Summer time is in full swing, which implies picnics on the seashore, yard barbecues and, sadly, the accompanying meals waste. With all of the out of doors events and recent produce obtainable, 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 decrease your environmental footprint.
Plan Meals Earlier than Procuring
Meal planning helps scale back your variety of grocery journeys and retains you on price range. Listing all the things you must make every week so that you don’t find yourself wandering across the grocery retailer. Listed here are some meal-prepping suggestions:
- Craft a menu: Ask your loved ones for strategies, follow tried-and-tested recipes or search for inspiration on-line.
- Listing all the things: Create a purchasing checklist containing the elements wanted to make the recipes. That is additionally a superb time to restock different home items.
- Buy groceries: Scour native grocery shops’ adverts to get the very best offers.
Intention to create sufficient meals for 2 to a few days of the week if you happen to’re new to planning.
Refresh Leftovers
You in all probability have containers of leftovers in your fridge that you simply’re not sure what to do with, resembling additional grilled rooster or yesterday’s pizza. Figuring out how you can improve your meals may be difficult, particularly if nobody’s keen to eat it anymore. Thankfully, there are methods you’ll be able to 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 great for leftover rice. Combine any greens you will 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 things earlier than including leftover rice.
- Make a sandwich: Sandwiches are a simple manner 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 buddy 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 ranging from -20 to 55 levels Fahrenheit to maintain them recent for longer.
When freezing small baked items like cookies, take away as a lot air as potential earlier than inserting them in a bag.
Compost Leftover Meals
Composting is a sustainable solution to nourish your crops and soil. Every particular person generates round 4.51 kilos of municipal strong waste (MSW) day by day, and implementing this eco-friendly exercise might help you contribute to a more healthy planet. Arrange an out of doors composter if in case you have a yard or put money into a countertop mannequin if you happen to stay in a small house.
Follow Good Meals Storage Habits
Use produce storage luggage or containers with small air flow holes to stop the danger of mildew and moisture accumulation. Keep away from storing uncooked and cooked meals close to one another to keep away from contamination, which may be poisonous. Bear in mind to maintain uncooked meats under cooked meals to stop juices from dripping in your leftovers.
Why Is Meals Waste Discount Necessary?
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 fuel 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
Keep in mind 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.
