For the first two weeks in October, the boys & I decided to participate in the GLAD Fresh Food Challenge. It drives me crazy to waste food & with two little boys that tends to happen! One day my boys will like what they are given to eat & then the next day they turn their noses up to the same foods! Gotta love kids & their taste buds huh?!
So in an effort to reduce our waste, we joined the Challenge. Did you know that the typical Canadian home wastes about 13% of the food they purchase each year? We’re talking hundreds of dollars that are just thrown in the trash each year as we waste food, 10% of which is fresh fruits & vegetables that just go to waste.
So for two full weeks. No wasted food. Not a single leaf of lettuce. Not a slice of apple pie. Could you do it??
Here are some tips & tricks that helped us make it though the two weeks:
- Buy only what you actually need and try to use everything you have on hand first before buying more
- MEAL PLAN! Before you hit the grocery store ask yourself, ‘What do I want to make this week, and what do I have in my fridge already that I can use to get the meal started”. Then, buy what’s on your list! No more, no less.
- If you have leftovers piling up in the fridge, don’t order out or pick up lunch for work! Brown bag it!!
Right away I noticed how we were more careful with leftovers and made a plan to use them the following day for lunch or dinner. I loved using the variety of GLAD products for all of the different types of food. From homemade cookies for lunch to ClingWrap over Quinoa we had a tool to keep each type of food fresh. The product that really surprised me was the GLAD Press n’ Seal. While I had used this product at my Mom’s house before I had never purchased it for home. Wow, was I ever missing out! I was really impressed with the way GLAD Press n’ Seal stuck to all of my metal and glass dishes and provided an airtight seal. It was like my secret weapon to prevent food waste!
How did we do? Well, we still had some food waste but I would bet it was 1% of what we wasted before. With the proper tools and meal planning it’s a lot easier to keep food fresh which means you save money and provide lots of fresh food for your family.
What are your best tips & tricks for cutting down on wasted food? Are you up to the GLAD Fresh Food Challenge?
This is a great challenge! We do tend to waste food around here having a 2 and a 5 year old. I think its hard for them to grasp the concept of “why can’t you just get more?” I have taken up menu planning again and you are right that definitely helps!
Heather recently posted..We Spent Halloween At Disneyland!
Yes, it is so hard when you have little ones. I tried to just focus on not letting food go bad in the fridge!
Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel recently posted..Zero Food Waste #GLADFreshFoodChallenge
I definitely need to sign up for this challenge. I don’t like to waste food either but it happens. We’ve gotten better though.
Dee @ Cocktails with Mom recently posted..Spread Homemade Comfort with Marie Callender’s
We need to do that challenge! We waste too much food becauseI over buy or make too much!
Terri Ingraham | Sugar Free Glow recently posted..Autoimmune Disease Summit
Yes – buying too much – or changing plans and going out for dinner instead of eating at home. So many reasons to waste. I loved the challenge of focusing on not wasting – now I just have to continue it.
Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel recently posted..Zero Food Waste #GLADFreshFoodChallenge
I’d absolutely give it a go. I’m all for using every bit of food without letting it go to waste. I hate when that happens!
Liz Mays recently posted..Holiday DIY Crafts | Christmas Tree Watering Can
We’re pretty good about waste around here. In fact, out trash can is usually mostly empty. I do compost veggie scraps, and I don’t really consider that too wasteful. But, no waste? I don’t know that I could do that.
Debi @ Life Currents recently posted..Island Albacore Melt
There is nothing that drives me more crazy than food waste! Drives me bonkers!
Debra recently posted..Paw Print Cupcakes and Fresh Fruit Hedge Hogs
I am definitely up for the challenge. I have no tips though, because I feel like we definitely waste too much food.
Mistee Dawn recently posted..The Girl Who Came Back To Life by Craig Staufenberg – Book Review, Tour & Giveaway!
Nice post! Love your honesty here…we try our best but it can be hard to avoid food waste entirely. I didn’t know about the challenge but funny enough I set it as a goal for out family this week. Meal planning is key as you say. Here’s a great free resource I developed you may want to share with your readers: http://www.Meal Planning Made Easy.ca Love to know what you think. There are seasonal sample meal plans, recipes and tips galore.
Best,
Carol
We totally need to get better about using everything up!
Kristin recently posted..The Ultimate Undergarments and Giveaway
What a great challenge! Meal planning definitely helps reduce food waste.
Stephanie Pass recently posted..Bake like an Elf this Christmas with Hallmark