How to slash food waste
It is a known fact that food produced and purchased often gets thrown into the trash bin. What homes, restaurants, schools and institutions can keep in mind is that saving food not only saves money but also helps slow down global warming and deforestation.
Healthy Options, the Philippines’ leading onestop retail store chain for all-natural products, has stepped up its drive to “Love Food Hate Waste” while underscoring the overarching message that “our choices define our future.”
Around 30 percent to 40 percent of food produced around the world is never eaten, mainly due to spoilage after harvest or during transportation, or because they are thrown away by shops and consumers. Healthy Options enjoins individuals and companies to manage food waste.
“Food is a valuable resource to be consumed responsibly and treated with respect,” the company said. If everyone makes a few small changes and make it a point to use up food that is purchased, a big difference can be made. All efforts aimed at reducing food waste can help curb emissions of planet-warming gases, lessening some of the impacts of climate change. Here are five simple ways to reduce food waste:
• Plan your meals. Plan meals that you and your family members will be eating, and draw up a list of snacks as well as ingredients you need to whip up dishes. By planning meals, you will be able to buy only just what you need. Check your cupboards, refrigerator and freezer before heading out to buy more stuff so that you can use up what you have.
• Know what the dates on the label convey. Understand the difference between the “use by” and “best before” dates so you need not end up throwing away food that can still be consumed. Food can be safely eaten past a “best before” date, provided there is no sign of spoiling. On the other hand, food should not be eaten after its “use by” date, unless it was frozen beforehand.
• Organize your fridge, store food
properly. Move older foods toward the front so you can spot them and use them first. Put your recently bought items into the freezer if you do not intend to cook and eat them soon. Keep in mind that certain food items go stale quickly. Once opened, certain food such as ham and cheese also keep better if they are well wrapped by reclosing the pack, wrapping in cling film or foil, or putting it in an air-tight container.
• Stock your pantry with staple ingre
dients. Keep your cupboard and freezer well-stocked with a variety of goods, rice, pastas and sauces that you know you and other members of your household love to eat. With sufficient ingredients at hand, you can always rustle up a decent meal or even create a delicious dinner from leftovers. On the other hand, purchase loose produce, or just enough that you need so that you do not end up tossing much of it in the bin later on.
• Repurpose leftover food scraps. Vegetable and meat scraps can be used to create delicious meals. Browse the Net for some unique and tasty leftover recipes. Spruce up leftover food like hamburger buns, mashed potatoes, chicken, fruits and other foodstuff for brunch or snacks the next day. Wilting vegetables can be used in soups and soft fruit added to smoothies.
Indeed, individual food consumers can do their part to help reduce waste. Healthy Options has always encouraged people to reduce avoidable food waste. To date, the company continues to highlight the importance of planning food purchases, being smart about food storage and handling excess food.
Shop smart and go with a company that believes in “loving food, not wasting it.” Take your pick from a product array that is good for people and the planet.
Check out the all-natural product assortment and organic produce at Healthy Options, with stores located at: Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City; Rustan’s Supermarket, Makati City; Festival Supermall, Filinvest, .Alabang; Ayala Center, Cebu City; SM City, North EDSA; SM City Manila; SM Megamall B, EDSA, Mandaluyong City; SM Pampanga; SM Mall of Asia; SM Clark; Bonifacio High Street, Taguig; Trinoma, North EDSA, QC; SM City Davao; Rockwell-Makati; SM City Cebu; Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City; Commerce Mall, Alabang Town Center; Abreeza Mall, Davao City;Robinsons Magnolia, New Manila, QC; Excelsior, Eastwood City, Libis, QC; SM Aura, Taguig; Century City, Makati; Glorietta 2, Makati City; Centrio Mall, Cagayan de Oro; Solenad 3, Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna; and U.P. Town Center, QC.
For top product picks and current thrusts, visit https://www.healthyoptions.com.ph/.