Practical Ways to Reduce Waste at Home

Reducing food waste begins in our kitchens. Here are effective strategies you can implement today:

1. Plan Your Meals: Take a little time each week to create a meal plan. Studies show that meal planning can cut grocery bills by 15% to 30% and minimize impulse buys that often lead to waste.

   
   

2. Understand Expiration Dates: Many people don’t realize that "sell by," "use by," and "best before" labels have different meanings. Learning these terms can help prevent unnecessary food discards and saves money.

   
   

3. Store Food Properly: Knowing how to store items can extend their freshness. For example, storing leafy greens wrapped in a damp paper towel in an airtight container can keep them fresh for up to two weeks longer.

   
   

4. Get Creative with Leftovers: Transform last night's dinner into today's lunch. For example, leftover chicken can become a flavorful soup, and day-old bread can turn into croutons or breadcrumbs, cutting waste and saving money.

   
   

5. Compost Wisely: Instead of sending food scraps to a landfill, consider composting. It not only lessens waste but creates nutrient-rich soil for gardening, further enhancing your sustainable practices at home.