Most people were raised in households where waste was not tolerated. How many people heard these words clean your plate or there are starving children in Africa when they were youngsters? Most of the parents saying these things had been through rough economic times and today, the times are back. The waste not-want not mentality has returned and it is more important than ever to waste less food.
Don’t over load your plate
Most often, food gets wasted when too much is taken. This can happen at home or at a restaurant buffet. How often have you seen plates half full of food being thrown in the garbage? All too often, no doubt. Unless you are afraid there isn’t enough food for you to go back if you need more, only take a small portion to start, when your plate is empty, you can go back for the things that you really liked best.
Use leftovers
When cooking meals, have a thought for what can be done with any leftover. Often there will be a little meat, potatoes or vegetable leftover, even a small portion of pasta. Don’t waste these little portions. Save them for a day or two and combine them with other leftovers for a completely new meal or if you prefer, take them for lunch.
Package leftovers right away
After a meal where there are leftovers, be sure to pack them into storage bags or containers immediately. If they sit around too long, they can lose their appeal and even grow bacteria that will make them unhealthy.
Measure
When you are cooking your meals, understand what a portion is. If half a cup of pasta is what is considered a portion in your recipe, don’t take the easy way out and just dump the whole box of pasta into the water unless of course, you already have a plan for the leftovers.
Skip the super-sized
It may seem as if it is better to buy the large size soda or the super-sized meal but it is no bargain if you waste half of it and frankly, it is not good for your health either. Buy the correct portion size for you. Don’t let the kids talk you into the meals with the prizes either especially if historically they can never finish the meal. The toys are hardly worth getting if you must waste food to have them.
Shopping more often
When it comes to wasting food, fresh fruits and vegetables are the most common victims. It is more cost effective to buy just the number of bananas you need for a few days instead of that large bunch of which three will rot. Unless you will use the over ripened bananas to make banana bread, only buy the 3 or 4 you will use. It is a joke at this writer’s home that eggplants are regularly sacrificed to the veggie gods. Perishable items such as eggs and milk should also be bought only in quantities that can be easily used quickly. Buying bulk is no bargain if you throw away and waste a lot of food.
Check your pantry
Check your pantry regularly to see which packages are nearing their expiration date. Most food items come with an expiration date and it often comes all too soon.
Find uses for near expiration items
Who hasn’t found that their gallon of milk is just short of turning sour? This milk is still great to make a bread or rice pudding, both of which take quite a lot of milk. If you have lots of eggs, a frittata or omelets are good choices. Having a few of these recipes handy can help cut down on waste.
Freeze food
Waste is a terrible thing. If your food items can be frozen, by all means, freeze them. It can extend their life by days, weeks and even months. Fresh bread can go moldy quickly if it doesn’t have a lot of preservatives, while no preservatives is a very good thing, moldy bread is not. Use the bread for a day or two and if there is more left, throw it in the freezer. That will preserve its life for weeks.
No one wants to waste food. Especially in today’s economy where many people are struggling to make ends meet, waste is just not acceptable. By following these few tips, you will be on your way to less waste and surely you can add a few tips of your own to help make all the food you buy gets used.
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