Waste Not, Want Not: Tips for Reducing Food Waste at Home

Food waste is a major problem in our society, and it’s one that we can all do our part to address. Not only is food waste a waste of money, but it also has serious environmental consequences. When food goes to waste, it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, wastes valuable resources, and harms our planet.

Waste Not, Want Not: Tips for Reducing Food Waste at Home

The good news is that there are many easy and practical ways to reduce food waste at home. By making a few simple changes to our habits and routines, we can make a big impact on our wallets and the environment. So let’s dive in and explore some tips for reducing food waste at home.

Plan Your Meals

One of the best ways to reduce food waste is to plan your meals. By planning your meals, you can make sure that you only buy the ingredients you need and avoid buying things that will go to waste. Take some time each week to plan out your meals, and make a shopping list based on your plan. This will help you stick to your budget and avoid buying things you don’t need. We have great tips on meal planning here.

Use Leftovers Creatively

Another great way to reduce food waste is to use leftovers creatively. Instead of throwing away leftovers, try repurposing them into new meals. For example, leftover roasted vegetables can be added to a frittata, or cooked chicken can be used in a stir-fry. Get creative and experiment with different flavour combinations to create new and exciting dishes. One of my favourite ways to save money currently is to buy rotisserie chickens from Costco and use them for sandwiches, chicken salad, and finally as a base for a warm and hearty pot of soup. That $8 chicken goes to work in our home.

Store Food Properly

Proper food storage is key to reducing food waste. Make sure you are storing your food correctly to keep it fresh for as long as possible. For example, store fruits and vegetables in the crisper drawer of your fridge, and keep bread in a cool, dry place. Be sure to label and date your leftovers so you know when they need to be eaten.

Compost Food Scraps

Composting is a great way to reduce food waste and create nutrient-rich soil for your garden. Instead of throwing away food scraps, start a compost bin in your backyard. Composting is easy and can be done with a variety of organic materials, including fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, and coffee grounds. By composting, you’ll reduce the amount of food waste that goes to landfill and create a valuable resource for your garden. We love our countertop food recycler from Tero, learn more here.

Freeze Food

If you have excess food that you can’t eat right away, consider freezing it for later. Many foods can be frozen, including bread, meat, and vegetables. Freezing food is a great way to preserve it for later use and can help you avoid throwing away food that has gone bad. You can also start a bag of vegetable scraps in the freezer and when it’s full use it to make a big ole pot of vegetable stock.

Dehydrate Foods

Sometimes I find a deal too good to pass up at the grocery store and I know I can dehydrate the goodies for later use. I do trays of fruits and vegetables often including onions, mushrooms, celery, and carrots. I find this helpful for recipes that require items I don’t always have fresh on hand but now I can easily rehydrate them. I can have a full and hearty pot of soup ready in a blink of an eye with just a few handfuls of dehydrated goodies. I purchased this inexpensive dehydrator and it works wonders for us.

Final Thoughts on Reducing Food Waste

Reducing food waste at home is an important issue in Canada, with statistics showing that Canadians waste more than $31 billion worth of food each year. But by following these easy tips for food waste reduction in Canada, we can all do our part to make a positive impact.

By planning meals, using leftovers creatively, storing food properly, composting food scraps, and freezing food, we can significantly reduce the amount of food waste we produce at home. And by getting creative and trying new things in the kitchen, we can make reducing food waste a fun and enjoyable experience.

Remember, every little bit helps. By making small changes to our habits and routines, we can all contribute to a more sustainable future and help protect our planet for generations to come.

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