15 Ways to Reduce Food Waste

It's Earth Day!  Earth Day is all about protecting the environment and promoting ways to "go green."  There are many things we can do each day to be more eco-friendly!  To celebrate, I am highlighting 15 simple ways you can reduce food waste in your own home every day.

1. Meal Plan

Knowing what you are going to be eating for the week will help reduce last minute shopping trips, and consequently less impulse buys.  It also helps you plan your shopping/grocery list (see item #2) so you know exactly what to get at the store.  You can also plan ahead for using some of Monday night's leftovers in Tuesday or Wednesday's meal(s) - reducing food waste from unused leftovers.  Tip: sign-up for the YCN newsletter and receive a FREE meal planning guide!

2. Make a Shopping List

Make a list and stick to it.  Only put items on your list that you actually need and will use.  Shopping lists help reduce the chance of impulse buys - this saves you money and food because those impulse buys are most likely something you really don't need. P.S.- remember to actually bring your list with you to the store. Forgetting it at home defeats the purpose! 😉

3. Buy frozen fruits and veggies

The beauty of frozen fruits and vegetables is they last a LONG time and still retain their nutritional value. Plus, they are very handy to pull out and add to a main dish for extra color and nutrition or simply steam in the microwave as a tasty side. Very versatile.  Tip: Make sure to get the plain varieties without all the bells and whistles (added sauces and flavorings - they often are higher in sodium and fat).

4. Don't Buy Everything in Bulk

Some things are best bought in bulk (hello toilet paper!).  Usually fresh produce is NOT the thing to buy in bulk, unless you are going to be canning or preserving it or serving it at a huge party.

5. Store your Produce Appropriately

Follow this downloadable handout on where and how long to store your groceries:

6. Know What the Date On the Package Means

Types of Dates

• A “Sell-By” date tells the store how long to display the product for sale. You should buy the product before the date expires. This date does not pertain to the safety of the product.
• A “Best if Used By (or Before)” date is recommended for best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
• A “Use-By” date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. The date has been determined by the manufacturer of the product. Use the product by this date.

Most products will still be wholesome and of good quality if handled properly, even if past the date.  If product has a “sell-by” date or no date, cook or freeze the product according to the timeline on the chart above (see #5).

However, if foods are not properly handled, bacteria can grow and may cause foodborne illness —regardless of the date on the package.  Additionally, if any foods develop an off odor, flavor or appearance you should not use it.

7. Get the Right Equipment

Tupperware, chip clips, mason jars, freezer bags, plastic wrap, tin foil - you know the drill.  If you have good quality tools and containers to keep your food sealed and stored, they will last longer. 'Nuff said.

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8. Organize Your Fridge

Have you ever looked in your fridge for something and unexpectedly found that old jar of who-knows-what clear in the back that your forgot about?  Yeah - that happens all too often. Keeping an organized and clean fridge will help keep things in sight and not out of mind -ensuring everything gets used before it turns into fuzzy green blob of nastiness.  Tip: practice the FIFO method - First In First Out.  Rotate older food to the front and place newer foods behind.

9. One Bad Apple Ruins the Bunch

I know you've heard this before and it goes for more than just apples - berries, tomatoes, bananas, potatoes, onions - if one goes bad it will spoil the rest.  Inspect the bag, carton, or individual items before purchasing them as well as prior to storing them.

10. Use It All

Here are some ideas to use all the parts of your produce:

• Puree your broccoli stems into a creamy broccoli soup
• Use your celery ends or onion skins to make a savory broth
• Use your carrot greens in a salad
• Toss your leftover veggies into an egg scramble
• Use brown bananas to make banana bread
• Add cheese rinds to soups and sauces for extra flavor
• Roast pumpkin seeds as a tasty snack
• Pickle watermelon rinds

11. Preserve It

Canning, freezing, drying, pickling, jams and jellies - you name it you can preserve it in one way or another.  For tips, how-to's and recipes, check out The National Center for Home Food Preservation website.

12. Re-purpose It

Have leftovers and don't know what to do with it all?  Reuse it in a different way!  This brings new life to old food and keeps it interesting because you aren't eating the exact same thing day after day - all while reducing food waste. 🙂

• Use leftover rice in a soup
• Turn day old bread into croutons
• Use leftover roasted turkey in sandwiches or a casserole
• Make potato rolls with leftover mashed potatoes
• Turn leftover spaghetti into a pasta bake

13. Donate Unused Items

Not really into all those pinto beans anymore you bought during the case lot sale a few months ago?  Donate them to a local food bank and they will be put to good use!  To find a local food bank, look here.

14. Compost

Composting is free, easy to do and good for the environment.  It acts as a soil conditioner and recycles kitchen and food waste while also reducing landfill waste. To learn more about composting, go here.

15. Take It To Go

Have your leftover food at restaurants boxed up to go.  Take it home and enjoy it for lunch the next day!

So there you have it, 15 simple and effective ways you can help reduce the amount of food waste entering land fills.  Now that you know these tips, go calculate your ecological footprint!

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Brittany

I'm a registered dietitian nutritionist and mom of four with a passion of helping families build confidence in the kitchen. I share family friendly recipes and helpful tips to help you navigate mealtime one bite at a time.

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