Summer time is in full swing, which suggests picnics on the seashore, yard barbecues and, sadly, the accompanying meals waste. With all of the outside events and contemporary produce out there, it’s straightforward 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 Buying
Meal planning helps scale back your variety of grocery journeys and retains you on finances. Listing all the pieces you should 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, stick with tried-and-tested recipes or search for inspiration on-line.
- Listing all the pieces: Create a procuring checklist containing the components 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 the perfect offers.
Intention to create sufficient meals for 2 to 3 days of the week in the event you’re new to planning.
Refresh Leftovers
You in all probability have containers of leftovers in your fridge that you simply’re uncertain what to do with, corresponding to further grilled rooster or yesterday’s pizza. Realizing methods to improve your meals will be difficult, particularly if nobody’s keen to eat it anymore. Happily, there are methods you possibly can 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 might have 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 pieces earlier than including leftover rice.
- Make a sandwich: Sandwiches are a simple means to make use of leftover meat, greens and spreads. Use leftover rooster, roast beef or turkey to create a cold-cut sandwich or wrap.
Freeze Your Meals
Your freezer is your greatest pal this summer time. 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 ranging 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 attainable earlier than putting them in a bag.
Compost Leftover Meals
Composting is a sustainable option to nourish your crops and soil. Every individual generates round 4.51 kilos of municipal strong waste (MSW) every day, and implementing this eco-friendly exercise can assist you contribute to a more healthy planet. Arrange an out of doors composter in case you have a yard or put money into a countertop mannequin in the event you reside in a small house.
Apply Good Meals Storage Habits
Use produce storage baggage or containers with small air flow holes to forestall the chance 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. Bear in mind to maintain uncooked meats beneath cooked meals to forestall juices from dripping in your leftovers.
Why Is Meals Waste Discount Vital?
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 time 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 scale back waste, get monetary savings and contribute to a greener future.
