Reducing Food Waste in the Kitchen

Published: Feb. 16, 2022 • By Karlie Conzachi

Food waste. It is an insanely important sustainability issue that we can improve within our own homes! Research estimates that upwards of 50% of the total amount of food that is wasted comes from our own kitchens. As a forefront topic in most sustainable development goals, it is important to remember that each person can make a difference by choosing to live sustainably. One action we can take is to reduce our own individual consumption and waste and lower our food waste starts in the kitchen!

Food Waste = Financial Waste

A key tip to always keep in mind is that the food waste that we throw in the landfill does not compost as you might think, but rather just rots and releases methane. And about 95% of all the food that we waste in the united states ends up in landfills.

One major step you can take is to simply learn how to compost!

Composting is an awesome way to reduce the waste you send to our landfills. The organic waste in our landfills generates tons of methane, so composting helps significantly reduce these emissions.

Here are links to some other ZWOT member’s articles that would be helpful:

Setting up a backyard compost!
All about composting
Composting basics
Industrial compost
Another massive change is to save the scraps to use for various things.
- Lots of vegetable scraps can be frozen to later be turned into a vegetable stock
- Opt for frozen produce over fresh produce

Be Mindful

A third of the world’s annual food production ends up in the trash. This amount of food could feed 868 million of the world’s hungry, even four times more than they need to lead a nourishing life.

Being even a bit more mindful allows you to save your money and also save these precious and vital food resources.
One meal a week dedicated to using all leftover ingredients or other foods that would get overlooked (look in your freezer for those leftovers you were sick of that are from a while ago!)
There are an endless amount of creative ways to save food resources and avoid unnecessary waste, if you are unsure of specific food try a quick recipe search on Pinterest and I am positive numerous results will pop up.
Repurposing leftovers is huge and usually save time and money

Live a more intentional life and know what is in your fridge, what is in your pantry and pay attention to the use-by dates for perishable items, otherwise use expiration dates as guides (they are usually not FDA approved).

Organization is Huge!

Making a few changes in our habits and kitchen routines is a vital aspect to reducing our food waste and can make a difference in our impact on climate change.

Shop smarter. Go to the store with a specific list of food you need–and stick to this list (also do not go to the grocery store hungry)
Plan your meals ahead of time
Have a zero waste grocery shopping trip!

(this article is helpful too)

Glass jars and tupperware are your new best friends!
Learn the best ways to keep your food and leftovers safe and fresh for longer (plastic-free style).
Keep an organized pantry and fridge/freezer, so you can easily access and see the food you have at all times. It is easy to forget about food when you do not see it, this will help will food get bad before you remember to eat it.
Take note of what you throw away each week so you can be more aware of the patterns you have with unnecessary waste.
Airtight containers!
Smaller portions!
Organize your fridge/pantry with the older foods in the front and the newest foods towards the back: “first in, first out” method