Hey earth muffins! Food waste is a big problem for the planet. A lot of uneaten food heads to the landfill each day; without proper ventilation, this doesn’t break down properly like it would in the compost bin. There are plenty of ways to reduce food waste in your own home, but did you know you can also reduce this waste when you are grocery shopping?! Keep reading for the easiest ways to reduce food waste before you even leave the store!
Easy Ways to Reduce Food Waste While Grocery Shopping:
The first suggestion is to buy single bananas. 🍌 These are often just thrown out by grocery stores… And that actually creates a ton of food waste! The single bananas are usually in a pile on the end of the banana display; instead of buying a bunch, take from the singles stack instead. I personally buy a few to eat during the week and then some extra singles to put into the freezer. You can either pop them into the freezer to use for banana bread or slice before freezing for smoothies or a topping on oatmeal/overnight oats.
Don’t stray away from “ugly” fruits and vegetables! Isn’t it odd that we put beauty standards on produce?? Even if people don’t actively mean to leave behind the ugly fruits/veggies, this is often what ends up happening. To help reduce food waste from these unpurchased fruit/veggies, pick the ones that don’t look perfect. There is nothing wrong with them in terms of nutrients AND they taste the same too.
More Tips to Reduce Food Waste:
Another favorite tip of mine is to hit up the discounted bakery items. A lot of grocery chains have an in-house bakery that makes breads, muffins, cakes, etc. Usually there is a specific area of the bakery with discounted items close to their expiration date. Take advantage of this section! I personally freeze all of my bread (as it lasts longer), so I love buying a fresh loaf that is much better quality than the packaged sandwich breads.
Make sure to check other expiration dates too. A lot of grocery stores will offer mega discounts on items that are getting closer to their expiration dates. If you can actually use the item before it goes bad, I highly suggest capitalizing on that deal! This is such a great way to reduce food waste in your kitchen, as you can plan your meals around the foods that will expire first.
See, it isn’t that hard to reduce waste before your grocery shopping is even complete. 😊 Whether you buy some single bananas or focus on using up products with close expiration dates, there are plenty of ways to reduce your impact on the planet before your groceries even make it to your kitchen. Which of these techniques do you use when grocery shopping? Comment below and let me know your other tips for reducing food waste!
Love,
Jenna ♥
These are excellent suggestions to reduce food waste and also save money! My husband and I have started purchasing discounted baked goods (buns, bread, etc). Much cheaper and less going into the trash!