15 ways to reduce food waste

With the rise in the prices of food commodities in Nigeria, it is important to learn how to reduce food waste to save money and also avoid unnecessary visits to the market or grocery stores .

PLanetPulseNG lists the following tips to help you and your household to reduce food waste:

1. Plan Your Meals: Make a grocery list and a weekly food plan so you only buy what you need.

2. Recognise Expiration Dates: To prevent throwing away food too soon, understand the difference between “sell by,” “use by,” and “best before” dates.

3. Practice First In, First Out (FIFO): Organise your cupboard and refrigerator so that goods that are older are used before those that are newer.

4. Food should be properly stored: For instance, vegetables should go in the crisper drawer and meats should be kept in the coldest section of the refrigerator.

5. Utilise Leftovers: Be creative when utilising leftovers by freezing them for later use or by turning them into new dishes.

6. Portion Control: Present food in smaller portions to prevent overeating

7. Compost: For food scraps that are unfit for consumption, set up a composting system.

8. Learn to Preserve: Examine techniques for preserving food, such as freezing, pickling, and canning.

9. Learn to Process food: Food can be processed by simply converting them into other forms to last longer e.g drying, grinding etc.

10. Donate Extra: If you have extra non-perishable goods, you might choose to give them to less privileged.

11. Be Aware of Portions When Eating Out: When dining at restaurants, request lesser portions or bring leftovers home.

12. Learn how to revive wilting produce by either boiling them or putting them in cold water.

13. Frequently Check Your Pantry and Fridge: Occasionally check through your food storage spaces to find things that need to be consumed immediately.

14. Give to Neighbours: Give extra baked goods or produce from your garden to your neighbours and friends.

15. Help Others Learn: Educate your friends by sharing these tips.

By putting these tips into practise and making them a regular part of your life, you can help create a more efficient and sustainable food system by cutting down on food waste.