Waste Not, Want Not!

How not to waste food you bought with your hard-earned money.

Courtesy of Masaki Araya

We’ve all been there and done it. I am just as guilty as the next person, but unlike the next person, I have been good about not wasting food because I have learned that those are hard-earned money I will never get back. The following are tips to master the art of not wasting food:

1. If you’re going out for groceries, then check what you have first. There’s nothing like coming home to a duplicate (or more) item you did not have to plan on spending.
2. If it is cluttered, then declutter it. Nothing says messy more than a disorganized refrigerator, freezer, and or pantry.
3. If you buy it, then eat it. The point of grocery shopping is eating what you paid. If it is gross, either give it away to someone else or, if all else fails, then toss it in the garbage. Just know that you wasted money that could have been saved or spent towards another purchase.
4. If you buy more of the same stuff, then rotate your stock the way they do at the grocery store. Put the older ones up front and the newer ones in the back, or create an ‘Eat This First’ shelf. It’s as simple as that.
5. If you buy too much, then buy less. Finding yourself throwing away spoiled, rotten or expired food is a clear sign that you need to reduce your spending.
6. If you can’t eat it all, then share it. Sharing is caring, anyway.
7. If you can’t finish it, then freeze it. Well, this depends on the food itself. Most foods with high water content or fried, for example, cannot be frozen, but there are a lot of others that can. Get to know your freezer on an intimate level.
8. If you end up with leftovers, then take them with you for lunch. Or repurpose it as a different breakfast, lunch, or dinner dish than the one you had the night before.
9. If you can’t prep it tomorrow, then prep it today. Prepping lunch and or dinner the night before is helpful because we all have a busy life.
10. If you don’t use it, then you will lose it. While certain foods, like canned goods, have a long shelf life, other foods need attention sooner rather than later.
11. If you don’t eat it, then don’t rebuy it. What is the point in buying something you rarely ate or never opened? When you go shopping, only purchase what you need. Write a list beforehand and stick to it, but please, don’t buy on impulse, especially if you haven’t eaten before shopping.
12. If you don’t use them, then donate them. You can donate food to a local food pantry or bank near you. Just Google food bank or food pantry using your zip code.