Have you ever tracked the household expenses related to food and been aghast at the final sum? More often than not, we discard more food from our kitchens than we realize, although this should not be the case.
Reducing food waste is not just about reducing the amount of money wasted on uneaten food, or about reducing the amount of food that is wasted. Much of the food discarded from households makes its way to landfills, where it rots and makes a significant contribution to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere; however, a more sustainable and environmentally friendly solution would be to substantially reduce the amount of food that is discarded.
Obviously, food waste such as vegetable peels, tea bags, and banana skins must be thrown out. Rather than simply tossing them out though, these biodegradable materials can be composted. If you don’t garden, give the resulting compost to someone who does. Composting can be carried out with a bokashi composter, or simply in a covered plastic container into which holes have been drilled.
You can also reduce or eliminate food wastage entirely by controlling how much food winds up in your kitchen. To do so, you must always go food shopping with a list and a budget. The list ensures that you buy only what is needed, while the budget ensures that you don’t succumb to impulse food purchases.
If drawing up a food-shopping list is difficult because you don’t know what you will need, record what food item is running low or plan a menu for family meals each week. Not only will you be able to create a shopping list, you won’t be at a loss for dinner ideas during the week. By extension, either buy less food or get into the habit of not throwing out extra portions of prepared food. Over time, this results in you spending less on food while reducing food waste.
