Avoiding Food Waste: The 5 Most Important Tips

Avoid food waste – Tip 1

Oddly shaped fruit and vegetables often don’t even make it onto the supermarket shelves. Since these products do not comply with the norm, they are disposed of beforehand.

• The products that still manage to be sold are often left lying around and at some point also end up in the garbage. You can counteract this waste by also buying fruit and vegetables with blemishes.
• Especially if you plan to consume fruit and vegetables on the same day or the next, you can reach for those with blemishes without hesitation.
• Because small dents, scratches, and discolorations do not look nice but do not affect the taste.

Tip 2: Understand the best-before date correctly

Many households still throw away food that is actually still good. The reason for this is often an exceeded best-before date.

• The best before date only indicates when a product can be used at least. However, dry foods in particular, such as rice, pasta, and sugar, can be enjoyed for a long time to come.
• Tip: Always taste whether the food is still good. Rely on your senses. If a product still smells, tastes, and looks good, you can still use it.

Tip 3: Don’t buy too much

Fresh food in particular does not have a long shelf life. Therefore, from the outset, only buy as much as you can actually use.

• Even if it sounds old-fashioned: write a shopping list. This allows you to think about what exactly you want to cook over the next few days. Buying only the groceries that you really need is no longer difficult.
• If you do end up buying too much, you can freeze or preserve excess food. This way the products don’t spoil. You can then use them at a later time.

Tip 4: Use leftover food

Do not throw away food that is no longer fresh. You can still create delicious dishes from many.

• Get creative: If you have a small portion left over from the day before, you might be able to add it to the next dish. Soups, stews, curries, and vegetable pans can be enhanced with leftovers.
• Tip: You can also process vegetables and overripe fruit into a green smoothie.

Tip 5: Food sharing – give away food

You can also give food that you have left over to others. There are now many online ways to do this.

• This is possible, for example, with the Foodsharing organization. You can offer groceries on their website. Someone else who has a need for it can then pick you up from you. The offer is free for both parties.
• There are also special food-sharing groups on Facebook. If you want to get involved, you can join a group near you there.