True: Households are the largest contributors to food waste in Lane County, followed by consumer-facing businesses like restaurants and grocery stores.
It’s tough to hear, but that bag of salad you bought with good intentions now rotting in your crisper has consequences: 25% of our fresh water grows food that will never be eaten. That’s a sobering number in our current drought.
But there’s good news: by making small changes, we can all solve the problem of food waste with simple tips...
Shop for meals — Make a list with meals in mind and only get what you’ll use.
Prep now, eat later — Prepare ingredients in advance to save time, effort and money. Try cooking several meals at once and freezing the rest for a later date. If you notice something going bad, make a soup or freeze individual ingredients.
Keep it fresh — Store fruits and vegetables where they will last the longest.
Eat what you buy — Use up leftovers and ingredients on hand before you buy more. Create an “eat this first” section in your fridge.
The bonus of decreasing food waste is that it saves you money in the long-run. That’s a win-win for everyone.
Brought to you by:
Sarah Grimm
Sarah Grimm is the Waste Reduction Specialist for Lane County Public Works.
She is an avid gardener, flyfisher and lover of the great outdoors.
