Throwing out a tin of half-spoiled tuna, bruised apples that people don't want to eat and a couple of limp vegetables may not seem much but think about the billions of people around the world who do the same. They add up and food waste becomes something so great that the amount wasted each year can feed millions of hungry people golablly, Greatist notes.
Cutting on food waste doesn't have to be extravagant to make a change. Here are some simple tips to cut food waste at home, during meals and when you're shopping for food:
1. Freeze Your Leftovers
Freezing prevents foods from going bad. Invest in a good container like a Pyrex bowl, says Good, because it lessens the work of getting frozen food leftovers unstuck for when you need it.
2. Give Away Excess Food
If you're not a fan of freezing and reusing food scraps, then you're better off sharing them with your neighbors or to the homeless. The best way to go about it is to gauge how much food you'll need and if you made too many, share them while they're still freshly made.
3. Cook and Freeze
If you have too much fresh produce, you can freeze it to be used later. You can do this by steaming or cooking vegetables, letting it cool and then bagging it properly to be stored in the freezer. This is especially useful for seasonal produce but make sure that you know how long they can stay frozen before they perish.
4. Make Smaller Portions
If you're used to serving big portions for yourself or for your family, now would be the good time to make smaller portions. This is especially crucial if you know that the dish will have lots of leftovers, Whole Living notes.
5. Buy Less, Shop More Often
Instead of stocking your fridge all in one go, buy basic necessities take frequent shopping trips for food instead. If you're not a meal planner and unsure of when you'll be using fruits and vegetables, the wisest thing you can do is shop for them on the same day you need it.
6. Get Creative in the Kitchen
It is inevitable to have near-expiry food products in the kitchen. You can remedy this by using all or if not most of them in the day's meals.
7. Learn to Compost
Composting your food scraps is one way to save the environment. Huffington Post recommends searching for composting services in your location too.
