Tips & Hacks to Reduce Food Waste in the Kitchen

According to the USDA in the United States, food waste is estimated at between 30-40 percent of the food supply. Looking back at my own journey, I started feeling really sad about how much food I was throwing out. I decided to simplify my kitchen and implement small changes, it really has been a blessing. I feel like it’s almost a win-win situation. I’m not only getting rid of clutter, but I’m also helping mother earth in the process. I’m not trying to give you guys some complicated list of things to do. These are simple everyday life hacks, that will truly make your intentional living easier. Here are my tips & hacks to help you reduce food waste.

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Freeze your fruits and vegetables

This might seem like a no-brainer, but getting a chalkboard or setting a friendly reminder on your phone will help you remember to eat your fresh produce. You can freeze your fruits like bananas, strawberries, blueberries and make smoothies. Learn how to store your vegetables, put them in a container with water if you feel they go bad fast. Remember at the end of the week to put them in the freezer with the date you’re storing them. This way you can enjoy some delicious vegetable soup.

Make a grocery list

I’ve been guilty of this so many times. I go to the store hungry! Like beyond famished and then I want to buy the entire store. I go home and then I’m not able to eat all of these delicious vegetables at the end of the week. Making a list and planning your meals ahead of time will save you time and money.

Purchase in bulk

If you look around your local grocery store you will notice just a ton of plastic everywhere. From your produce to your pasta plastic is almost unavoidable. I normally shop at Whole Foods and bring my own grocery bags which I buy at the Package Free online store. Lately, with Covid-19 I’ve been avoiding the stores and feel guilty, so I purchase a lot of my foods in bulk at Costco.

Veggie Broth

I take all of the veggies scraps and make delicious vegetable broth. You can also freeze the veggie broth for up to 6 months. Don’t forget some veggies don’t need to be peeled, (potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, etc ) this will eliminate food waste. Make sure to wash them with a little vinegar and viola.

Compost Your food scraps

This might be a little hard depending on where you live. We have a decent size yard and we are able to compost most of our leftovers. You can also check your local city and see what options are available to compost.

PRO TIP:

Make sure your kitchen scraps include banana peels, produce cuttings, as well as some paper towels or dry material to provide carbon. You should also make sure your garden has earthworms. If you do not have earthworms, buy some red wigglers. Do not plant anything until the organic matter decomposes. Keep the area moist to provide perfect conditions for earthworms.

Storage for FOOD

Food containers such as mason jars are a great way to store your food. I normally save all of my pasta sauce jars. Display them on counters so that they are visible and you don’t forget to use them. Mason Jar or any type of glass jar also looks more appealing in my opinion. Another hack is to fill your mason jar with water and put your carrots, celery, and cilantro. Storing your food properly will help you reduce a lot of food waste.

look inside your Pantry

The first thing I did when I started looking to reduce my food waste, was look in my pantry. I can’t even remember how many expired items I had. It’s important to look inside and in the back of your pantry at least once a month. Make different recipes with whatever you find and make sure nothing goes to waste.

Let’s talk PAckaging

Always try to buy foods that come in really large packaging. If you can choose paper, it is more sustainable than plastic. Don’t forget to bring your reusable bag to the store.

EASY KITCHEN SWAPS

Here is a blog post of items you can swap around your house to be more sustainable. The list below will be specific to your kitchen items.

1. Stasher bags (zip lock) Just wash them and reuse easy.
2. Nut Milk Bag – If you don’t want to invest in a fancy machine or a high-power blender you can soak up your almonds and make your own milk.
3. Bamboo Kitchen Brush – They also sell the ones with a removable head.
4. Hemp Scrubber for Dishes
5. Beeswax Wraps
6. Paper Towels
7. Reusable Coffee Filter – I use a Chemex for my coffee in the mornings and I’m in love with the reusable coffee sock. Reminds me of the good old days my grandma used a colador.
8. Almond Cow – This plant-based milk maker has been the best investment ever. Not only is it a push of a bottom fast, but it separates the pulp (hello busy mamas). By making your own almond, oat, or any kind of plant-based milk you help reduce a lot of food waste and plastic bottles. You also know exactly what you are putting in (no more crap ingredients).

Remember

This is YOUR personal journey. Low waste living isn’t supposed to be perfect. Many of these are simple and easy zero-waste swaps that will help you on your low impact journey. Even though the list can be overwhelming, take your time and start with the easy swaps.

Thank you so much for taking the steps to reduce your waste. If you have any questions, I would love to help you in the best way I can. Please share some of the ways you live low waste.

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