
How about a new family tradition? Why not come together as a family and reduce food waste moving forward?
I thought tackling food waste would be appropriate – not to mention budget-friendly – since all of us tend to waste enormous amounts of food. And not just fresh produce. We unfortunately pitch half-eaten food that wasn’t stored properly. Or unnecessarily pitch canned, boxed and jarred foods that are beyond their “best by” date. We feel guilty, but we keep doing it.
So post these tips where everyone in the family can see them. Assign specific family members to specific tasks. And hold a family meeting each month to see how you’re doing. No matter how small your efforts, you are making a difference.
4. Keep a List and Use It
If you have several freezers or refrigerators, keep a running list of what’s available so you use things up. I have a chest freezer plus two freezers in my two refrigerators, and I have a list for each freezer. You’d be amazed how many times I save myself a trip to the store because I already have a pork tenderloin or beef steaks in the freezer!
Hopefully these tips help you and your family get started on the right track, and be sure to check back in the spring issue for part two of ways to reduce food waste this year.


