Waste Not, Want Not
10 Ways to Reduce Costly Food Waste by Amber Lanier Nagle
(taken from Natural Awakenings Magazine April 2012 issue)
1) Shop Smarter – Preplan meals for the week, including non-cooking days and leftover days.
2) Organize the refrigerator – Place leftovers at eyelevel in the fridge so they are front-and-center.
3) Freeze foods – Many food items will last for months in the freezer.
4) Share surplus foods – Invite a friend over for supper or deliver a plate to an elderly neighbor.
5) Store food properly – To maximize food’s edible life, set the fridge between 35 and 38 degrees.
6) Buy ugly fruits and veggies – Purchase produce with cosmetic blemishes to save perfectly good, overlooked food from being discarded as waste.
7) Use soft fruits and wilted vegetables – Convert soft, overripe fruits to jellies, jams, pies, cobblers, milkshakes and smoothies. Use wilted veggies in soups, stews, juices and stocks.
8) Dish up smaller portions.
9) Take home a doggie bag.
10) Compost routinely. One of my friends in Orlando said she had started composting her food scraps during the last year to reduce waste!
A friend of ours, introduced my wife and I to Dream Dinners a couple of years ago and we have found it an easy way to prepare healthy meals, give us variety and reduce waste since we can make portions just right for us. You might want to check them out sometime if there’s one close to you. No I’m not getting anything for saying this, I just like their food! - Gene
WOW, I just surpassed 500 views today! Taking away my views and bots, that’s still great! Thank you all!
Please email comments and questions to GDempsey@fortlauderdale.gov
Gene Dempsey, City Forester
Environmental Services
Office - (954) 828-7704 Fax - (954) 828-7897
Think before you print!
