Summer time is in full swing, which implies picnics on the seashore, yard barbecues and, sadly, the accompanying meals waste. With all of the outside events and contemporary produce accessible, it’s simple for meals to finish up as leftovers or get tossed within the dumpster. Discover 5 sensible methods to maximise your leftovers and reduce your environmental footprint.
Plan Meals Earlier than Purchasing
Meal planning helps cut back your variety of grocery journeys and retains you on price range. Record all the things you’ll want to make every week so that you don’t find yourself wandering across the grocery retailer. Listed below are some meal-prepping ideas:
- Craft a menu: Ask your loved ones for ideas, persist with tried-and-tested recipes or search for inspiration on-line.
- Record all the things: Create a procuring listing containing the elements wanted to make the recipes. That is additionally a wonderful time to restock different home goods.
- Buy groceries: Scour native grocery shops’ adverts to get one of the best offers.
Intention to create sufficient meals for 2 to 3 days of the week when you’re new to planning.
Refresh Leftovers
You most likely have containers of leftovers in your fridge that you just’re uncertain what to do with, comparable to additional grilled hen or yesterday’s pizza. Figuring out how one can improve your meals will be difficult, particularly if nobody’s prepared to eat it anymore. Fortuitously, there are methods you may love your leftovers:
- Make a salad: Chop cooked meat, boiled eggs and roasted greens. Add herbs and spices to boost the flavour.
- Create fried rice: This Asian dish is superb for leftover rice. Combine any greens you’ve gotten readily available, like carrots and peas, in a wok or pan. Push the veggies apart and crack an egg within the center. Combine all the things earlier than including leftover rice.
- Make a sandwich: Sandwiches are a straightforward manner to make use of leftover meat, greens and spreads. Use leftover hen, roast beef or turkey to create a cold-cut sandwich or wrap.
Freeze Your Meals
Your freezer is your greatest pal this summer season. Use it to retailer fruits, greens, cheese, bread and leftovers to cut back meals waste. You may preserve chopped bananas, peaches, plums, tomatoes and cucumbers within the freezer for smoothies. Seal them in a bag and place them in a freezer with temperatures starting from -20 to 55 levels Fahrenheit to maintain them contemporary for longer.
When freezing small baked items like cookies, take away as a lot air as potential earlier than putting them in a bag.
Compost Leftover Meals
Composting is a sustainable technique to nourish your crops and soil. Every particular person generates round 4.51 kilos of municipal strong waste (MSW) each day, and implementing this eco-friendly exercise may also help you contribute to a more healthy planet. Arrange an out of doors composter if in case you have a yard or spend money on a countertop mannequin when you dwell in a small area.
Follow Good Meals Storage Habits
Use produce storage luggage or containers with small air flow holes to forestall the danger of mould and moisture accumulation. Keep away from storing uncooked and cooked meals close to one another to keep away from contamination, which will be poisonous. Keep in mind to maintain uncooked meats under cooked meals to forestall juices from dripping in your leftovers.
Why Is Meals Waste Discount Essential?
Over 1 billion tons of meals was wasted in 2022, however one-third of the worldwide inhabitants experiences meals insecurity. This waste additionally threatens the surroundings, resulting in greenhouse gasoline emissions and biodiversity loss. Addressing this worldwide concern this summer season means taking small steps towards a extra sustainable future.
Waste Much less, Save Extra
Do not forget that your hard-earned cash is wasted each time you throw meals within the dumpster. Undertake these sustainable methods to assist cut back waste, lower your expenses and contribute to a greener future.
