At Altus Advantage, we are passionate about being Earth-friendly and reducing our carbon footprint. In addition to using eco-friendly containers, today we’re going to share five easy tips on how you can reduce your food waste. Beyond the environmental benefits, it’s also good for your wallet and your health.
Reduce Food Waste
One way of reducing food waste is to be mindful of how much you can consume until the food expires or your next trip to the grocery store.
Ideally you will have a meal plan for the week so you have a sense of what ingredients you will need. Create a shopping list for each meal and snack. Before you leave to go to the store, take your list and see what you already have in your freezer, fridge, and pantry. Many times we go to the grocery store several times a week and that’s how we end up wasting our food. We then eat the newer, more appealing food and the older items get overlooked or forgotten.
Involve your family in meal planning so they are aware of what can be cooked and what is available to snack when they are hungry.
If you plan well, you should be able to go to the store at least once a week. This will save you time and money because you’ll be using up what you’ve already purchased.
Compost
As you’re preparing your meals, you will have scraps you will need to dispose of. Instead of adding it to your garbage can, compost the food waste you cannot use.
This is good for the environment because it transforms the food waste into organic matter. If you start your own compost bin at home, you can save money because you can use the nutrient-rich soil you’ve just made in your garden to grow new fruits and vegetables.
It will also keep our already overflowing landfills clearer. Many cities offer a compost pick up program that can reduce up to 50% of waste that fills our dumps.
Leftovers
When you have leftovers, before throwing them away, what are some cooking options you have? You can make a hearty soup for a tasty meal.
Slice your root vegetables and roast them to snack on. This is a healthy, low-cal snack or side dish to your meals.
For meats, you can use roast chicken leftovers into chicken pot pie, add it to a salad, or make into a sandwich.
Plan for at least one “leftover buffet” where everyone plates up their favorite past meal from the week.
If you have fruit, consider making a pie or cobbler for a delicious dessert.
Buy Local
Farmer’s markets are year-round and promote local growing programs. Not only will you get the freshest produce, meat, and dairy, but you will also support local small businesses and farms. You’ll also get the opportunity to try seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Local artisans make bread, pies, soups, and more. Since they are made locally, they are as close to a homemade meal as you can get while providing you the convenience of a ready-made meal.
You will also reduce your carbon footprint when you buy local because your food doesn’t need to travel as far to get to you.
Plan Your Garden
