9 Ways to Cut Down on Food Wastage at Home
Food wastage plays a great role in greenhouse emissions, water, and other resource wastage that limit the capability to produce food.
While the average household is not considered the most significant environmental polluter, finding ways to prevent wasting food can solve the problem. This article outlines how to reduce food waste on the go.
First things first, water wastage contributes to a significant part of food shortage. The first step to avoiding such instances is ensuring you do not waste water in the first place. You can contribute towards preserving water resources by ensuring your water storage systems are up to date. Get the right product, and you will notice that the system adjusts with it, keeping your water resources at optimal best.
Do Not Overbuy
One of the best ways to reduce food wastage is to buy what you need. Avoid packing your fridge to the brim. It may end up resulting in wastage if the household cannot eat everything.
Take shorter, frequent trips to the grocery store instead of making a long trip to buy in bulk.
Remember to Make a Shopping List
Most people end up buying what is not needed because they do not have a guide. Buying unnecessary food leads to wastage.
To deal with this problem, ensure you make a shopping list before leaving the house and stick to it.
Update Your Food and Water Storage Systems
You need to store perishable foods like fruits and vegetables in the right way to avoid wastage. Use sealed containers and a refrigerator to keep food fresh. Additionally, remember to transfer leftovers from open cans into storage containers.
Water storage also matters, especially if you produce your own food in the garden. The best water storage system will save you money in the long run. Think of using a water softener to prevent the effect of hard water on your storage tanks.
Make a Menu
Making a menu will help you organize how you use your food and help prevent wastage. Consider utilizing online tools and cookbooks for accurate information that will help you prevent food wastage.
Keep a List of Spoiled Food
Keeping a log of foods that go bad can help you identify foods to cut back on. For instance, if you find yourself throwing out many tomatoes as they go bad, the solution might be buying fewer tomatoes the next time you shopping.
Although buying your groceries in bulk might seem cheaper, you will not save money if you have to throw some away frequently.
Eat Leftovers
As part of your meal plan, consider choosing a day or two to eta leftovers stored in the fridge. This routine will help you reduce waste from every meal and keep your fridge tidy.
Compost Waste
Instead of throwing away food waste, consider creating a compost pit and using it to make manure for your garden. This will help improve your food production. You can also sell the manure to nearby farms and ranches if you do not have a garden.
Make Broth
Excess food and some bones can make a good broth. Consider boiling excess peelings and vegetables to make tasty vegetable broth.
You can store the broth in a fridge or freezer to use at a later date.
Check the Dates on Food
Food manufacturers often include labels such as “sell-by date” or “expiry date.” Such labels should help you understand how to use your food stock.
According to the Foods and Drug Administration, 20% of food waste comes from confusing these dates.
Many people may assume the expiry dates and throw away edible food. Accordingly, some fail to check the dates until it is late and end up throwing food. You can easily know which food to use first, depending on the dates.
Additionally, you should not throw away food by looking at the expiry date. You can taste, smell, or observe the item if it is spoilt.
The Bottom Line
The average household consumer may not pose the greatest threat to the environment. However, it is essential to take simple steps to reduce the environmental impact resulting from food wastage.
The best ways to reduce food waste can have a positive impact and help create a healthier future for everyone.