How To Stop Wasting Food And Money, this is, what I find myself pondering these days.  Why? You might ask is my mind on this particular issue?  Mostly, because I have tried and failed to completely eradicate food waste.  I get tired, distracted, and quite frankly lose track (forget) what is actually in the refrigerator?

You know how you used to be able to say, ” Eat everything on your plate, there are starving people in the world!”?  It is apparently taboo to say this to people anymore and I can respect that, especially for people with eating disorders.  That said,  I have actually held a starving child, and experiencing that, changes your viewpoint.  Not only in regards to food but to a whole host of other issues.

Food waste in America has me concerned. There were 103 million tons (206 billion pounds) of food waste, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the equivalent of over 450,000 Statue of Liberties.  Now that is a lot of food waste and a lot of money down the drain. 

 

 

How To Stop Wasting Food And Money

 

Compost,

Soup bucket in freezer, delicious soups await!

Put leftovers in the freezer, not the fridge. 

Chicken food, only if you keep chickens of course!

Garden, you can pick only what you need! 

Share extra food with your neighbors.

Use peels, ends, and cores in cooking.

Use a food dehydrator.

Make homemade bone broth, chicken broth, beef broth, or vegetable broth. 

 

The annual food waste in America has an approximate value of $161 billion, while the average American family of four throws out $1,500 in wasted food per year (Rubicon).  Why not take a moment to evaluate how much money you are losing every month through food waste?

 

I’ve read many excellent books on the issue of food waste and well, wasting money in general.  Here are a few of my favorites… 

Waste-Free Kitchen Handbook: A Guide to Eating Well and Saving Money By Wasting Less Food

Grow Food For Free: The sustainable, zero-cost, low-effort way to a bountiful harvest

Waste Not: How To Get The Most From Your Food

Cooking with Scraps: Turn Your Peels, Cores, Rinds, and Stems Into Delicious Meals

 

 

YOUR TURN…

How are you handling this important issue in your home?

 

Blessings,

 

*This post may contain affiliate links. Thank you for supporting The Peaceful Haven! 

 

 

Janelle Esker

Janelle Esker is the grateful wife of Michael and homeschooling mother of six amazing children. She lives with her family, 4 cats, 1 dog, 3 ducks and 12 chickens in scenic Ohio. Janelle received her B.A. in Education from Ohio Northern University. She is the author of CHOSEN: One Family's Journey with Autism.

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2 Comments

  1. Good ideas here! Another is to only buy the perishables you’ll use in a timely manner. Also, have a plan for leftovers! When you have a well-organized kitchen, this becomes easier.

    1. This is such a good idea! Thanks for taking the time to comment!

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