Do you ever find yourself tossing out half-eaten meals or letting fruits and vegetables go bad in the back of your fridge? You’re not alone. The average American household wastes nearly a third of the food they buy, which not only hurts our wallets but also contributes to environmental issues like greenhouse gas emissions and wasted resources. But fear not, there are plenty of fun and easy ways such as leftover use, smart shopping, and composting to reduce food waste in your home.
Follow the First in, First out Rule
To eliminate waste, your refrigerator layout is really important. Try putting the oldest fruits and vegetables in the front part of the refrigerator shelves. In this way, there will be a natural order of eating.
Get Creative with Leftovers
One of the easiest ways to reduce food waste is to use up leftovers instead of throwing them away. But let’s face it, eating the same meal two days in a row can get boring. Instead, challenge yourself to get creative with your leftovers. For example, turn leftover veggies into a stir-fry or use leftover chicken to make a delicious sandwich. The possibilities are endless!
Shop Smart
Another way to reduce food waste is to shop smart. Plan out your meals for the week ahead of time and only buy what you need. When you go shopping, take a close look at expiration dates and choose products with the longest shelf life. And don’t be afraid of “ugly” produce – fruits and veggies that don’t look perfect are just as tasty and nutritious as their more aesthetically pleasing counterparts.
Compost
Finally, consider starting a compost bin. Composting is a natural process that turns food waste into nutrient-rich soil that can be used to grow new plants. Not only does composting reduce the amount of waste you send to the landfill, but it also helps your garden thrive. Plus, it’s easy – all you need is a bin, some food scraps, and a little patience. If you want to try composting, see our blog post for beginners.
Reducing food waste may seem like a daunting task, but with a little effort and creativity, it can become a fun and rewarding habit. By getting creative with leftovers, shopping smart, and composting, we can all do our part to reduce our impact on the environment and make our wallets a little happier.
