Did you know U.S. consumers waste an estimated average of 1 pound of food per person per day at home and in places where they buy and consume food away from home?
- Could it be from leftovers that get pushed to the back of the refrigerator and never used?
- Consumers taking advantage of a buy-one-get-one-free specials on perishables?
- Forgetting about the lettuce until it is too late?
These are just some situations that end up with our food in the trash bin, wasting money, and adding to landfills.
To help reduce waste at home and save money, try these simple tips:
Shopping tips to minimize food waste:
- Prepare weekly menus ahead of time and use shopping lists. This is essential to know what and how much of ingredients to purchase.
- Be wary of impulse buys or specials on foods you normally do not eat. Don’t shop hungry, which can influence how much and what foods you purchase.
- Buy from bulk bins, but not in bulk. Purchase exact amounts whenever possible: single fruits or vegetables (rather than pre-bagged) and whole grains, nuts, and seeds from bulk bins.
Storing food to minimize waste:
- Check the Expiration Date
- Rotate your foods, follow the “First In First Out” method. Place oldest foods in the front, and plan meals around those ingredients first.
- Keep leftovers up close: use for lunch or freeze. Remember to Label the container. Generally, leftovers keep well for about 3-4 days.
Reconsider foods that are usually tossed out:
- Use vegetable scraps like carrot peels, celery leaves, parsley stems, mushroom stems, and onion skins to make a stock or put in a container and freeze for later use.
- Fruit getting a little soft, add to a smoothie, or use in baked goods like muffins or fruit breads.
- Stale bread to make breadcrumbs, use for coating on fish or poultry, or brush bread slices with olive oil, cut into cubes, sprinkle with your favorite seasoning and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes to make croutons.
What can you do to decrease food waste to save money and the environment? Let us know in the comments!
