Cut Down on Your Wasted Food

We've talked a lot at Planet Green about using leftovers and creating less waste. The people over at The Kitchn have a few practical tips for using up what is in the refrigerator and generating less waste.

1. Use a Magnetic Whiteboard on the Fridge

When you buy produce, write it down. As it gets used up, erase it from the board. Write down the leftovers you put in the fridge so you'll know exactly what you have in there and you can use it up.

2. Make a Shopping List

Make a shopping list. Be realistic about how many meals you are going to cook and shop accordingly. You won't have fruits and vegetables rotting in the refrigerator because you bought more than your family could eat.

3. Keep a Food Waste Diary

They got this idea from the U.K. campaign Love Food, Hate Waste, where you can download a free food waste diary. The diary looks like a lot of work and you would have to be pretty committed. However, it could be a very interesting exercise to do for a week and see not only exactly how much you throw out, but where you disposed of it and the reason you pitched it. I particularly liked the example they gave of feeding weetabix to the dog because it had gone soggy.

With a minimal amount of effort and a bit of organization you could easily create less waste and save yourself some money at the same time.