{"id":31611,"date":"2018-11-02T11:27:34","date_gmt":"2018-11-02T09:27:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.faithful-to-nature.co.za\/blog\/?p=31611"},"modified":"2018-11-05T10:01:20","modified_gmt":"2018-11-05T08:01:20","slug":"reduce-your-food-waste","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.faithful-to-nature.co.za\/blog\/reduce-your-food-waste\/","title":{"rendered":"Reduce Your Food Waste"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve all rolled our eyes while our mother\u2019s have whined, \u201cDon\u2019t waste your food, there are children starving in (insert poverty-stricken country here).\u201d But how far does our irresponsible consumption reach? Well, you\u2019d be alarmed to find that western countries like America and the United Kingdom waste as much food as the continent of Africa produces – which is roughly 230 tonnes. Is it any wonder that garbage is literally weighing our planet down? Reduce your food waste by considering some of the tips we\u2019ve listed below:<\/span><\/p>\n

EDUCATE YOUR<\/b>SELF<\/b><\/h1>\n

It is said that the great aim of education is not knowledge but action. If you know what your food waste is actually doing to the planet, you might think twice about being so careless when disposing of it. In the same breath, if you are given advice about how you can limit your waste and shown how easy it is to be environmentally responsible, you\u2019ll be harder on yourself if you don\u2019t change your habits. Kate Turner, the author of <\/span>My Zero-Waste Kitchen<\/span><\/a>, gives green-living readers a guide to smart shopping and meal planning. There are also countless articles on the net, not too different from this one, that will give you simple but effective information about getting a handle on your food waste.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Brabantia Stackable Glass Jars<\/p><\/div>\n

SAVE (AND ACTUALLY EAT) LEFTOVERS<\/b><\/h1>\n

You wouldn\u2019t need to store leftovers if you ensured your serving portions were appropriate, but cooking in bulk is a great way to <\/span>save energy in the kitchen<\/span><\/a>. Having said that, pizza, pasta salad, chicken, chilli con carne and potato wedges taste so much better the day after you\u2019ve had them for dinner. Store <\/a>and label your leftovers so you can eat all the food before it goes bad.<\/span><\/p>\n

SHOP AND STORE FOOD CORRECTLY <\/b><\/h1>\n

Everyone has felt the pangs of betrayal when the avocados that have refused to ripen all week are suddenly all ready-to-eat at once. To keep them from spoiling you have smashed avo and toast for breakfast, an avocado succotash for lunch and nachos with guacamole for dinner. If you don\u2019t want this to keep happening to you, buying fruit that\u2019s at different stages of ripening is something you should consider. <\/span><\/p>\n

Making sure your groceries last as long as they should requires that you brush up on your knowledge of storage too. Bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers and onions stay out of the fridge, while peaches and pears need to stay away from apples, peppers and leafy greens to prevent premature spoilage.<\/span><\/p>\n

EXPIRATION DATES ARE GUIDELINES <\/b><\/h1>\n

If you\u2019re reaching for your favourite breakfast cereal tomorrow morning and notice the date printed under the \u201c<\/span>Best Before<\/span><\/i>\u201d warning has already passed, don\u2019t be alarmed. The expiry of a product speaks to the quality of it and not the food safety. <\/span><\/p>\n

DONATE FOOD<\/b><\/h1>\n

One man\u2019s trash is another man\u2019s treasure, and this is especially true for food. Seek out local soup kitchens or feeding schemes and ask if you can help out through donating any food you can\u2019t get through. By doing your part to ensure your fellow (wo)man has a warm meal at night, you\u2019ll also be giving Mother Nature a break from playing trash can for a change.<\/span><\/p>\n

DISPOSE OF YOUR FOOD WASTE ETHICALLY<\/b><\/h1>\n
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Kitchen Craft 5L Sleeved Stainless Steel Compost Bin<\/p><\/div>\n

If I see one more driver or car passenger throwing a soda can out their window during traffic, I wll riot. Just stop it. Recycle your metal, paper and <\/span>plastic<\/a>. Invest in an effective <\/span>compost bin<\/a> that will convert your food waste into earth nutrients to feed your garden with. There are so many alternatives to littering that people who insist on continuing the infuriating practice should be punished. The Waste Act 59 of 2008 stipulates that no person can spill, throw, dump or discard rubbish in a public place. So really, what litter bugs are doing is breaking the law.<\/span><\/p>\n

GET CREATIVE<\/b><\/h1>\n

If you still think that the only way food can be consumed is if it\u2019s been boiled, baked or braai\u2019d \u00a0then you need to get your head out of the freezer. Health enthusiasts have been blending vegetables and juicing fruits for decades. <\/span>Water infusions<\/span><\/a> are a great way of getting your daily dose of vitamins and minerals. If you have a stockpile of fresh produce then a homemade jam, chutney and other preserves would make great gifts for friends, and will certainly impress at your next company potluck. Dried apricots and pineapples are great amuse-bouche\u2019s for your next dinner party if you\u2019re willing to invest in a <\/span>dehydrator<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Faithful to Nature is extremely passionate about zero-waste and plastic-free living. If you\u2019re serious about converting to an eco-friendly lifestyle, Nadia Krige quips her <\/span>5 Takeaways from Zero Waste Home<\/span><\/a>, written by Bea Johnson.<\/span><\/p>\n

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My Top 5 Takeaways from Zero Waste Home by Bea Johnson<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n