11 Smart Ways to Reduce Food Waste and Save Money
Have you ever opened the fridge and discovered food you completely forgot you bought?
It happens to all of us. A bag of spinach gets pushed to the back of the fridge, leftovers don't get eaten, or you buy a large package because it's a better deal, only to throw half of it away a few weeks later. Ugh!
And when food goes into the garbage, so does the money you spent on it.
The good news is that trying to reduce food waste at home doesn't have to be complicated. A few simple changes to how you shop, store and use your groceries can help you waste less food and get more value from your grocery budget.
Here are 11 smart ways to reduce food waste and save money.
(Note: The links in this post may be affiliate links. Read the disclosure policy here.)
1. Create a Meal Plan
Meal planning is one of the easiest ways to spend less and waste less.
When you have an idea of what you're going to eat during the week, you can create your grocery list around the meals you actually plan to make. This makes it much easier to avoid buying random ingredients that end up forgotten in the fridge. Every ingredient/item has a purpose!
Your meal plan doesn't have to be complicated, either. Even planning just a few dinners each week can make a difference.
And don't forget to check your fridge, freezer and pantry before you make your grocery list. You may already have many of the ingredients you need.
2. Plan for Leftovers
Leftovers are only helpful if someone actually eats them. If your family isn't particularly happy about eating the exact same meal two nights in a row, get creative with how you use them.
Leftover roasted chicken can become sandwiches, soup or quesadillas. Extra vegetables can be added to eggs, pasta or soup. Leftover taco meat can become nachos or a rice bowl.
You can also designate one night each week as a leftover night and let everyone choose from what's already in the fridge.
The goal is to make leftovers part of your meal plan instead of hoping you'll remember to eat them.
Make leftovers easier to spot: Good food storage containers can make a big difference when you're trying to reduce food waste. I like using clear containers so I can actually see what's hiding in the fridge!
3. Buy Less, Even When the Bigger Package Is Cheaper
A larger package isn't always the better deal.
Sure, buying the bigger package of something may give you a lower price per unit. But if you only use half of it and throw the rest away, you haven't actually saved money.
I've learned this one myself the hard way...many times. If my family doesn't eat much celery, buying a large bunch because it's technically cheaper isn't a bargain if most of it ends up in the compost.
Before buying the larger size, ask yourself: Will we actually use all of this?
Sometimes buying a smaller package, or even buying only the amount you need, is the more frugal choice.
4. Buy Foods Your Family Will Actually Eat
It's easy to buy food because you feel like you should be eating it.
Maybe you decide you're finally going to start eating more quinoa, kale or some other food you've never really enjoyed.
Then it sits in the pantry or fridge.
There's nothing wrong with trying new foods, but don't fill your grocery cart with ingredients simply because you think you should eat them.
Buy foods your family enjoys and look for realistic ways to introduce new foods. You're much more likely to eat what you buy when you actually like it.
5. Shop Your Pantry and Freezer First
Before heading to the grocery store, take a quick look at what you already have.
You might discover:
- A package of pasta you've forgotten about
- Vegetables hiding in the freezer
- Canned goods that need to be used
- Leftover meat that could become another meal
- Ingredients for a meal you hadn't considered
Making a few meals from what you already have can help prevent food from being forgotten and save you a trip to the grocery store.
It can also be really satisfying to see how much you can make from what you already have on hand.
Tip: If you can easily see what you already have, you're less likely to buy something you don't need. Clear pantry containers can make it easier to keep track of staples and use things before they get forgotten.
6. Store Food Properly
How you store your groceries can make a big difference in how long they last.
Some fruits and vegetables do better in the refrigerator, while others are best stored at room temperature. Herbs can be stored in ways that help them stay fresh longer, and many foods can be portioned and frozen before they have a chance to go bad.
It's also helpful to keep foods that need to be eaten soon where you can easily see them.
A little organization can prevent the dreaded "I forgot I had that" moment.
7. Use Your Freezer
Your freezer can be one of your best tools for reducing food waste.
If you know you're not going to eat something before it goes bad, freeze it instead. Reusable freezer bags and freezer labels are handy for freezing smaller portions of leftovers, fruit, bread and other foods that might otherwise get forgotten.
Depending on the food, you can freeze things like:
- Bread and buns
- Shredded cheese
- Cooked meat
- Soups and stews
- Leftover sauces
- Fruit for smoothies
- Some vegetables
- Extra portions of cooked meals
Freezing food can also make busy nights easier because you have meals and ingredients ready to go when you need them.
8. Understand Food Date Labels
Food date labels can be confusing, and they're not all telling you the same thing.
In Canada, best before dates generally relate to the freshness and quality of food rather than automatically meaning the food is unsafe to eat after that date. However, certain foods have different safety considerations, and you should always follow proper food storage and food safety guidance.
Instead of automatically throwing something away because you've noticed a date has passed, learn what the label actually means and use your judgment based on the type of food and how it has been stored.
And when in doubt about whether a food is safe to eat, it's better to throw it out.
9. Give Less Than Perfect Produce a Chance
A bruised apple or a slightly imperfect carrot doesn't necessarily belong in the garbage.
If produce is still safe to eat, you may be able to cut away a damaged portion and use the rest.
Overripe bananas are perfect for baking. Soft fruit can often be used in smoothies or become apple sauce. Vegetables that aren't looking their best can be added to soups, sauces or other cooked dishes.
Not everything needs to look perfect to be useful.
Just remember that moldy, spoiled or unsafe food should not be rescued simply to avoid waste. When food has clearly gone bad, it's time to let it go.
10. Serve Smaller Portions
Food waste doesn't only happen in the fridge. A surprising amount can happen at the dinner table when we serve more food than we can eat.
Instead of automatically filling everyone's plate with a large portion, start with a smaller amount. Anyone who is still hungry can always have seconds.
This can help reduce the amount of perfectly good food that ends up being scraped into the garbage.
11. Have a Plan for Food That Needs to Be Used
One smart way to reduce food waste is to create a "use it up" area in the fridge.
Put foods that need to be eaten soon somewhere visible. Then, when you're deciding what to make for lunch or dinner, check that area first.
You can also make a habit of doing a quick fridge clean out meal once a week. Look at the ingredients that are nearing the end of their useful life and figure out how you can combine them into a meal.
It might not be the prettiest meal you've ever made, but it can save you from throwing perfectly good food away.
Reducing Food Waste Can Make a Real Difference to Your Grocery Budget
Trying to reduce food waste isn't about never throwing anything away or making every grocery purchase perfectly.
It's about getting more value from the food you already paid for.
When you plan your meals, shop your pantry, buy realistic quantities, store food properly and find ways to use leftovers, you're not just wasting less, you may also find that your grocery budget stretches a little further.
And that's a win for both your kitchen and your wallet.
What are your favourite ways to reduce food waste at home?
