Cutting Down on Food Waste
Food waste is a major environmental and economic issue that hits home for a lot of families. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans throw out almost 1,250 calories worth of food per person per day. You can do your part to minimize food waste and save money at the grocery store by using these three strategies in your home.
1. Plan Your Meals
Go grocery shopping with a list and a solid plan of what meals you will be cooking that week. Buy only what you’ll need in the coming days. If you’re eating dinner out, don’t buy food for that evening’s meal.
Buy the things you know your family will eat. Choose items that everyone will enjoy. Knowing what everyone will be having for breakfast, lunch and dinner may also help reduce mealtime stress.
2. Be A Savvy Shelf Stocker
Overpacking the refrigerator can create warm zones, making food spoil faster. Work leftovers into your weekly meal plans or dedicate one night a week as “leftover night,” to avoid the pile up of extra containers in your fridge. Move food that’s about to expire to the front of the shelves so you reach for it first.
3. Use Before You Lose
Do you find yourself throwing away good food because it’s gone bad? Use your freezer. Many items, such as bread and shredded cheese, can be frozen with minimal impact on taste and texture. Cooking and freezing items, such as chicken, extends shelf life and makes it easier to prepare meals in a hurry.
Produce is notorious for fading fast. Store it properly to help keep it fresh as long as possible. Bananas should be left on the counter, while grapes and apples belong in the fridge. You can extend the lives of avocados, pears and other fruits by stashing them in the fridge after they ripen.
Leftovers don’t have to be bland or blah. Get creative and you may have a whole new meal on your hands.
- Make the dressing of your dreams. Extra herbs, mustard and other items can make delicious dressings or marinades.
- Find your new favorite fried rice or pasta dish. Vegetables and protein take on new life with a backdrop of hearty brown rice or noodles and a dash of seasoning.
- Crumble leftover bread into a batch of breadcrumbs. Season and toss over chicken or fish to put a new spin on tomorrow’s dinner.
- Omelets with extras? Yes, please. Leftovers don’t have to be for lunch. Turn them into a made-to-order omelet or frittata.
Back