We all have heard the statistics floating around that around 40% of food gets wasted before it reaches our tables. This not only leaves you thinking about what that’s doing to the planet, but also what that’s doing to your pocket! We want to share with you five ways you can combat this problem and be a smarter consumer.
1. Revisit your shopping habits
Of course this is where it all starts, you see a great deal at Costco and you decide to buy a year’s worth of applesauce, but really? Do you like applesauce THAT much. We recommend buying less in bulk and buying more of what you know you need. You can do this by making weekly meal plans or keeping an inventory on what and how much you throw out. This way you can identify what you should or should not be buying and also feel great about being organized. In the end, you’re saving more money than that great applesauce deal you thought you had.
2. Storing at home.
The next step is making sure that the food you have doesn’t go bad. This is why so many people recommend the FIFO rule (first in, first out). There’s a reason why many businesses use this rule and you should too. We also recommend storing your items correctly. Store your perishables in airtight containers, make sure your meat is dry before freezing, keep your fridge below 41℉, and store raw foods at the bottom of your fridge for optimal efficiency and health safety.
3. Get creative
You can turn your old vegetable scraps into a soup stock, pickle foods, or even turn them into jam! Let your creative juices flow, so you can better save food from going in the landfills AND save some money in your pocket.
4. Donate what you don’t want
We think that this is a great idea. Many food banks always appreciate nonperishable food items and you can even check in with your bank to see if they’ll take in perishables or personal care items. You’re helping the planet and other people.
5. Compost OR Work with Us!
Unusable bits of food waste can go into a compost pot or heap, which can reuse waste and turn it into a great fertilizer for your plants.
Don’t have time to compost or the room to do so? Contact us, our job is to turn your waste into fertilizer and electricity in a way that’s even more sustainable and conserving than compost, called anaerobic digestion. Our Seahorse System breaks down your waste in an oxygenless container, so that we can save these resources. We love making our community greener and would love to work with you!