If you’ve heard the latest stats, you know that 40 percent of all food is wasted in the United States. And nearly half of that waste comes from households.
Some of the reasons people waste food in their homes is by cooking too much and forgetting about or not eating up their leftovers. Here are six ways to prevent wasted food by tackling your leftovers.
Don’t throw them out
Whether you’re eating at home or out at a restaurant, don’t let leftover edible food go to waste in the trash or compost bin. No amount is too little to save when your hard-earned money and resources are on the line.
At restaurants, get a to-go box, or better yet, bring your own container. Just don’t forget it on the table when you leave. After a home-cooked meal, pack up the leftovers and get them into the fridge after everyone has filled up. Label the leftovers and store them in a place in the fridge where you won’t forget about them.
Make them tomorrow’s lunch
Saving leftovers is a quick way to pack a low-effort lunch. Just pop them into the right-sized container, and you’re ready to go! If there is not enough food for a full meal, pack an extra snack or a side.
Reinvent them
Get creative in the kitchen. Leftover vegetables are easily combined or baked into new dishes. Reinvent grains and meats into fried rice, hash, scrambles, and soups. The web is filled with ideas on “what to do with extra …”
Freeze them
If you like the food that’s left over but just don’t want to eat more of it now or even this week, freeze it in portion sizes or family dinner sizes to consume later. You’ll thank yourself when you have a busy schedule and no time to make a meal. Just be sure to label your container so you don’t have a frozen mystery jar that requires an act of bravery to defrost.
Swap them
Industrious folks have turned leftovers into a useful crowdsourcing hobby with group food swaps or dinner swaps. These groups or events consist of a few people making extra food and then swapping it to get more variety for their effort.
Prevent them
If you really hate leftovers, make an effort to avoid them in the first place by matching the amount of food you cook or buy with the amount of food you eat. Use a portion calculator when you cook, especially if you’re trying something new. If you are out at a restaurant and eating something that doesn’t store well, split it with a partner or friend. You might even get bold and request a half-serving or smaller portion!
Making sure we eat all of the food we prepare is an important way to reduce waste, conserve resources, and save money. Start showing your leftovers some love today.