If you truly want to save money on food, one of the best ways you can do so is by actually eating the groceries you purchase. Unfortunately, many of us waste a significant portion of the food that we buy. Doing so means you not only waste food and money, but you’re also harming the environment. It doesn’t have to be this way. Here are five ways to guard against food waste.
1. Reevaluate your bulk shopping purchases.
Warehouse clubs were originally meant for business owners. While today they offer discounts to regular people who sign up for membership, buying high volume without wasting fashion takes effort and planning.
If you can’t realistically eat the amount of food you purchased before it goes bad, it may not be a great savings plan after all. If you end up throwing the food away, you are actually losing money. Monitor the amount of perishable items you buy. If you can’t eat carton loads of strawberries, a boatload of bananas or a large package of plums before they spoil, don’t bother buying them.
2. Check up on how long food lasts.
Obviously, if a piece of fruit or bread has gotten a bit fuzzy, then it’s time to ditch it. Sometimes, though, it’s hard to know whether or not something is still good. There aren’t any obvious signs like limp celery or spoiled chicken. Some items may even still smell good.
Some produce might expire quickly while beef and pork may just need to hit the freezer after three days of sitting in the fridge. You’d be surprised to find out that certain items may last longer than you think. Take the guesswork out of the equation. The FDA offers a printable refrigerator and freezer storage chart on its website. Keep it in the kitchen to easily reference when necessary.
3. Plan out when to use ingredients.
No matter where you end up shopping or what you end up buying, it pays to plan out when you’re going to eat what you picked up. Let the date of purchase dictate what you eat first. Fresher items should be eaten sooner and reserve frozen items or food with a longer shelf life for later in the week.
You’ll soon get a rhythm and pacing down when you become more conscious of what you put in your cart and actively plan when to use it. You can even write a list down when you get home from the store of the items you purchased. Be sure to include the date, too. If you’re putting something in the freezer, you might also want to write down the date that you do so on the packaging.
4. Write out your meal plan on your to-do list.
In addition to taking a daily peek in the fridge and pruning any older items so you can more easily use what remains, you might also want to write down your planned meals on a list. That way, you won’t forget about ingredients that you already purchased.
5. Smoothies can come to the rescue.
Fruit like strawberries need to be used fairly quickly. Otherwise, they’ll spoil a few days after you purchase them and can quickly end up in the garbage can. If you tend to buy fresh fruit on a regular basis, have simple recipes on hand so you can make use of them before they go bad. Plan to make them a few days or so after buying them so they don’t get tossed.
Along with fruit, other everyday items that you normally purchase such as yogurt, bananas, honey and milk can be used in smoothies. If you want to actively make smoothies that serve a specific purpose while still being efficient with your groceries, check out sites like Prevention.com and Health.com. This way, you can clean out the fridge while cleansing your system. Author Kimberly Snyder of KimberlySnyder.com shows the many perks of drinking your fruits and veggies. Her site focuses on the beauty benefits of gulping down your produce. The right combination of ingredients can enhance how you look and feel.
With a little effort and planning, you can reduce the amount of food you throw away. Be aware of expiration dates and plan ahead to eat all of your food.
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5 Ways to Waste Less Food originally appeared on usnews.com
