Tips to Cut Food Waste (and Save $$)

 

this year we’ve been watching the cost…

…of gas and utilities and, it seems, almost everything else go up.  One thing we have some control over is how we buy, use and store our food. Below are some tips from the David Suzuki Foundation to help us make the most of the food we invest in.  

How to store food

Consider these tips and tricks when storing fruits and vegetables to eliminate food waste.

  1. No plastic. Avoid plastic produce bags and take produce out of plastic wrappings. Airtight wrappings suffocate fresh produce and speed up the decay process.

  2. Delay washing. Don’t wash produce until you’re ready to eat it. Moisture encourages decomposition and mould growth.

  3. Don’t rip off fruit stems. Once living cells are broken, microorganisms start to grow. Keep produce whole as long as possible.

  4. Eat the most perishable items first. Raspberries last a few days. Potatoes can hang around for about a month.

  5. Ripening tip. If you want, speed up the ripening process by putting the item (a peach, for example) in a paper bag with a banana.

  6. Storing herbs. Store herbs with stems (such as cilantro and parsley) in a jar with water in the fridge. Don’t forget to change the water a few times a week!

How to reduce food waste

  1. Meal plan. Take a few minutes to write out a week’s worth of dinners. Start with what’s already on hand. Think about leftovers for lunches, snacks or other meals. Create a grocery list based on your plan.

  2. Make soup. Veggies past their prime can still make delicious soups and stews. Leftover mashed potatoes thicken any stock.

  3. Make juice. If you have a juicer, give your overripe or bruised fruit or vegetables a new liquid life! Use the leftover pulp to make broth, hearty smoothies or fruit leather.

  4. Freeze. Freezing food only takes a moment and extends the life of what isn’t getting eaten right away.

  5. Share. Swimming in leftovers or perishable garden produce? See if your friends or neighbours want some. Invite people over (health restrictions permitting) to feast from your bounty.

Source: David Suzuki Foundation: Help end food waste - David Suzuki Foundation