Tips to Reduce Food Waste

Written by HealthKick partner kencko

It’s estimated that between 30-40% of the food supply in the United States winds up going to waste. That’s over 130 billion pounds of food that doesn’t wind up where it’s intended – our stomachs. While we aren’t suggesting you or I are going to crack the code and solve this enormous problem overnight – or eating a slightly spotted banana rather than tossing it out will fix matters either – we do want to do our part. Here are just a handful of simple strategies we employ ourselves to cut down on food waste.

1. Start the week with a plan of attack (or a good grocery list): This can make a huge difference in your own household’s food waste output. By planning the meals you know you’ll make at home, you can go to the store with a clear objective, so you’ll shop less impulsively, and come home only with the ingredients you’ll need to prepare the meals and snacks you know you’ll make.

2. Try a pantry/fridge-clearing recipe: Maybe a stressful Monday full of meetings leaves you too exhausted to take on that ambitious dinner you’d slated for the evening. That’s fine! You can simply repurpose some of those ingredients later in the week into a soup, or curry, fried rice, or pasta dish. The base for each of these types of meals (stocks, canned tomato products, rice, pasta, curry mixes, etc.) have long shelf lives, so keep them on hand to pair with that bushel of kale or those chicken thighs that might go bad in a couple of days.

3. Try frozen fruits & veggies: We adore fresh fruits and veggies and aim to eat as much of them as we possibly can. But frozen fruits make for great smoothies and boast similar nutritional profiles to their fresh counterparts. Same for frozen veggies; they work great in sauces or stews. Canned or dried beans are great pantry staples. (Look for canned or frozen goods that don’t have added sugar, or are lower in added salt.) And if we can toot our own horn for a moment, kencko smoothies – made from organic produce, flash frozen, and slow-dried – let you easily sneak in 2.5 servings of fruits and veggies on the go. Just add water or your favorite milk!

We hope you enjoyed these simple tips to help reduce food waste, and don’t forget to check out kencko and get your daily dose of fruits and veggies with their delicious smoothies!