10 Ways To Reduce Food Waste And Save Money

Through poor portion control or buying too much fresh food that goes off before we use it we create a lot of waste. Here’s some helpful tips to help you to reduce food waste, save money and protect the environment.

1. Write a list
Menu plan your meals for the week. Check the ingredients in your fridge and cupboards, then write a shopping list for just the extras you need.

2. Stick to the list!
Take your list with you and stick to it when you’re in the store. Don’t be tempted by offers and don’t shop when you’re hungry – you’ll come back with more than you really need.

3. Keep a healthy fridge
Check that the seals in your fridge are good and check the fridge temperature too. Food needs to be stored between 1 and 5 degrees Celsius for maximum freshness and longevity.

4. Don’t throw it away!
Fruit that is just going soft can be made into smoothies or fruit pies. Vegetables that are starting to wilt can made into soup.

5. Use up your left overs
Instead of scraping leftovers into the bin, why not use them for tomorrow’s ingredients? A bit of tuna could be added to pasta and made into pasta bake. A tablespoon of cooked vegetables can be the base for a crock pot meal.

6. Rotate
When you buy new food from the store, bring all the older items in your cupboards and fridge to the front. Put the new food towards the back and you run less risk of finding something mouldy at the back of your food stores!

7. Serve small amounts
Serve small amounts of food with the understanding that everyone can come back for more if they have cleared their plate. This is especially helpful for children, who rarely estimate how much they will eat at once. Any leftovers can be cooled, stored in the fridge and used another day.

8. Buy what you need
Buy loose fruits and vegetables instead of pre packed, then you can buy exactly the amount you need. Choose meats and cheese from a deli so that you can buy what you want.

9. Freeze!
If you only eat a small amount of bread, then freeze it when you get home and take out a few slices a couple of hours before you need them. Likewise, batch cook foods so that you have meals ready for those evenings when you are too tired to cook.

10. Turn it into garden food
Some food waste is unavoidable, so why not set up a compost bin for fruit and vegetable peelings? In a few months you will end up with valuable compost for your plants.

Original source: www.myzerowaste.com