7 Ways To Stop Wasting Food
A reported 1.3 billion tons of food are thrown away globally every year. If you are guilty of scraping away full plates of food into the trash or often allow fresh produce to pass its expiration date, you could be wasting hundreds of dollars on groceries every year.
To boost your bank balance and take some of the pressure off a landfill, read these seven ways to stop wasting food.
1. Plan Your Meals
Meal planning can prevent impulse buys at a grocery store, which you are more likely to add into the trash at a later date. If you buy ingredients for set dishes, you will increase your likelihood of using up every item in your refrigerator and cabinets. Cook healthy yet delicious dishes you’re confident the whole clan will love to reduce waste.
2. Make a Note of Your Food Waste
If you often throw away fresh chicken breasts, various deli meats, or cheese, you should make a note of the items you are tossing into the trash. You should then pick up smaller amounts or stop buying an item altogether. If you are not using it, the chances are you don’t want it.
3. Consume Time-Sensitive Produce
Some foods will spoil at a faster rate than others. For instance, you would be wise to consume berries, leafy greens, and peaches first before moving on to hardier foods, such as carrots, apples, and potatoes throughout the rest of the week. It will ensure an item doesn’t rot away in your refrigerator or fruit bowl.
4. Serve Smaller Portions
If you feel as if you scrape food off your family members’ plates every day, it could be a sign you need to serve smaller portions. Your loved ones might struggle to make their way through a hearty meal, which can lead to great-tasting food ending up in the trash. Serving smaller portions could ensure your family feels a greater sense of satisfaction after a meal, and it will boost your bank balance.
5. Use Your Leftovers
If you do have food leftover on your plates, don’t throw it away in the trash. There are many fantastic ways you can use your produce to create new, delicious dishes. For example, you could browse the many leftover salmon recipes to use your leftover fish, as you could incorporate it into a chowder or add it into yummy fish patties.
6. Buy an Exact Amount
Buying the exact amount of loose produce you need could stop you from wasting both money and food. For example, if you are making carrot and coriander soup that calls for four carrots, buy the exact number and not a whole bag.
7. Think Twice Before Throwing Away Produce
Think twice before throwing away food. For example, you could turn a stale loaf of bread into croutons, ripe bananas into banana bread, or aging berries into a nutritious smoothie. It will allow you to try different flavors and stop wasting food each week. If in doubt, turn to the internet for recipe inspiration.