Eight Tips to Reduce Food Waste and Save Money

Most of us want to spend less money on groceries each month, and cutting down on food waste can help you do just that. If you’re constantly throwing out food that goes bad before you have a chance to eat it, there are some steps you can take to make sure this doesn’t happen again, Therefore, this will save you money in the long run. Here are 8 tips to avoid food waste and save money so that your grocery budget won’t feel the hit when you throw out those three oranges at the bottom of your produce drawer!

1: Get a digital scale
If you’re serious about reducing food waste, having a digital scale on hand can help you put your best foot forward with meal prep. Measure out portions before cooking to avoid over-or under-estimating how much you’ll need. This will help ensure that you don’t cook too much food or throw away leftovers prematurely. And if you do end up with more leftovers than expected, try saving them for lunch tomorrow (or another day). Doing so helps curb spoilage as well as ensures that leftovers won’t go bad before they can be eaten.
2: Store your food properly
We all want to save money by shopping in bulk. However, food spoils quickly if it’s improperly stored. When you get home from your store trip, put your food directly into airtight containers with a lid and refrigerate it until you’re ready to use it. If you plan on keeping leftovers for a few days, consider freezing them immediately so they don’t go bad before you can eat them.

3: Track your progress
Many people lose weight in fits and starts. For example, you may drop 10 pounds for one reason or another, only to gain it back because you're not consistently eating well or exercising. At first glance, it doesn't seem like a good way to get anywhere! It's natural (and important) for your weight to go up and down when you first start a new exercise program or change your diet significantly. But even if the number on your scale isn't moving much after several weeks of following a plan, that doesn't mean it's time to quit.

If there was only one magic piece of advice I could give you, it would be to stick with things longer than you think you should. Always give 100% every day.
4: Shop smarter
The average family of four spends $130 per month on food that's never eaten. The USDA says that 21% of American households have trouble providing enough food for all their members. To save money and reduce waste, shop smarter: avoid impulse buys at checkout, plan, don't overbuy in bulk, use up leftovers before they go bad, freeze what you can't use right away, and donate to charities or people in need.

5: Freeze what you can
If you’re not planning on eating something in a few days, freeze it. Frozen foods can last for months, so there’s no need to let good produce go bad before you have a chance to eat it. If you’re worried about your food spoiling while it defrosts, just stick it in the fridge—it won’t take as long. It might seem like an inconvenience when you first start doing it but after a while, you’ll get used to saving more food (and money). We keep freezer-safe storage containers around for things we know we won't use quickly.

6: Don’t throw away everything in your fridge
The National Resources Defense Council estimates that we throw away 40 percent of our food in North America. But let’s face it, it’s not like you eat all your groceries. You buy those extra lemons because they’re too pretty to throw out and then end up finding them at the bottom of your crisper drawer months later. Before throwing anything out, take a minute to consider if there’s a way you can repurpose or recycle it so you don’t waste your money or precious natural resources. Maybe that lemon can make its way into a summery cocktail instead of getting tossed in an empty compost bin?

7: Eat it before it goes bad!
How many times have you thrown away something spoiled when you know you could have eaten it if only you had thought of it a little sooner? The answer might be probably far too many times. There are three main ways food can go bad: when it’s exposed to air, heat, or moisture. When things like these cause bacteria growth in food, they’re considered spoilage.

8: Buy only what you need
A good strategy for saving money on food is to buy only what you need. If it’s not part of your meal plan, don’t buy it! If there are foods you can freeze, buy them in bulk but only if you know that you will use them before they go bad. You don’t want to save money on food only to throw away good food that has gone bad. This wastes both time and money, especially if you have bought in bulk.

I initially wrote this article on my blog: Thank you for the love and support