Did you know the average family of four spends $3,000 on food per year that never gets eaten, yet one in seven Americans experience food insecurity? Taking small actions in your home can help reduce the valuable nutrients lost and even help the planet, too. Unsure of where to start? Here are tips to reduce food waste along with some delicious dairy-centric recipes.
Plan Meals and Snacks for the Week
Take time to sit down and make a meal and snack plan for the week to help reduce overbuying and reduce food waste. Start by looking at what is on-sale for the week to guide you in your meal and recipe choices. Then, create a list for just the amount of ingredients you need , rather than guessing. Meal planning doesn’t have to be boring either! Experiment with creative meals like this Pizza Pasta Bake can help keep your meals exciting and balanced.
Repurpose Leftovers
Planning for leftovers to use throughout the week is another strategy to reduce food waste. If you’re not a fan of leftovers explore other ways to repurpose foods throughout the week. For example, add leftover roasted veggies to cheese omelets or an egg bake. Or shred leftover chicken to make tacos or burritos for another meal – so easy! This Chicken Enchilada Casserole makes a great meal throughout the week or it can be frozen in individual servings to be used for quick meals.
Master Freezer Meals and Staples
Make your freezer your best friend! Consider making extra batches of meals to place right in the freezer. When certain ingredients are on-sale , incorporate them into soup, lasagna, or a casserole as a double batch. Then you can serve one that night and refrigerate or freeze the other for later. Here are some easy tips for freezer meals too!
Always have fruits and veggies in your freezer. This is an excellent way to get more color into your meals without having to worry about wasting fresh produce. If you can’t use fresh produce before it goes bad, toss it in the freezer to thaw and use later in smoothies and smoothie bowls.
Cook From Your Pantry
A well-stocked pantry is the secret to quick, balanced meals. Take inventory of your pantry every few weeks so you can use what you have in meals before buying more. This one-skillet Cheesy Rice Sizzle uses several pantry staples and just one pot.
There are few foods that match dairy’s powerhouse nutrient profile, including calcium, vitamin B12, protein, zinc, and selenium.! It’s also affordable, versatile and delicious. Give meals and snacks a dairy boost with these five tips.
Try making some or all of these actions into habits each week to have a positive impact on our lives, help reduce our food waste, and benefit the environment.
