5 ways to reduce food waste
Food waste is a major problem in the world, with over 5 million tonnes of food ending up in landfill each year, to put this into perspective, it’s enough to fill 9000 Olympic sized swimming pools.
Wasting food is also worse than total emissions from flying (1.9%), plastic production (3.8%) and oil extraction (3.8%).
While a lot of us think food waste doesn’t affect you, think again. Throwing away edible food does not only waste money, but also rots in our landfills and produces methane gas, which is the second most common greenhouse gas. Here are 5 ways you can reduce food waste today.
Compost
Composting is one of the best things you can do to help the environment as it prevents unnecessary amounts of waste ending up in landfills. Did you know that our food waste that gets sent to landfill produces methane gas, which is a toxic greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Although your food waste will eventually break down in landfills, it happens much slower. Although a lot of us may not have access to an outdoor composting system, there are many different composting options, depending on where you live.
Store Food Correctly
Storing food the right way will help lengthen their lifespan. With a lot of us making limited trips to the supermarket, it is important that we make produce last. Did you know a great way to preserve vegetables is to store them in a jar of water? Like making flowers last, you can also do this with other leafy vegetables and store them in the fridge to make them last even longer. Storing nuts, seeds, and produce should also be stored in airtight containers, like our Bamboo Lunchbox or Reusable Silicone Ziplock Bags. This wont only make them last longer but will also keep them safe from chemicals most plastic carries.
Shop Smart
Buy what you need and avoid buying food that is left in your fridge or in your pantry that eventually goes off, and is never eaten. A great way to ensure you do this, is to plan your meals. Buy only the ingredients you need and try visiting your local farmers market once a week to support local farmers and eat fruit and vegetables that are in season.
Get creative
A lot of us often remove the skin from our fruit, vegetables and chicken. However, did you know a lot of nutrients and fibre are stored in the outer layer of our produce? Instead of throwing the ‘scraps’ away store them in the freezer and use them when making a smoothie or broth.
Meal Prep
Avoid buying pre-packaged snacks, and try making your own, it is a much smarter decision, as you're avoiding plastic and nourishing your body with the right food as you know every ingredient. We like to dedicate our Sunday’s to meal prep for the week. It won’t only help you reduce food waste, but is a fun activity that you and the kids can enjoy. Pre packed snacks will also ensure you snack on the right foods and save it will help you save a ton of money if you buy in bulk, cut up vegetables and store them in the fridge ready to munch on!