There are lots of things you can do to reduce the amount of food thrown away in the trash by following the tips below:
Buy only what you need
Plan your meals. Make a shopping list and stick to it, and avoid impulse buys. Not only will you waste less food, you’ll also save money!
Pick ugly fruit and vegetables
Don’t judge food by its appearance! Oddly-shaped or bruised fruits and vegetables are often thrown away because they don’t meet arbitrary cosmetic standards. Don’t worry - they taste the same! Use mature fruit for smoothies, juices and desserts.
Store food wisely
Move older products to the front of your cupboard or fridge and new ones to the back. Use airtight containers to keep open food fresh in the fridge and ensure packets are closed to stop insects from getting in.
Understand food labelling
There’s a big difference between “best before” and “use-by” dates. Sometimes food is still safe to eat after the “best before” date, whereas it’s the “use-by” date that tells you when it is no longer safe to eat.
Love your leftovers
If you don’t eat everything you make, freeze it for later or use the leftovers as an ingredient in another meal.
Put your food waste to use
Instead of throwing away your food scraps, compost them. This way you are giving nutrients back to the soil and reducing your carbon footprint.
Respect food
Food connects us all. Re-connect with food by knowing the process that goes into making it. Read about food production and get to know your farmers.
Support local food producers
By buying local produce, you support family farmers and small businesses in your community. You also help fight pollution by reducing delivery distances for trucks and other vehicles.
Use less water
We can’t produce food without water! While it’s important that farmers use less water to grow food, reducing food waste also saves all the water resources that went into producing it. Reduce your water intake in other ways too: fixing leaks or turning off the water while brushing your teeth!
Sharing is caring
Donate food that would otherwise be wasted. For example, apps (like Nextdoor) can connect neighbors with each other and with local businesses so surplus food can be shared, not thrown away.
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
https://www.fao.org/fao-stories/article/en/c/1309609/
