Americans waste a lot of food. It has been estimated that as much as 1.3 pounds of food per person per day goes to waste. Wasting less food is better not only for the environment but for your pocketbook.
Of course, some food waste is unavoidable, especially if you have picky eaters in your family. Sometimes you just can’t get a child to eat something you thought he or she would enjoy. But many other forms of food waste can be handled better.
Start off with how you handle your grocery shopping. Think not only about how much you’re buying, but how soon it will go bad. Being realistic about what you and your family will consume in a reasonable period will cut back on what you waste.
Food storage can make a big difference. Some fruits can stay out for weeks and not have a problem. Others go bad in days, even in the refrigerator. The same goes for vegetables.
Meats, of course, need refrigeration, but they can also freeze quite nicely. If you separate your meat out into the quantities you will need for cooking later, you can buy meat in bulk, and freeze only the excess. Continue reading →