SHOP SMART TO SAVE
HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULD BE MAKING A LIST AND CHECKING IT TWICE BEFORE YOU GO SHOPPING FOR FESTIVE FARE
One-third. That is the astonishing amount of food that is lost or wasted each year during the process from farm to the fridge. With one in five shopping bags ending in the bin, food waste not only affects our hip pocket, but also affects the environment and our health. Rarely when we think about being environmentally conscious do we include the impact of what goes in the kitchen bin (it is decomposable right?) but this is where we are mistaken.
Consider pesticides and fertilisers used in agriculture, precious water consumption, clearing of forests, emissions through transport and greenhouse gases or simply the fact that an animal has sacrificed its life — food waste is real, and for these reasons I think it is about time we became a little more mindful around the issue.
With the festive season drawing near, food waste hits an annual high. Buying excess food “just in case” or for reasons of gluttony is not good enough. According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) of the United Nations, “if we could reverse this (food waste) trend, we would have enough food to feed the world’s undernourished population, as well as help meet the nutritional needs of a planet estimated to reach nearly 10 billion people by 2050”. Wow! Here’s how to start making a difference at home:
1. DON’T BUY TOO MUCH
Check your fridge before you shop, or plan to cook from ingredients you already have in the pantry that are at risk of reaching their overdue date. If there was an apocalypse tomorrow, we could all probably survive a good week on the food already in our possession.
2. EAT SMALLER PORTIONS
As portion sizes increase so do our waistlines, but it is at a cost. Avoid two for one deals and understand it’s not really “saving” anything in the long run. Serve yourself 20 per cent less on your plate and you probably won’t even notice the difference.
3. BE SMART
Notice the use-by date of your food and ask yourself if it’s going to be eaten in its entirety before then. If not, look to buy smaller portions and learn to love your freezer. Instead of tipping leftovers in the bin, plan how you can turn them into tomorrow’s lunch.
4. USE IT UP
If you have leftover tomatoes that are at risk of spoiling, turn them into a pasta sauce. Perhaps you over-estimated your banana purchase? Make a smoothie or cake or, better still, peel and freeze them for a yummy ice cream blended with yoghurt.
5. STORE IT BETTER
Lettuce and leafy greens keep better in a container or bag, as does celery. Onions love a cool place out of the fridge and cheese needs to be wrapped in wax paper or stored in an airtight container. Unless you’re an avid fruit eater, avoid displaying them on the kitchen bench — they’ll have a longer shelf life in the fridge crisper.
So next time you visit the supermarket, place a value on each item you’re considering and ask yourself whether you could possibly go with less or without. The festive season should not be about how much food is on the table (or what is under the tree, for that matter) but rather who you are spending it with.