Now that summer has here, there will be beachside picnics, backyard cookouts, and, regrettably, the resulting food waste. Given the abundance of fresh food and outdoor gatherings, it’s simple for meals to wind up in the trash or as leftovers. Discover five doable ways to reduce your environmental impact and make the most of your leftovers.
Prior to shopping, plan your meals.
Meal planning helps you stay within your budget and cut down on the amount of grocery trips you make. To avoid getting lost in the grocery shop, develop a list of everything you need to prepare each week. Here are some pointers for meal preparation:
- Create a menu by consulting your family, using tried-and-true recipes, or searching the internet for ideas.
- Enumerate everything: Make a shopping list with the supplies required to prepare the recipes. It’s also a great opportunity to replenish other household supplies.
- Go shopping: Look through the ads at your neighborhood grocery stores to get the greatest offers.
If you’re new to meal planning, try to prepare enough meals for two or three days of the week.
Refresh the leftovers.
You most likely have containers of leftovers in your refrigerator, such additional grilled chicken or pizza from yesterday, that you’re not sure how to use. It can be difficult to know how to improve your food, particularly if no one wants to eat it anymore. Thankfully, there are ways to enjoy leftovers:
- Prepare a salad: Roasted veggies, boiled eggs, and chopped cooked beef. Incorporate spices and herbs to improve the taste.
- Make fried rice: This is a great Asian way to use up leftover rice. In a wok or skillet, combine any available vegetables, such as peas and carrots. Crack an egg in the center and push the vegetables aside. Before adding the remaining rice, combine everything.
- Sandwiches are a simple way to use up leftover meat, veggies, and spreads. Make a cold sandwich or wrap with leftover turkey, roast beef, or chicken.
Put Your Food in the Freezer
This summer, your freezer will be your best buddy. To cut down on food waste, use it to store bread, cheese, fruits, veggies, and leftovers. For smoothies, you can freeze diced bananas, peaches, plums, tomatoes, and cucumbers. To keep them fresher for longer, seal them in a bag and store them in a freezer that is between -20 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove as much air as you can from little baked items, such as cookies, before putting them in a bag to freeze.
Compost Food Scraps
A sustainable method of feeding your soil and plants is through composting. Every individual produces around 4.51 pounds of municipal solid waste (MSW) every day; you may help create a healthier planet by engaging in this environmentally friendly activity. If you have a yard, set up an outdoor composter; if you have a tiny space, get a countertop type.
Develop Appropriate Food Storage Practices
To reduce the chance of mold growth and moisture buildup, use produce storage bags or containers with tiny air holes. Toxic contamination can result by keeping raw and cooked food close to one another. To avoid fluids leaking on your leftovers, put raw meats below cooked foods.
Why Is It Important to Reduce Food Waste?
Despite the fact that one-third of the world’s population faces food insecurity, more than 1 billion tons of food were wasted in 2022. Additionally, this waste endangers the ecosystem by causing greenhouse gas emissions and a decline in biodiversity. This summer, we must address this global issue by making modest progress toward a more sustainable future.
Reduce Waste and Increase Savings
Keep in mind that every time you put food in the dumpster, your hard-earned money is wasted. Use these eco-friendly tactics to help cut waste, save money, and create a more sustainable future.
SOURCE: ART OF HEALTHY THING
