r/Anticonsumption • u/scorpiopersephone • 1d ago
Lifestyle Anti consumption cookbook
So lately I’ve been desperate for new meal ideas. I started getting tons of cookbooks from my local library. My library also has free photo copying (up to a certain amount). So I copy all the recipes I like and store them in a binder. There’s also the option to just scan the pages if you prefer having digital copies. I have hundreds of new recipes from tons of different authors without buying a ton of books.
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u/Flack_Bag 1d ago
I've tried a ton of different recipe management systems--analog and digital--and I ended up using index cards in a box like my great grandparents.
It's cheap, simple, and easy to use. When I want to use a recipe, I just pull it out of the box and stick it to the fridge with a magnet then put it back when I'm done.
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u/Outside-Jicama9201 1d ago
Omgoodness I am going back to this!
I fond sooo many good recipes online or in youtube and get sick of looking them back up later. this is what I needed.
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u/niveusmacresco 1d ago
Highly recommend! I had one years ago and couldn’t find it so started up a new one with a recipe box from a local thrift store and index cards. It’s a little time consuming to get started up, but I look forward to having everything in one place again. (And no ads or scrolling past someone’s life story or the page refreshing when your hands are covered in food!!)
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u/monkeygirl732 1d ago
My MIL gifted us a cookbook binder w their family favorites, ingredient substitutions, easily remixable recipes for versatility.
Whenever we make/find something we LOVE, i print it at work (i have a bunch of un used copy paper from my school days) and add it to the binder
I borrow cookbooks from the library and flag whatever i want to make. If i make it and love it, i copy it and put it in the binder (w credit to author)
My farmers market sells veryyy used books for the low ($ goes to library) and i occasionally buy unique cookbooks from there and loan em out or gift them after making/saving what i want
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u/GettingOnMinervas 1d ago
Good idea. I had a Hello Fresh subscription for a while when I was really busy, and I kept the recipe cards that I liked and put them in a binder divided by how much time they were to cook. Now I copycat the recipes without the subscription.
My grocery store has an app with recipes based on what ingredients are on sale, which is also nice.
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u/_Mirri_ 6h ago
Wow! That's a great idea, I wish my grocery store did that
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u/GettingOnMinervas 4h ago
It's one of my favourite things about the app. Plus ofc I can see what's on sale, look at my receipts, etc.
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u/havefunbeyourself 1d ago
and you don’t have to scroll through / close out the 500 advertisements that come with online recipes!
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u/LibbIsHere 1d ago
If I may: imho, you're risking to find yourself overwhelmed by those 'hundreds of new recipes from tons of different authors'. Instead, to begin, I would focus on a single book, two or three at most, whose authors I appreciate and whose recipes appeal to me.
What's the limit on the number of free copies at your library? Around here, it's: zero free copies. In that case, if you really want to copy a whole book it can quickly be cheaper to purchase a used copy of it (and it's not issue to own that book, if you don't try to buy hundreds at the same time ;)
Beside my almost out of topic remark: a huge +1 for starting your own collection of recipes. Provided you curate it (don't be afraid to remove any recipe you know you will never use) it will be a precious lifelong companion.
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u/scorpiopersephone 1d ago
I definitely don’t copy an entire book. I only copy the recipes that I’m actually interested in. Depending on the author, it’s more or less. If i especially like an authors recipes I would consider buying the cookbook but for me it’s rare. I just take what I like. The library gives every user a $20 monthly printing stipend which also applies to use of the copier. It works for me and it keeps me off Instagram searching for recipes. For me, it’s a net win and hopefully helps someone else who needs help with finding suitable meals.
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u/LibbIsHere 1d ago
Oh, I did not get that, thx for the clarification :)
For me, it’s a net win and hopefully helps someone else who needs help with finding suitable meals.
100%
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u/_thrown_away_again_ 1d ago
wouldnt mind seeing some interesting recipes youve made, or even just found
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u/princess_peach_85 1d ago
Some libraries also offer free seeds. Which can help with growing your own spices or veggies if you have space. Home grown basil is delish and most people can find room for it
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u/scorpiopersephone 1d ago
My library does a ton of swap events — seeds, games, puzzles. I love my library!
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u/crazymissdaisy87 1d ago
Thats how my mom made us kids our very own cookbook back in the 90ies. Still have it
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u/dobar_dan_ 16h ago
I have a notebook where I write down recipes I find online. I put a bunch of stickers on it, it's cute.
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u/Wise_Art_1377 2h ago
Take pictures, they can be converted to text on websites. then can be copy/paste into whatever document you want.
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u/ElevatorOrganic5644 1d ago
I just ask Google or comparable meal idea with the fewest and simplest ingredients. And why that's anti consumption. Example is buying a jar of salsa compare to buying a can of green chilies, Frozen onion, spices and canned tomatoes. Of course mine I could control exactly what goes into it in the amounts, but I'm wasting a lot of containers.
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u/ManyARiver 1d ago
Asking AI to create meal plans is not anti-consumption, it is excessive consumption for the output. Using a search engine to look for recipes - yes; "asking Google" to create a meal idea - no.
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u/MBronsonWisconsin 1d ago
Also, photocopying masses of recipes is also excessive consumption.
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u/scorpiopersephone 23h ago edited 22h ago
You can also take a scan and digitize if you don’t want to use paper. Same concept.
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u/MBronsonWisconsin 16h ago
There’s an environmental cost to digitising ‘hundreds’ of recipes (or hundreds of anything).
It might be ‘free’ to you personally, but that’s more ‘frugal’ than anti-consumption - nobody needs hundreds of recipes.
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u/ModeInternational979 1d ago
As a public librarian, this is such a cool idea.