10 Ways to Waste Less Food

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Embracing your inner chef is not just about knowing the right techniques and masterfully executing them but having a responsible relationship with food. Wasting as little as possible and knowing how to get the most from your food using innovative recipe variations is what makes a great chef. Canadians typically waste up to $27 billion worth of food each year, which is also a waste of time, energy, and resources, all of which negatively impact the environment. Fortunately, there are little efforts each of us can make to waste less food. Here are our tips: 

 1. Freeze leftover sauces by pouring them in ice cube trays and simply reheating when needed.
2. To keep a salad fresh and crisp, drape a paper towel over the top of a bowl filled with lettuce and cover with plastic wrap to absorb moisture.
3. Freeze herbs by placing in ice cube trays with oil poured inside. This prevents browning as well as freezer burn and you can simply reheat in a pan when cooking. 
4. Do not mix fruits and vegetables since they spoil each other. 
5. Cook with every part of the food. You can make vegetable stock with leftover veggie scraps and meat broth with leftover cuts of chicken, beef, or porc. You can even add cheese rinds to soups and sauces. 
6. Donate nonperishable food that you no longer want or use. 
7. Plan meals and use grocery lists to shop wisely.
8. Too much fruits or vegetables? Can them or pickle them. 
9. Store smartly by knowing where to put your produce and using air tight containers when necessary.
10. Embrace leftovers! You can get really creative with recipes. 

 For more inspiration on reducing food waste, follow our Pinterest Board “Consciously Kitchen” for creative recipes and tips.