Food waste is a huge issue, but the good news is that we can all make small changes in our own homes to minimize it. By being a little more mindful about how we plan, store, and use food, we can not only save money but also do our part in helping the environment. Here are some easy and practical tips to help you in reducing food waste at home!
Before You Buy Groceries
First, take a few minutes to get organized before you go to buy food. Look through your cupboards and fridge to see what you already have. Check to see if any items are about to expire or spoil. Relocate cans, jars, and dry food packages that are close to expiry to the front of the pantry. Use these items first when cooking. Next, move any leftovers to eye level and store them on the same shelf when going through your fridge. This way, you will be able to quickly and easily identify what needs to be eaten next. You may realize that you have more food than you thought and do not need to purchase as much at the store. This is always a BONUS and will definitely help in reducing food waste at home!
Additionally, I like to shift fruits and vegetables that are about to go bad to eye level in the fridge. I can’t even tell you how many times I have found a rotten head of broccoli down in the depths of the vegetable crisper because I had forgotten about it! Making it more visible will encourage you to use it rather than lose it! Food often gets ‘LOST’ at the back of the fridge and on the top shelf where condiments typically go. Instead, ensure that it is placed near the front so that it doesn’t mysteriously go ‘MISSING’.
Check Best Before Dates and Use Up Food to Reduce Waste
Check the BEST BEFORE dates on any meats or fish that you may still have in your refrigerator. Decide if you will cook it, or if you will freeze it for a later date. You can also freeze other items in your fridge, such as leftovers and bread. I like to write the date on containers before freezing them. This helps me to keep track of how long something has been sitting in the freezer, as it is so easy to forget! This can also assist in reducing food waste at home. Remember you can make smoothies, soups, and stir-fries with fruits and vegetables that are nearly on their way out! You may find it useful to write down a list of what you have in your cupboards, fridge, and freezer.
Of course, you can always donate non-perishable food items to your local Food Bank so long as they have not expired. Furthermore, you can investigate to see if you have any ‘food rescue’ programs in your local area. For instance, where I live, citizens can donate foods (e.g. fruits and vegetables that are still eatable) to a free market every Friday. Locals are allowed to take any of the food items for free and ‘rescue’ it from being thrown away. You can also consider having a dinner party or giving your extra food to family, friends, and/or neighbours. As you know, people always LOVE receiving food!
What if food has nearly past its prime?
You can give appropriate food scraps to pets and farm animals. For example, rabbits can eat things like spinach, celery, cabbage, and broccoli. Horses can eat items such as carrots, cucumbers, apples, and bananas. If you don’t have any animals in your life and/or the food is no longer fresh, you can compost it. Composting is a great way to reduce waste while nourishing your garden or local community. If you have food scraps like vegetable peels or coffee grounds, composting helps turn them into nutrient-rich soil. You don’t need a huge yard to compost- even a small bin or composting system can make a difference. It also keeps food scraps out of the landfill, where they would otherwise contribute to methane emissions. So, if you can, start composting those food scraps!
Plan Meals to Reduce Food Waste At Home
Next, it’s time to plan your meals for the week now that you know what’s in your kitchen! This may sound like a lot of work, but I find that it reduces time spent worrying and trying to figure out what to feed myself and my family day-to-day. I like to include my son and husband in the planning process. We select foods that we ALL like, which increases the likelihood that meals will truly be eaten! We look through ‘old-fashioned’ cookbooks and write down the page numbers of the recipes and the ingredients that we need. I keep in mind what is already in the pantry, fridge, and freezer. Nothing is more annoying than coming home from buying groceries and finding that you already have three cucumbers in the fridge!
Another trick we use, is selecting recipes that include like ingredients. For example, it sometimes can be challenging to eat an entire bag of carrots before they spoil, so we will find various recipes that require carrots (e.g. soups, stir-fry, etc.). This often makes food prep easier, as well as cuts down on food waste.
Now that we are organized, let’s get shopping! Grab your list and reusable bags.
Reduce Food Waste By Only Buying What You Need
I personally avoid buying groceries at big box stores whenever possible. I find them overwhelming and, frankly, there are too many products to choose from. Additionally, in my experience, it is more likely that I will stray from my grocery list when I see things ‘ON SALE’ or that are tempting to buy. I always spend more money than I intend and waste food as a result. My advice is to STICK TO YOUR LIST!
Support Local When Possible
I prefer supporting smaller local grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and even buying directly from farms when possible. I realize that this is not always an option for everyone depending on where you live. Of course, I sometimes do have to go to larger stores, especially when we are out of things like toiletries, cereal, crackers, and condiments.
The great thing about grocery shopping at smaller places is that you can often reduce packaging waste. For instance, at the Farmers’ Market you can usually place your purchased items such as fruits and vegetables right into your reusable bag. This minimizes using plastic bags and containers that you would typically find at a grocery store. Furthermore, even if something does come in a container, I dump it into my bag (e.g. apples) and give back the container so that it can be refilled. Obviously, this doesn’t work with every food item! I also return egg cartons to smaller grocers. Generally, they are happy to reuse them.
Lastly, buying straight from farm stands is the best! Some farm stores or stands offer a good variety of foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, honey, jams, milk, bread, baked goods, and cheese. YUMMY!
Finally, always check BEST BEFORE dates. There’s nothing more frustrating than coming home to realize that you bought something that has already expired or that needs to be eaten within a day or two. I tend to buy fruit that hasn’t quite ripened, especially bananas. This gives me more time until they need to be consumed. Avoid purchasing produce that is bruised, too soft, or moulded. These tips will assist you in reducing food waste at home.
Putting Away Groceries
Proper storage is key to keeping food fresh longer and preventing spoilage. Some foods last longer when stored in the fridge, while others prefer room temperature. Packaging can also affect the longevity of food. There are so many TIPS I would like to share with you about this topic that I will write a separate post. So stay tuned!
Reducing Food Waste At Home During Mealtime
Let’s get cooking! If you live with someone else, why not get everyone involved? I mean, it’s not fair to leave meal prep up to one person, is it?! My son (6 years old), husband, and I often prepare our food together. This is especially great for my son because he learns new skills and is more keen to eat the food that he has helped to make.
At mealtime, make sure to plate appropriate portion sizes. This way you can reduce food waste, and always have an excuse to go get seconds!
If there are leftovers after you have finished eating, decide whether you will eat them, freeze them, or gift them to someone else. If you plan to eat them, remember to store them in the front of your fridge so that you don’t forget they are there! Hope these tips will help!
Reducing food waste at home doesn’t have to be a huge overhaul- it’s about making small, intentional changes that add up over time. Whether it’s planning meals, getting creative with leftovers, or composting, every little bit helps. Start with one tip, and gradually incorporate more as you go. You’ll feel good knowing you’re saving money, reducing waste, and doing your part to help the planet!
Quick Summary of Tips
- Before grocery shopping, sort through your pantry, fridge, and freezer.
- Move items that are about to expire to the front of your pantry and/or fridge and use them up first.
- Freeze foods that you cannot eat on time (when appropriate).
- Get creative with leftovers and eat them first.
- Donate non-perishable food items to your local Food Bank and/or to local ‘food rescue’ programs.
- Give extra food to friends, family, and neighbours.
- Compost food scraps or spoiled food.
- Plan your meals and make a list before grocery shopping.
- Only buy what you need and try to shop local.
- Check Best Before dates and Expiration dates when shopping.
- Ensure produce is not bruised, too ripe, or moulded before purchasing.
- Store food appropriately at home.
- Prepare meals together.
- Serve proper portion sizes.
- Make plan for leftovers.
