how to cut waste in the kitchen

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Here is a good article on how to keep down the waste in your kitchen. It helped me. Cut the Waste in Your Kitchen—and Save Big Don’t you hate it when it’s time for a healthy snack and the fruit you go to grab is way past ripe? Or you go to pull out some lettuce for a dinner salad, and the leaves are brown? Research shows you’re not alone: The average family tosses out 1.28 pounds of food every day. That’s 470 pounds a year, at a cost of nearly $600. Sometimes, without even realizing it, food goes to waste before we can enjoy it. Try these simple changes to help you cut food waste in your home. Start with a Shopping Plan Before you even leave home, take 10 minutes to plan out your weekly meals. Maybe this is a week when you’re not planning on salads. That means you won’t buy green produce you won’t likely use. Maybe it’s a crazy week filled with activities and little time for food prep. Picking up packaged fruit that’s ready to eat will help make sure the fruit gets to your mouth and doesn’t stay in the fridge. (Believe it or not, nutrition and convenience can go hand in hand!) Buy Fruits and Vegetables Designed to Last Choosing packaged produce will buy you time to enjoy the food. And despite what some folks believe, these kinds of produce are usually equal (or even higher) in nutrients than fresh versions. That’s because nutrient losses begin right after harvest, but packaged fruits and veggies have the freshness sealed in. That means you won’t sacrifice flavor either. The next time you’re in the product department, stop at the refrigerated section to pick up a few cups of Del Monte Fruit Naturals. There are about 2 servings in each cup and ten varieties to choose from. Visit www.TheRipeChoice.com to learn more. Watch Where Your Food Sits Heat and sunlight both speed up the spoiling process. And even if you live in parts of the country that get quite cold in winter, the sunlight and heat streaming into your car can put food at risk. Try to sort out foods that need to get inside right away and get them packed together—you can sort as you put food on the checkout belt. That way, when you get home, you can tote them into the house first. Some stores now sell insulated reusable bags, which could help, too. (Or you could stash a cooler in the car.) And don’t be tempted to squeeze in more errands after the grocery store. Give It a Good Home Store refrigerated fresh produce in perforated plastic bags. Or just cut holes in the bags they’re already in. This exposes the produce to the refrigerator’s oxygen, humidity, and temperature. Keep produce as separate as you can in the fridge. Some vegetables and fruits (like apples) give off a natural gas called ethylene that can wilt, spot, or rot other food. If you choose packaged produce, you’re set to go—it’s already packed for smart storage. At this time of yar most of us have excess food to store I found some of these ideas very helpful