I read in an article this week that we throw away 12 percent of the groceries we buy. Other sources say we throw away 1/3 of our food. No matter how much it is, throwing away food means we’re spending a lot more on the food we do eat. But there are other consequences.
Timothy Jones, anthropologist at the University of Arizona, estimates an average family of four currently tosses out $590 per year in meat, fruits, vegetables and grain products. Nationwide, he says, household food waste alone adds up to $43 billion. He believes cutting food waste would also go a long way toward reducing serious environmental problems. Jones estimates that reducing food waste by half could reduce landfill use, soil depletion and applications of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. Here are a few ways to throw away less food.
Know What the Labels Mean
The Use-by date and Sell-by dates are not the same. Use-by is the key date in terms of safety. You should never eat products after this date. Use-by dates are usually found on chilled products such as cooked meats, soft cheeses and dairy-based desserts. Sell-by dates are instructions more geared for grocery store employees, not necessarily shoppers. Best Before dates are usually on products that have a longer shelf life. Since this is not offering a definitive date, you must use your best judgment with these products.
Make a List
Making a list not only prepares you for the meals throughout the week ahead, it helps reduce waste. You won’t buy items you don’t need and you won’t buy too much.
Buy Less Fruit More Often
Find yourself tossing out apples and oranges? Try buying less, but buying them more frequently. This will ensure that your fruit is always at it’s peak.
Take Stock Daily
Do you have items you need to use up soon? Take a quick stock of what your fridge holds that needs to be used up and plan your meals around these items. Put off making frozen meals or things like pasta until the perishable food items have been used up.
Learn More
There is some great information out there about the negative impact of throwing away food. Check out WastedFood.com and you’ll likely be more motivated to eat what you buy rather than trash it.