We have all been there.
You open your fridge and you see wilted cilantro, stinky take out leftovers and expired oat milk that you opened over a week ago. Although you meant to cook a lot this week it seems like a few things are now destined to make their way to the trash can and turn into food waste.
Again, we have all been there.
Between living busy lives and trying to stay on top of our sustainability and health goals sometimes things fall through the cracks.
In order to combat this cycle we can take a look at how we are storing our food and come up with a plan to be more mindful in the future.
Why food waste matters
What is food waste?
According to the USDA, “In the United States, food waste is estimated at between 30-40 percent of the food supply.”
That is a lot of food!
To break that down a bit, that percentage is not just from consumers aka me and you.
That percentage includes the entire food system from when it is grown, sent to facilities to be sorted and packaged and then sold in stores. It includes restaurants and schools and basically any place where food is involved. Food is wasted during every stage of the process.
With all that being said, consumers do play a role in the issue of food waste. We do this by over buying, cooking too much and yes, not storing food properly in our homes.
Individual Intentions
Before I share my tips I think it is important to think about our own individual intentions and motivations for changing this habit. These are some of my intentions when it comes to minimizing food waste.
- To be mindful and honor food. By not wasting food we can honor the people that grew it, packed it and sold it to us and the work and love they put into it.
- Show gratitude since the food we buy nourishes our bodies.
- Put less pressure on our food system (from over buying and over consuming) and help it to be more efficient.
- Save money! I would be afraid to calculate how much money I have lost because of food waste. It probably would not feel good to see that number. It is on the other hand very motivating in terms of finding ways to reduce my food waste.
Food Storage Tips
1. Wrap greens in a kitchen towel
In order to keep your salad greens crisp, dampen a kitchen cloth and wrap your greens up.
No more wilted greens!
A bonus tip is to put your herbs in a vase of water in the fridge. It is kind of like having a bouquet of herbs everytime you open your fridge.
This keeps your greens fresh, thus more appetizing and will help you to eat them and not waste them.
Also, I have noticed that with my greens that come in plastic boxes (i.e. spinach) it can start to condensate at the top and then the water drips down and makes the greens soggy. So putting greens in a cloth that can absorb the moisture is best.
With some greens you can even chop off the end and re grow it in your garden. Check out an earlier post I did on how to regrow veggies from food scraps.
2. Put leftovers in a sealed container-not just the take out box they came in
Having someone else cook for me is honestly the best. What is even better is when you can extend that into two meals.
To avoid your entire fridge smelling like your take out it is best to transfer your food into a container that is sealed and air tight.
3. Reuse containers from food you have bought or thrift containers
To be honest sometimes I buy one item over the other simply because of the packaging. It is such a score when you buy pasta sauce and you know you can reuse that jar later on. It truly is a 2 for 1 deal.
From peanut butter to coconut yogurt containers there are a lot of containers you can reuse to store leftovers in or prepped snacks for on the go.
Most of my mason jars have come from the thrift store. I have definitely seen some containers at the thrift store that look like they have seen better days so just use your best judgement and make sure to wash them really well when you get home.
My big tip for both reusing containers and thrifting them is to choose clear containers. This makes it easier to see what is in your fridge with just a glance. You can skip the labeling and personally I think it just looks better.
4. Learn which fruits and veggies last better in the fridge, stored away or on the counter top
A lot of fruits and vegetables do their best in the cool fridge air but some have tough skin and can last on the counter top (i.e. bananas, pineapple, avocado). My rule of thumb is that however the grocery store was storing the item is probably best to do in your own home.
If I get a new produce item or I buy it from the farmers market I just do a quick Google search to figure out the best way to store the item.
5. Invest in quality containers
So this one kind of contradicts #3 but I have my reasons. Of course the goal is to reuse what we have before we buy new.
BUT there is a time and place for buying new and simply investing in quality items you know you will reuse for years to come. There are some amazing brands popping up that make sustainable containers that are great quality. Also, it is important to support companies that are offering sustainable options.
One of my favorite containers is by U Konserve and I have had it for 5 years!
You can also check out your local zero waste store to support them and see what kinds of containers they have. If you are new to zero waste shopping I have the perfect guide to help you get started!
Conclusion
We really do have the power to shift our current food system! Even if you just use one of the tips listed above it can have a ripple effect on your family and friends.
If all else fails make sure your leftovers and spoiled food make it to your compost instead of the landfill.
How do you prevent food waste in your home? I would love to hear from you in the comments below and get some more tips for my home!
Make sure to sign up for the newsletter so posts can be sent straight to your inbox!
Sources
Food waste
