My sister in law is a food snob. My mother doesn’t waste one iota of food. One bite is a leftover and she freezes it. I wish I had a picture of her freezer of 100 baggies of 1-bites! My sister in law will throw away any food if it has been in the refrigerator for over 2 days, while my mother eats moldy bread and chicken after 7 days in the fridge. My mother is never sick either, v.s. my sister in law who is.
I Just Gotta Tell You
- $20 billion worth of food that supermarkets throw away every year.
- Stores in US use twice as much food annually as those in Europe.
- Total American food waste- $48 billion each year (includes what we throw away)
- Recent studies estimate that Americans waste approximately 25 percent of their groceries instead of consuming them.
- Factor in an average cost of $7,000 a year on groceries (this is the number for a household of three, so it will vary according to your location and family size), you get a waste of $1750 a year.
- Rotting food also pumps heaps of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Plus the costs for collecting, transporting and land filling the excess food come from the taxpayers.
You know who pays for that waste? You the Taxpayer and Consumer
- In Toronto- city taxpayers pay nearly $10 million a year for its disposal. Most of it is still edible and much of it is still in its original packaging.
- Wanna know why your food prices are so high? The more that is throw away the higher the prices will go.
You Say- why don’t they donate it- Well they can’t- FDA rules, liability (lawsuits)
So What do you do?
1.) Take the Pantry Challenge
- Check the Pantry and Fridge before you shop
- Freeze what you don’t eat
- Plan your shopping list and don’t stray
- Know what the plans for the week are- so you don’t overstock and plan meals you won’t eat
2.) Start Small-
- Produce is a leader in waste- buy small quantities so you will eat them all
3.) Freeze. Freeze, Freeze
- All leftovers can be frozen and re-eaten
4.) Store food to keep it fresh and safe
5.) Start a Compost Pile
6.) If you have scraps look for organizations that redistribute food to those in need. Many farmers and zoos use leftovers to feed animals.
Personally Speaking: I rarely throw away food- Here is the easiest and most economical way to get rid of leftovers, save money and have great, delicious food year round.
I have what I call- Leftover Soup- It starts with chicken broth and all ‘older’ vegetables, meats, rice, pasta goes in the pot. Lettuce, tomatoes, onions, spices and more just keep being added and added and refrozen. It’s filling and nutritious and eliminates any waste.
Resources
Ways to Reduce Waste- by Go Green TV
Wasted Food Blog-