Let’s talk food waste—it’s something we’re all guilty of from time to time, possibly without even realizing it. Maybe we don’t get around to using up all the freshly cut fruits and veggies we picked up at the farmers market, or we totally forget about the leftovers in the fridge.
No matter what the case, reducing food waste is something that our bodies, the planet, and our wallets can benefit from.
We’re sharing three simple hacks that may just be what you need to help cut your food waste in half.
The Benefits of Cutting Back on Food Waste
First, why is cutting back on food waste such a big deal anyway?
Here are some facts you need in on.
- By using up more of the food you buy, you can actually reduce your carbon footprint. How? By simply reducing the amount of food you waste, you play a role in reducing methane emissions that come from landfills. This is a huge deal because methane is a gas that’s produced when food breaks down in landfills and has been known to play a role in climate change. By reducing how much food you waste, you can play a part in lowering how much food winds up in landfills each year.
- Reducing food waste also helps conserve resources when it comes to food production. If we all cut back on how much food we threw away, we could make a serious impact on reducing the pollution that comes from things like food transportation.
- You’ll keep more money in your wallet!
- If you donate food that you know you won’t consume, you can also help support your community by giving back to those in need, while also reducing food waste (win, win!)
3 Simple Ways You Can Start Reducing Food Waste Starting Today
Ready to start reducing how much food ends up in your garbage can? Here are three hacks to implement ASAP.
#1 Make a Meal Plan
Meal planning is everything when it comes to sticking to your healthy eating goals, plus, it’s also an amazing way to cut back on how much food you toss. By planning out your meals for the week, or even for the month, you can shop for only what you need. The result? Nourishing meals without the waste.
#2 Create Soups & Stews
You know all those leftover veggies you have sitting in your fridge? Try using them up in a delicious and nourishing soup or stew. You can make a veggie stew with all of your fav veggies, and add whatever leftover vegetables you have to just about any soup recipe for a nutritional boost. It’s also a great way to use up your vegetables before they go bad and wind up in the trash.
#3 The Freezer is Your Friend
Don’t be afraid to use the freezer to freeze fruits and veggies before they go bad. You can even get creative and make smoothie bags that you can just grab and blend as you head out the door to work each morning.
Try mixing strawberries, bananas, blueberries, and cubed avocado and freeze in individual servings. Blend with some unsweetened almond milk and all the superfood goodies like hemp seeds, almond butter, and even some Cacao Bliss!
Not only will freezing produce before they spoil help reduce food waste, but it’s also a great way to save you some prep time in the kitchen.
Hint—you can even freeze herbs to add to your favorite soups and stews. Simply wash and pat them dry, and lay them flat in a freezer bag and freeze until ready to use.
Reduce Waste, Nourish Your Body
Reducing food waste is not only a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, but it’s also a really amazing way to use up all the nutritional superfoods sitting in your fridge.
Plus, by enjoying more of the food in your kitchen, you’ll be keeping more in your wallet, so it’s truly a win, win.
Here’s to reducing food waste, nourishing our bodies, and showing the planet some serious love.
You may also be interested in:
Best and Worst Way to Cook Your Veggies
7 Fresh Foods You Can Freeze Before They Spoil
