Sometimes no matter how good intentioned
you are food still ends up getting wasted. While eliminating food waste
completely may not be possible, reducing it is. When you reduce the food that
is wasted in your household money can be saved. By so doing you do not have to
feel that you are throwing your hard earned cash away in the trash!
Here are some simple things you can do to
cut down on the food that is being wasted in your home:
One. Think frugality when you shop and be as responsible as you can be
as you push your cart down the aisles of the grocery store or local market. Do
not overbuy food that you and your family cannot possibly eat. Have a list and
focus on purchasing what is on that list. Buying only what you need for a week
or two until your next trip to the supermarket will help to reduce waste.
It is also important to shop when you are not
the least bit hungry. You are guaranteed to buy too much if you shop when you
have food on the brain!
Two. You need to store your food properly in order to prevent it from
going bad. Food waste often happens when it is not resealed in the right manner
and air and moisture finds its way in. Make sure to vacuum seal or double bag
anything that you will be placing in the freezer.
Use glass containers with lids that are
sturdy to save leftovers in the refrigerator and use storage bins and containers
that close correctly for dry goods such as flour, oats, sugar, herbs and spices.
You need to keep freshness in and everything unwelcome out of the food items
that you are storing, whether it is short-term or long-term storage. You also
need to use containers that make the resealing process a simple one.
Three. When you come home from the store with your groceries have an idea
of what meals you are planning to make for the week. From there you can figure
out the size of the portions you need to leave out for fruits, veggies, meat
and seafood and you can freeze the remainder of the food. This helps to prevent
waste.
It is a good idea to freeze your food
according to portion sizes. Different sizes of freezer bags come in handy for
everything from freezing berries to peas to chicken to salmon. Label the bags
so you know what each item is. You will be glad you did this when you get ready
to make a meal.
Four. Do not overstock your freezer as this can make it difficult for air
to circulate and it can also make it harder for you to find the foods that you
are looking for. You also might end up forgetting what is in the very back of
the freezer which could lead to the food being in there too long and getting
freezer burn. This could also mean that instead of choosing something for
supper in the freezer you will head out to the store. Food you already have
stored will get wasted this way.
Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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