Food Waste Prevention Tips

Did you know that Americans throw away approximately 165 million dollars of food a year? This costs the average family about$1600 annually! Here’s some helpful tips to prevent food waste and keep your food fresh.

Before you shop:

• Always make a shopping list before you go shopping to ensure you don’t buy what you don’t need.
• Before you go shopping, and while you’re making your shopping list, check what you’ll need to purchase by checking what you already have in your fridge and pantry to make sure you purchase the right quantities.
• Don’t forget to bring your reusable bags with you to the store when you shop! You might also keep several in the trunk of your car.

When you get home:

• Prep your food. Cut up carrots, celery, strawberries, etc., and store them in airtight containers in the fridge to extend the life of the food and for easy access to eat as snacks or in salads, etc.
• Freeze excess fruits, vegetables, meats and anything else that won’t be eaten right away.
• If you do see any fruit about ready to turn, freeze it to use in smoothies.
• If you do see salad greens starting to wilt, soak them in ice water to crisp them up before fixing a salad.
• Keep apples away from other foods. Apples give off ethylene gas, which can cause food to spoil.
• Help keep air out of sour cream and cottage cheese tubs by storing them upside down in the fridge.

When you keep food fresher for longer periods of time, you’re more likely to eat it rather than toss it. The less you throw out, the more money you can save and the better it is for the environment.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle 🙂

Maryann

 

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