10 Ways To Get To Zero Waste In The Kitchen
It starts with the best of intentions. A grocery cart full of veggies, fruits, meats, and nutritious snacks to encourage healthy meals. Before long, vegetables are rotting and fruits are attracting fruit flies and snacks are stale. The trash can ends up full of those “good intentions.” A few tears are shed over the cost of the waste, and vows are made to be more organized and intentional. It happens, a lot. Over 38 million tons of food are thrown away every year, and 94% of it ends up in landfills. 40% of the food in the U.S. is never eaten. So, here are 10 Ways To Get To Zero Waste In The Kitchen that FDA recommends.
1. Smart Grocery Shopping
Growing your own vegetables and raising your own meat or buying from local farmers is ideal, but sometimes that is not an option. When you need to buy food, first check the fridge and cabinets for what you already have in stock. Plan a weekly menu using as many of those items as possible. Make a list of items needed for each meal. If a product won’t be used up in one recipe, try to find other recipes that would use it. This will prevent buying extra and help cut grocery costs.
Stick to your list when grocery shopping. Avoid the temptation of taking advantage of special sales, marketing schemes, or a hungry stomach. These extras are usually expensive and unhealthy.
2. Buy Ugly
Try buying “ugly” fruits and vegetables (produce with imperfections but is fine in quality) instead of the best looking every time.