HOW TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE
Today’s tips on how to reduce food waste are timely. As I type these tips in the pre-dawn morning, I have 2 pounds of strawberries in my refrigerator and a Tupperware bowl full of fruit salad.
TIPS TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE
Pproduce is healthy, and there is something satisfying about eating a cantaloupe (or 36 strawberries) with a spoon while waiting for your coffee to brew.
If you accomplish nothing else you know you got your fruit or veggie serving in the morning!
Here are a few tips and tricks for reducing food waste (and saving a little money).
And this announcement from Martha Stewart might help!
- GROCERY LIST Reducing food waste starts with a disciplined grocery list.
- For me, it means avoiding the idea “well, I should pick up another carton of …”
- SOUPS Soups are a great way to make and freeze batches for sick or chilly days. This is my favorite tomato soup recipe.
- MEAL PLAN for two dinners.
If you are making PF Chang’s Knockoff Chicken Lettuce Wraps, plan a second meal with the ground chicken. I make a double batch and use half of the chicken for a separate meal. Grilled items (like chicken) make for an easy chicken salad or pasta dish.
FOOD SWAP (KIND OF)
5. Share with your neighbors. Create a group text with your neighbors. During the holidays, I have a few group chats with neighbors & friends who may be running up to Costco or Trader Joe’s. It’s like a cul-de-sac food swap! And you have fewer errands when you divide and conquer.
One of my besties texts me (reminds me) to get the turkey before Thanksgiving Eve.
6. My friend and daughter convinced me to buy frozen green beans instead of canned items. Frozen veggies taste better than canned! Am I the last to know this about frozen versus canned veggies?
7. RECIPE APPS make it easy to plug in the ingredients you have in your fridge or pantry to make a meal without heading to the grocery store.
8MAKE IDENTICAL MEALS + FREEZE 1 . This is my favorite tip because I love pasta dishes when the weather gets chilly. I found these labels to help me remember what’s in the back of the freezer.
9. Make 2 meals from takeout. My girlfriends know I do not like to eat my money (especially lunch). I can squeeze a 2nd meal and just add veggies or fruit (strawberries) to my plate of leftovers!
10. Pantry Challenge Another friend challenges herself to make a tasty dish with what is in her refrigerator or pantry. It keeps her from “running to the grocery store” and returning with $138 of dinner options.
My guest tip talked about her and her husband’s Frozen Food Freezer Challenge!
11. COSTCO CHICKEN The best deal out there is Costco Rotisserie Chicken. I have a tennis friend who makes four dinners for her and her husband with one chicken. She is the friend who texts me directions on where to find ingredients in the pasta aisle. Her notes say, “Look up” (versus eye level).
Finally, I splurged on these Anthropologie juice glasses (more like a squatty highball glass.
But they make for a fun stay-at-home happy hour.This announcement from Martha Stewart might save us all a little money!
What do you do to reduce food waste? Share in the comments and I will add to this list next year (when you forget you read it in 2025 :0). Oh, and if you have a quick way to use two containers of strawberries, please leave your ideas in the comments. I read everyone!
I’m late leaving a comment but for the strawberries (and blueberries), if I have extra, I slice the strawberries in half and freeze them to add to smoothies…do the same with bananas if I didn’t make chocolate chip banana bread/muffin/cookies!!
Luara,
Thanks so much for stopping by and for your condolences on the loss of my friend… In this past 18 months since I am now doing the food shopping ( my husband did it before), I have learned not to over buy but I do buy in bulk and do stock up buying…My son comes every day for dinner so I pretty much have it down to a science in knowing how much to make for just the 2 of us…When I buy in bulk , like meat, I repackage everything in meal sizes so there is no waste or even left overs…If I make a large casserole, I will freeze what is left over for another meal…Great post, Thanks for sharing your ideas!!
Hugs,
Deb
Debbie-Dabble Blog
I do a lot of these things. I like the neighborhood group text idea for Costco though! I think you are the last person to know that about frozen vs canned veggies. 😉 I always make extra meals out of leftovers from a restaurant. I’ve been doing a pantry/freezer cleanout challenge this month. Those icon glasses are everywhere now. I’ve seen a Walmart and an Amazon version too!
You are so write about not wasting food starts at the grocery store.