Planning Meals for your Family Without Wasting Food Saves you Money.
Sarah White
5 min read
Affordable Family Meals
When it comes to food waste in the United States, roughly 30-40% of the food supply is wasted every year. The Environmental Protection Agency estimated the total pounds of food wasted per person annually is 218.9 pounds. When we are not spending money on food we did not eat, that is money back in our pocket. The average American family of 4 spends almost $3,000 per year on food they do not eat, according to the EPA.
Planning affordable meals for your family while reducing your food waste is good for your wallet and the environment. Some ways to keep your environmental impact down include looking at what you already have in the fridge or freezer at home so you do not buy more of something you already have. Plan your meals for the week before you go grocery shopping, only purchase what you need for those meals, and note how many meals each ingredient will be used in so you do not overbuy food.
When it comes to food waste in the United States, roughly 30-40% of the food supply is wasted every year. The Environmental Protection Agency estimated the total pounds of food wasted per person annually is 218.9 pounds. When we are not spending money on food we did not eat, that is money back in our pocket. The average American family of 4 spends almost $3,000 per year on food they do not eat, according to the EPA.
Planning affordable meals for your family while reducing your food waste is good for your wallet and the environment. Some ways to keep your environmental impact down include looking at what you already have in the fridge or freezer at home so you do not buy more of something you already have. Plan your meals for the week before you go grocery shopping, only purchase what you need for those meals, and note how many meals each ingredient will be used in so you do not overbuy food.
The average American family of 4 spends almost $3,000 per year on food they do not eat, according to the EPA.
The average American family of 4 spends almost $3,000 per year on food they do not eat, according to the EPA.
How you store your food helps reduce food waste and prolongs the life of your ingredients such as vegetables. Vegetables and greens that can wilt should be stored in a high-humidity drawer in your fridge to prevent premature decay. Fruits and vegetables that rot should be stored in a low-humidity drawer. Also make sure to wash your fruits and vegetables to prevent mold growth.
Repurposing ingredients that are old and may not be as good as they were fresh, yet still safe to eat, is a good way to save money instead of throwing them away. Making vegetable stock and soup is a good way to repurpose vegetables into a new dish.
While meal planning for the week is a challenge, focus on what meals your household already enjoys so you can have a list of steady, familiar meals you know will not go to waste.
Keeping food out of landfills and donating it to your local food bank is a sustainable way to dispose of food you may not have time to eat before it spoils, but someone less fortunate will.
How you store your food helps reduce food waste and prolongs the life of your ingredients such as vegetables. Vegetables and greens that can wilt should be stored in a high-humidity drawer in your fridge to prevent premature decay. Fruits and vegetables that rot should be stored in a low-humidity drawer. Also make sure to wash your fruits and vegetables to prevent mold growth.
Repurposing ingredients that are old and may not be as good as they were fresh, yet still safe to eat, is a good way to save money instead of throwing them away. Making vegetable stock and soup is a good way to repurpose vegetables into a new dish.
While meal planning for the week is a challenge, focus on what meals your household already enjoys so you can have a list of steady, familiar meals you know will not go to waste.
Keeping food out of landfills and donating it to your local food bank is a sustainable way to dispose of food you may not have time to eat before it spoils, but someone less fortunate will.
Conclusion
Reducing food waste is a green initiative that reduces your carbon footprint and waste while also saving you money. Instead of overbuying at the grocery store, you can plan exactly what you want to eat, what you need to make that meal, how many portions you need, and not let any food go to waste. Grocery prices, according to the USDA, have risen 2.7% compared to June of last year. Americans lose out on hundreds of dollars a year from food waste alone; don’t let wasted food take more money out of your pocket.
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Help The Hive brings practical support into one simple platform helping households make confident decisions today while building greater stability for tomorrow.
Build a Stronger Future for Your Family
Help The Hive brings practical support into one simple platform helping households make confident decisions today while building greater stability for tomorrow.