People rarely talk about the foods they toss out, yet the topic of food waste is getting a lot more attention these days.
It’s been estimated that Americans throw away billions of pounds of food each year either at home or when eating out. And that amount doesn’t even include the food that goes uneaten at the grocery store or the crops that are left in farmers’ fields.
Not all food that is wasted can be saved and eaten, but it’s been proven that a lot of food waste could be prevented, especially at home.
A good place to start is right in your own kitchen. Here are a few tips that will help.
Plan Meals Based on the Foods You Already Have on Hand
Get Creative with Leftovers
Transform meals into soups, salads or sandwiches by cutting up leftover veggies and cooked meats.
Master the Shelf Life of Foods
Many foods and drinks purchased at the grocery store include a date, which indicates when it should be used or sold by. Because these dates refer to the product’s quality, it doesn’t necessarily mean they should be thrown out.
Source: Eat Right, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics