ways to waste less food

Ways To Waste Less Food

The clouds look like demonic marshmallows that infect the sky.
1. Only buy what you need
Shopping must always be done with some goal in mind. You must show some resolve and thoughtfulness while shopping. You must stop and think before billing, approach sales rationally and calmly, remain focused, streamline your needs. Most importantly, you must appreciate to value experiences over just consumption. You must only purchase what you require, and borrow the rest from others. Instead of buying infrequently utilized items such as camping gear, tools, or even some dishes for some party, borrow or rent them via your friends or via services such as Rentalic and NeighborGoods. You can also check about creating some sharing arrangement within your community.
2. Shop more often
Several studies and researches have been conducted by financial analysts and experts on the link between shopping habits of people and its impact on the savings of their household. It has been proved that more frequent and smaller shopping trips to the market generally yield lesser expenses and prove to be lighter on your pocket than bigger and weekly trips to the malls. Generally people end up stocking more items, buying things that they may not use or those that they will not actually use but think they may need it in future, only at the spur of the moment.
3. Make a grocery list
Prior to setting foot into a mall, supermarket, or some other store, you should have a clear idea of things to buy. Making a grocery list and sticking to it makes you less likely to indulge in impulse purchases while shopping. This implies there is a less possibility of buying items you will throw away in the end. If you are the kind of individual who simply cannot control your urge for a spontaneous shopping experience, maintaining a master listing of items which you are permitted to purchase within your smart phones or wallet at all times is ideal. You can have fun while shopping, and also refrain from unwanted purchases.
4. Make frozen fruit and vegetables your new best friend
Frozen foods are supposed to last forever and are also equally nutritious as any fresh produce. In fact, frozen food is more nutritious than fresh food in some cases. Additionally, freezing implies that veggies and fruits do not require any other preservatives. Two independent studies conducted by the Leatherhead Food Research and University of Chester revealed that frozen veggies and fruit contain more antioxidants like vitamin C, polyphenols, lutein, and betacarotene when compared to fresh foods kept in fridge for three or more days. The antioxidants not just aid in keeping our immune system healthy, but also aid to fight illnesses like cancer and heart disease.
5. Watch out for the Bulk Trap
Do not get carried away when you are offered bulk supply for the best discount. By avoiding buying the fresh produce especially fruits in bulk you are in turn avoiding its wastage. Always make certain that whatever you buy which cannot be stored should be eaten before time. If you re sure of eating the entire bulk then go for the offer. Storing fruits in the refrigerator might slow down the ripening process but never stop it. Too much of refrigeration dries up the fruits like peaches and wrinkles appear on it. This makes it unpalatable and eventually makes you discard it.
6. Skip the Keurig
Investing in Keurig is never the right option. The extravagance of Keurig can never be under rated. The disposable pods are never worth your money. Their main product being the K cup which is a singe use coffee brewing set up. Each cup is nothing but a plastic container containing ground coffee beans and a coffee filter. All well packed and sealed in an airtight plastic and foil cover. Now they even sell the Vue packs which can be emptied and recycled. But avoiding it and using the reusable filter will avoid a lot of wastage. Buy a machine that supports reusable filter.
7. Buy organic milk instead of regular It lasts a whole lot longer
Though priced higher than the conventional milk, organic milk is quite worthy for the bucks spent. Be it the nutritional significance of higher PUFA and omega 3 fatty acid content in contrast to regular variety that has more omega 6 fatty acid. It can last up to six months on the shelf unopened. This is because in the difference of treatment processes employed. Organic milk is processed using Ultra High Temperature (UHT) that kills all the bacteria. While regular milk is pasteurized this kills not all but the harmful ones. UHT treatment is given as the organic milk has to be transported to places where organic farming isn t practiced.
8. Know what needs to go in the fridge and what should be left on the counter
You can avoid wastage if you are aware of what can be stored in the fridge or on the shelf. It also helps maintain freshness. Apples, apricots, cantaloupe, figs, honeydew, cherries, berries, grapes, Eggplant, corn, cabbage mushroom, etc have to be refrigerated. As these remain fresh in humid conditions and some ripen faster. To slow down the ripening process, they are ideally stored in fridge. Though these ripen fast, they don t have to be refrigerated these include avocados, bananas, peaches, pears, plums, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, kiwi, melons, etc. Because these fruits and veggies survive better in RT as coldness/moisture may dry them out or contaminate them.
9. Reorganize your fridge on the reg
Organizing your refrigerator is quite a task. Whenever you organize groceries place the new ones at back. Make room for the old ones in the front, such that you pick them first avoiding wastage. Store egg on the middle shelf and in the carton in which it comes in. Milk should be placed on the bottom, the coldest part. In order to avoid contamination from juice dripping from packed raw meat place it in the bottom very cold shelf. Vegetables stay fresh in humid condition, so store them in the vegetable or high humidity rack. Place fruits in low humidity or crisper rack.
10. Dont mix fruits and vegetables
Never mix fruits and vegetables. Most of the fruits like apple, banana, etc release ethylene gas which is a natural ripening agent. Most of the veggies like spinach, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, beans, green leafy vegetables, mushroom, okra, etc are ethylene sensitive. The sensitive ones spoil quickly when exposed to ethylene. So it is always wise to store vegetables and fruits separately. Some fruits should also not be mixed. Ethylene releasers spoil watermelon when in contact. Bananas ripen quickly and spoil the nearby fruits as well. To speed up the ripening process place a tomato or banana close to the fruits.