I need to get at least a dozen to last more than 2 days. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396/71 "2024-03-27T03:33:49Z")
Whole milk plain Greek yogurt. We buy it in milk form, though. I make a giant batch of it in an 8-quart Instant Pot every couple of weeks, then we strain it. The whey goes on the garden, or sometimes a bit of it becomes the liquid in a loaf of sourdough. Breakfast most mornings is yogurt with berries, walnuts, and honey for me, just walnuts and honey for **Tom\_Scud** , topped with homemade low-oxalate granola with cardamom and coconut. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396/72 "2024-03-27T03:34:13Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Electricity. > In the winter it’s about $900/month. Mine is a lot less ($200-350) but I suspect my place is much smaller (1100 sqft). Per square foot that is a lot. But, in summer, electric is like $50 so balances out. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396/73 "2024-03-27T03:38:32Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > And I _think_ I’m ok. Looks like McCann’s is organic so you should be good. I’m mid-50s and don’t want kids so I’ll stay true. Of course, there is always the possibility that there will be other negatives to that pesticide, but, I try to make up for all my past faults by cycling, hiking, etc. Something will kill me, I know that. I smoked for a decade, drank way too much for a couple, and then rode motos and cycles way too aggressively and so far have lived through those. Most can still catch up to me since the past ingestion part can get you anytime, but I have slowed down on the two-wheeled vehicles. But, in the last two years, bicycling has been the most negative impact to my life. Literally. Ask both my shoulders! ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396/74 "2024-03-27T04:09:06Z")
Beer, tamales, burritos, tacos, beer. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396/75 "2024-03-27T04:22:53Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > my slow cooker version Thank you! I checked out that link and it is exactly the sort of thing I love and will definitely make soon. YUM. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396/76 "2024-03-27T04:24:48Z")
Thank you, saved! And my wife’s blender is a thing of unspeakable power, it can handle it. I think I’d likely use a slightly spicier capsicum than a traditional bell pepper after the first trial, but that’s me - otherwise looks just about perfect for an easy refreshing and _cool_ mid summer dinner. And you’re welcome @CairoCarol - I had other great skillet options, but even my biggest skillet wasn’t enough to make the volumes needed to really enjoy and use up a good amount of greens, so I had been working on my own slow cooker versions before I found that one! ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396/77 "2024-03-27T09:36:09Z")
Some of it does get discarded, but not a big proportion. Of course, we also have occasional guests. But if I made the calculation I would not be surprised if a third or a quarter of our calories came from olive oil. From memory and some guesswork: we consume as per what we buy three-four kg of sugar, same amount of flour and about 5 kg of dry pasta per year. Three or four kg of rice. And less than 10 kg of potatoes. Add to that 30-40 chicken, each around 2 kg, and 20-30 kg of fish. Almost no beef, lamb or pork, apart from some prosciutto, panceta and jamón. The rest is fruit and vegetables, the latter usually prepared with olive oil. Butter: a stick (250 g) lasts over a month, I freeze it in thirds or fourths so it does not spoil. Eggs: 6 to 10 per week. No milk, little cheese. I guess I have forgotten something, I hope nothing significant. Very little canned stuff at our house: anchovies, beans, chick-peas. Perhaps another quarter of the calories comes from beer and whisky? Will have to watch that. No wonder I keep gaining one kg of weight per year. Extrapolating the current trend I am going to look horrible when I turn 200. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396/78 "2024-03-27T12:07:58Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > If I stick with the consume rather than buy, I should also mention tomatoes in season. My Mother-in-law has a medium large garden and grows them by the buckets as they all come in for a glorious couple of months. Many times during those months I’m using up several gallons of tomatoes a _week_ - raw, stewed, stuffed, sauced, de-hydrated, you name it. I envy you too. Can’t grow them at my house. I made homemade tomato soup once that was wonderful. Creamy and rich. Lot of work but need to do it again. Problem is, my wife isn’t into tomato soup. > [@Cardigan](#): > > Frosty paws? We serve our dog those on special occasions like when it’s her birthday or Christmas Yeah. There is also ‘Dogsters’. It’s very cute, one of our dogs takes the little cup buy the edge with her front teeth and gos over to her dog bed in a nook. As in “OK, leave me alone for a bit” ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396/79 "2024-03-27T12:30:08Z")
Fancy whole-leaf Assam tea, both decaf and high octane. I like my tea very strong, but must make it mostly from decaf because I’ve become sensitive to caffeine and must limit my intake. I use up a lot of it and have to buy it by the pound way too often. Fancy Italian whole-bean coffee for Mr. brown. He drinks four large mugs of it every morning, and he goes through it quickly. Sugar-In-The-Raw for both our morning drinks. Fortunately, we discovered that Walmart carries it in four pound bags, so we buy it there. Japanese white bread. It’s awesome stuff, and makes great grilled cheese, tuna, and chicken salad sandwiches. You can only get it at Japanese supermarkets, and I don’t get to one too often, so I buy four or so loaves at a time and freeze them. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396/80 "2024-03-27T12:46:00Z")
> [@ASanders](#): > > Hard to know what the “usual” amount is of mixed nuts, but we buy them at Costco every time we go. That’s a Costco-size container about once a month for me, basically, as I’m the only one who eats them. (Mixed with raisins and pumpkin seeds, they are my go-to weekday breakfast or lunch.) Years ago I bought a 2.5-pound jar of mixed nuts from Costco. I’ve been reusing the jar ever since, but I mix my own nuts in it now, roasted but unsalted. It sits on my desk at work, and I eat a lot: I refill this thing about once a week. Wife is Japanese, so a lot of our dinners are served on a bed of rice, and sometimes the meal is straight-up fried rice. We buy 15-pound bags of rice from a Japanese grocery store pretty regularly. Banana a day for each of us - if not with breakfast, then as a mid-morning snack. We share an apple after pretty much every dinner at home (we get takeout sometimes, but we don’t eat out very often at all). Between the two of us, we go through about three avocadoes a week. Avocado toast for breakfast three times, and avocado on a whole-plate lunch salad. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-household-consume-more-of-than-usual/999396.md?page=5)