The problem of food waste can be seen at all levels of the food chain, from production to the consumer. That’s why each one of us can still play an important role in fighting the large phenomenon of edible food being thrown away!
Have you ever asked yourself what can you concretely do in your daily life to join this important cause?
We at Froodly we believe in consumers’ power, and for this reason, we have compiled a list of 9 tips that will help you reduce food waste at your home place! Are you ready? Let’s dig into them!
1. Plan your shopping
Before going for your weekly grocery shopping, you should always check what food you already have at your home. Go through your fridge, shelves and pantry to plan your weekly meals. Then, write a list of the items that you still need to buy. Also, think whether you are going to eat at home for the whole week or you have plans to go out. You should avoid throwing random food in your shopping cart since this would increase the probability for it to end up in the trash bin.
2. Check the dates
While strolling around the endless grocery’s corridors in search for food, take some time to check the “use by” label on the items you are buying. If you are planning to have meat on the same day you are purchasing it, then you can look for a steak or some chicken which is close to its expiration date. By doing so, you would lower the chances for it to be thrown away by the grocery itself in case nobody else buys it. On the other hand, if it’s still the beginning of the week and you are planning to organize a barbecue over the weekend, then you should make sure that the meat you are buying will last long. Alternatively, you can always decide to go back to the grocery on the same day of the barbecue to buy fresh meat.
3. Consider your budget
Keeping an eye on your finances helps you value more the food you put in your shopping cart and thus, limits the chances for it to end up in the bin.
4. Keep a healthy fridge
Always make sure that your fridge is clean and that the inside temperature is neither too low nor too high. Food needs to be stored between 1 and 5 degrees Celsius for maximum freshness and longevity.
5. Check the storing instructions
Store your food according to the storing instructions on the packages.
6. Rotate
When coming home from the grocery store, take some time to move all the older and perishable food items in your cupboards and fridge to the front. This is a good habit to avoid finding mold later on in your food storage compartments.
7. Serve small amounts of food
The strongest habits we have are those that we have learned at our home. When eating, either by yourself or with your family, don’t put too much food on the plate. It is better to re-fill it for a second time than throwing its content away.
8. Use your leftovers
Leftovers can either be used for lunch or dinner on the following day (this habit will also save you a lot of time). Tomatoes which have gone soft can be used to prepare a nice sauce for pasta. Other veggies that have started to wilt can be used to prepare soups. Fruit that has started going soft can be used to prepare smoothies or pies.
9. Freeze
Your fridge contains some delicious fresh fish and you have just discovered that you have been invited out for dinner! No worries, you can freeze it and use it on some other day. Freezing comes also in handy when you cook too much of something. For example, if you have prepared a large amount of soup, then freeze it and keep it for those evenings when you are too tired to cook.
There you have it! Those simple tricks will help you save food, money and protect the environment!
Alice Moretti
Froodly 