Stop and think about this for a minute…. Approximately one-third of all food produced worldwide for human consumption is lost or wasted.
Food waste is a real issue that has environmental, economic and social impacts.
In this blog post, I am sharing with you some ways you to reduce food waste at home and why it’s important to do so. These ways will help protect both the planet and your pocket. Let’s get into it.
What is Food Waste?
Let’s start with the definition so we can be on the same page.
All right, so food waste is any food that’s grown, bought, or prepared but ends up being thrown away instead of being eaten.
It includes everything from spoiled produce and uneaten leftovers to food discarded because of confusion over expiration dates.
Common examples of food waste:
- Tossing out leftovers no one ate
- Letting fruits and veggies rot in the fridge
- Throwing away food because it’s past the expiry date or the “use-by” date (even if it’s still fine)
- Ignoring “ugly” or imperfect produce
Why Is Food Waste A Problem?
Food waste is a big problem because it has environmental and economic impacts. In other words, it hurts the planet and your pocket.
So, how does it hurt the planet? Well, when we throw away food, it tends to rot and produce greenhouse gas, which traps more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. This means it contributes to global warming and climate change, which affects our ecosystems, food security and livelihoods.
It also wastes our valuable resources. Think about the water that farmers used to support its growth and the energy used to transport and package it. All of that goes to waste because the food was not consumed, so it could not satisfy our hunger or nourish our bodies.
So all the fossil fuels burned during harvesting and transportation, as well as the energy consumed in processing and refrigeration, went to waste!
It also affects your pocket because when we waste food, the money that was spent to purchase it is also wasted. Did you know the average American household discards more than 30% of all food purchased?
Food waste even has social impacts. Take a minute to think about the millions of people who are hungry because they have no food. Some of that wasted food could have gone towards feeding many who are starving.
Common Reasons Why People Waste Food At Home
Here are some common reasons why food is wasted at home.
- Buying too much food
- Storing food incorrectly
- Misunderstanding expiry dates or use-by dates
- Cooking more than needed
- No meal planning
- Forgetting about leftovers
- Poor storage of fruits and vegetables
- Not checking the fridge or pantry thoroughly and regularly
- Sharing too much food for a serving
- Not freezing or using up leftovers
How To Reduce Food Waste At Home
1) Shop Strategically And Prevent Food Waste at the Source
One of the best ways to reduce food waste is to prevent it by shopping smartly. Buy only what you need. Meal planning and a grocery list can help you to do this effectively. Try to use your phone to make the list to reduce your need for paper.
Make sure you check your fridge and pantry while making your list to avoid duplicates.
A next key tip I learned earlier in life is to never go grocery shopping when you are hungry. You will be tempted to buy everything, even things you don’t need.
Practice sticking to your list.
Something else you need to keep in mind is the meaning of the following terms.
- Best by – This refers to the quality date, meaning the food is usually still safe to eat after that date, though it may not be at peak freshness.
- Use by – This refers to the safety date. This means that you should not eat the food after that point.
I know that sometimes you may not want to buy the ugly produce, but if you live in a country that offers discounts on it, consider buying it because they are still good.
Quick Tip for You
My final tip is to avoid buying perishable items in large quantities, especially if you know you can’t consume them within a week. I work in a town area, so I like to grab perishable items in small quantities since the supermarket is within walking distance from my workplace.
2) Master Food Storage Techniques for Maximum Freshness
Once you buy the food, it’s important to store it properly so you can actually use it.
So a key tip is to keep the older food to the front of your refrigerator and make sure you don’t overcrowd the fridge. You want to make sure there is adequate airflow.
It’s also best to store your food in transparent containers in the fridge so you can easily see it and remember that you have it. Try to use air-tight containers, which can help to extend their freshness.
Remember to use the freezer to store leftovers and you can also store your herbs in there as well.
Here are some vegetable storage tips:
- Keep leafy greens dry by wrapping them in a paper towel and storing them in a breathable bag or container in the fridge
- Store root veggies (like carrots) in a container of water in the fridge for crispness.
- Don’t store onions and potatoes together because they release gases that cause each other to spoil faster. Store them separately in a cool, dark place.
Here are some fruit storage tips:
- Keep berries dry until you are ready to eat them, so don’t wash them until right before you eat them. Remember, moisture speeds up mould.
- Separate ethylene-producing fruits like bananas, apples, and avocados. They give off gas that can make fruits that are close by ripen and spoil faster.
- Keep citrus fruits in the fridge because they last longer that way than being kept at room temperature. Examples include lemons, oranges, and limes
3) Plan Meals Effectively As A Waste Reduction Strategy
This is another strategy that you can use to reduce and prevent food waste.
Plan your meals for the week, then use that to create your shopping list. Buy only what’s on the list and only what you need.
You can also plan meals that will use ageing produce and half-finished food items.
In addition, you can choose one fridge shelf to store foods that need to be used as soon as possible. Then you can look for recipes that will incorporate those items.
4) Transform Leftovers
A great way to reduce food waste is to repurpose leftovers. Get creative and use them to make another meal. This will also save you time and money.
Here are some common foods that get thrown out and ways you can repurpose them.
- Old bread – Make bread pudding, breadcrumbs or croutons
- Extra rice – Fried rice…just add some veggies
- Leftover chicken – Make a salad, wrap, or sandwich
- Wilted green vegetables – Add them to a smoothie or stew
- Overripe bananas – Make pancakes, banana bread or muffins
One thing that I like to do is freeze bananas that are becoming overripe, and then I use them in my smoothies. You can do the same for other overripe fruits.
I also tend to freeze cilantro and celery because I normally don’t use them all at once.
Some people use their overripe tomatoes to make sauces.
5) Start Composting Today: Turn Kitchen Scraps into Fertiliser
This is a great way to use food scraps for something useful. It will also cut down on landfill waste and methane emissions.
This is also perfect if you are into gardening because it will add nutrients to the soil and save money on store-bought fertilisers.
How to Get Started
- If you want to do outdoor composting, choose a dry, shaded spot with good air circulation
- If you choose indoor composting, like in an apartment, use a kitchen compost bin or a small worm bin. You can use a carbon filter to reduce odours.
You can include the following in your compost heap:
- Fruit and veggie scraps
- Coffee grounds
- Plastic-free tea bags (yes, that’s a thing, read more by clicking here)
- Eggshells
- Leaves and grass clippings
- Unbleached paper (like napkins)
The following should never be included in your compost heap:
- Meat
- Dairy
- Oils
- Diseased plants or pet waste
- Non-organic items (plastic, metals)
6) Share Surplus Food
Remember when I mentioned that many people go hungry while food gets thrown into the trash.
You can help reduce food waste by sharing your food surplus.
If you cooked too much food, you can share it with the homeless in your town or city.
You can also donate some of your food to shelters, infirmaries and food banks.
And if you have extra fruits or vegetables, you can share them with your neighbours.
You can even have a leftover potluck with friends and family.
How Much Money Could You Save by Wasting Less Food
Remember, every time you throw away food that you bought, you are throwing away your hard-earned cash.
It’s believed that the average family throws away over US$1500 worth of food annually.
What could you do with an extra US$1,500 every year? Or even an extra US$750?
Try reducing your food waste and save some money this year!
Takeaway
You can reduce food waste at home with these tips, and that will help to save money and protect the environment.
I hope you realise that it’s not hard. Just gradually make some changes in your lifestyle. You can start by using a shopping list and repurposing leftovers.
If you have any additional tips, please share them below in the comments. I would love to see them.