At this time, we’re all looking for ways to save money, so with food waste representing almost a quarter of what we throw away, it’s a great place to start.
The Definition of Food Waste
Food waste is food that is discarded or left uneaten. There are many reasons for food loss and it happens at all stages of the process, including production, processing, retailing, and even when it gets to our house. Food waste includes waste of water and land to grow it, the gas to ship, the money we used to buy it, and the land we use to throw it away.
How to Reduce Food Waste
Meal Planning
Reducing food waste starts before we even get to the store. Planning our meals is a great way to not only save time and money but also reduce food waste.
Start with a list of staple ingredients and have a well-stocked pantry. This keeps you from having to run to the store when you want to cook something. Reduced trips to the store will help reduce impulse shopping too. Planning your meals is also a great way to find deals and buy what you can use.
Eat Leftovers
Eating leftovers has many benefits. It saves money and time when you don’t have to cook or buy another meal. It’s best to do an inventory of your fridge once a week, so you can eat all the leftovers you have.
Repurposing Leftovers
Sometimes we can get tired of eating the same thing multiple times. With a little creativity, we can repurpose leftovers so it’s like eating a new meal every time. Check out these 70 meal ideas to get some leftover inspiration.
Store Food Intentionally
Move older products to the front of the cupboard or fridge and don’t forget to check your inventory before buying new food items.
Use Food Scraps
Food scraps are another source of food waste, but by thinking outside the box, we can find ways to use all the food we have.
Make Vegetable Broth
As you prep your vegetables, you can store the vegetable scraps in a bag in the freezer and when you store enough, you can make vegetable broth. This can be made ahead, so when a recipe requires it, it’s ready to go.
Make Bone Broth
Making your own bone broth is another money-saving tip that’s great for your health. It’s loaded with all kinds of nutrients such as calcium and magnesium. They’re also great for collagen and gelatin, which are necessary for healthy skin, joints, and gut health. There is nothing better than homemade bone broth.
Use Citrus Peels
You can use citrus peels to freshen up the fridge, or garbage disposal or to infuse with your homemade cleaners.
Make Vinegar
A few years ago, we joined a local CSA (community-supported agriculture program) and we got a big batch of apples on their way out. We could only eat so many apples in a short time. What we couldn’t salvage for an apple pie, we used to make apple cider vinegar.
Use Stale Bread
There is a surprising amount of ways to use old bread. It’s great for croutons and bread crumbs, but I also found these 15 ways to use stale bread.
Grow your own
Did you know you can regrow certain vegetables from food scraps?
Some of the popular vegetables to try are celery, head lettuce, sweet potatoes, and potatoes. It’s a fun experiment to do with the kids, so they can see how their favorite foods are grown.
Composting
Composting is a great solution for food waste because it also helps rebuild the soil. Composting often seems overwhelming because we have so many horror stories, but it’s all about finding the balance of ingredients. But anyone can compost, even if you live in an apartment.
Support Local Businesses
The Farm Hippie creates space for a variety of different vendors, each contributing unique solutions to the local food web. One distinctive vendor, Jake’s Jams with Jonnie, also helps reduce food waste with her products. Some of her favorites are apple or pineapple cider vinegar, Orange Red Pepper Jam, and an orange peel cleaner.
Jonnie said her dad inspired Jake’s Jams and its products. Her dad is a Vietnam Veteran and instilled strong values in her to reduce waste. As a child, they had gardens and he was an avid hunter. For their family, that meant if they hunted an animal, they used the whole animal for various purposes, so nothing was wasted.
This mentality is still strong. Jonnie spends many hours in the kitchen working on new products and finding ways to reduce waste. These are often an experiment that she gives to her friends, but when Jonnie has enough, she will expand and sell them as products. For example, when making her jams, Jonnie needs to reduce the liquids as much as possible. The extra juice she uses as a component for toppings used on sourdough cinnamon rolls that her sister sells in her food truck. These are just a few of the unique ways Jonnie strives to reduce food waste.
Supporting local businesses like Jake’s Jams is a great way to reduce food waste in our community and local food web.
This concludes with 12 creative ways to reduce food waste. What are the reasons you want to reduce food waste and what tips and tricks have you learned along the way?
Leave a comment and let us know!
Written by Kayla Kamp Owner of Replenishing Farms and Advocate of Local Food and Farmers.