Question

How to prevent wastage of food?

Answer 1

Portion control. Controlling the amount on your plate controls the amount in the garbage. Start with a small serving and get seconds if you want them. Leftover luck. Give yesterday’s dinner a new life in a new recipe. Transform grilled chicken, steak or veggies into sandwiches or pasta salad. Get creative; last night I turned leftover chili con carne into enchiladas with delicious results! Cut your costs in half. Buy just what you need. If you need only half a melon, fish fillet, piece of cheese or loaf of fresh bread, our stores are happy to provide just the half you need. All you have to do is ask. Make a plan. Before we shop, my husband and I make a meal plan based on what’s already in the fridge and pantry (and what’s on sale!). This helps us save time and money. Plus, it prevents us from buying food we don’t need. Or you can try one of these ready-made healthy eating meal plans. First in, first out. Rotate items in your fridge and pantry so the oldest items are at the front. (Admittedly, I still need to work on this. I just “discovered” an expired yogurt lost in the back of the fridge. It was my favorite flavor too. Sigh.) Counter, pantry or fridge? Storing produce properly keeps it lasting longer. Check out our fruit and vegetable guides to learn proper produce storage. Belly up to the bulk bins. Spices, nuts and grains, oh my! Choosing only the amount I need makes more sense than storing half-filled boxes — or throwing out what I didn’t use months later. Bonus: many of our bulk offerings are organically grown. Preserve the bounty. Don’t let those juicy peak season crops go to waste! If you can’t finish them, freeze or can them and use in soups, sauces, smoothies and baked goods later. Smooth solution. A smoothie is a great vehicle for those leafy greens, a handful of berries or that last splash of juice or milk. Stock up. From carrot tops to celery stubs to chicken bones, scraps can be saved for soup stock pot and more. Writer and recipe developer Alice K. Thompson also has some specific ways to use more of your produce, as well as some creative uses for everyday food scraps. Hit the bar. Shop our stores' salad bars when you need very small amounts of vegetables for recipes. Use it up. When you buy a special ingredient for a recipe, don’t waste what’s left. Search our 3,700+ recipes for other uses.