Happy National Nutrition Month! We often think about the food we eat as fuel for our bodies, for our health, for healing and for play. While this is all true, have you thought of food as fuel for the future? That’s the theme of this year’s National Nutrition Month.
Food is important not just to our own personal health, but also to the health of our environment and our surrounding communities.
Fuel for the Future is geared toward eating food in a way that supports sound environmental practices when possible. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to spend large sums on obscure organic seeds you’ve never heard of; it could be as simple as buying local or seasonal or buying food in packaging that uses less plastic. Another easy place to start is by setting goals and building habits to reduce food waste. The USDA estimates that 30-40% of the U.S. food supply, or 133 billion pounds of food, is wasted each year—more than any other country. Most of this happens at the consumer level.
Here are some tips and resources you can use to reduce your food waste:
Plan Your Meals
The best way to reduce your food waste is through planning your meals for the week and writing a grocery list. Having a plan and a list will help reduce impulse purchases and give you an opportunity to buy just what you need and use everything you buy.
Buy the Lovely Uglies
Don’t be afraid of the ugly veggies! It’s not often that an ugly vegetable makes it to the grocery store; typically they are screened out during production. If you happen to find one, or see them at your local farm market, know that they are just as nutritious as any other vegetable.
Make Use of Your Freezer
Making large amounts of a food, like chili or a casserole, can start to feel repetitive by the end of the week. Take out portions and freeze them for your own homemade version of a microwave meal. It’s also an effective way to store more whole versions of foods such as roasted/steamed vegetables, diced fruit before it spoils, or fresh herbs blended in a little olive oil.
Use Leftovers as an Ingredient
Learning how to transform your leftovers into a new dish is a skill worth building. For example, last night’s roasted veggie side can be chopped up and mixed into tonight’s pasta sauce. Or leftover grilled chicken can be used on top of salad, in tacos or a casserole, or added to a soup or stir-fry. Here is an article with some additional tips for bringing new life to leftovers: Turn Leftover Foods Into A New Meal
Composting
Some scraps are inevitable, and the occasional wrinkly bell pepper is bound to show up in the back of the fridge. Rather than throwing the things in the regular trash to be taken off to the landfill, try composting. Composting is a process of turning your produce scraps into a usable, nutrient rich soil additive that can be added to your garden, flowerbeds, yard, or house plants. The county does offer discounted compost bins so you can compost in your own backyard. Learn more: carrollcountymd | :: Welcome to Enviro World ::
Is this Still Good?
Knowing your expiration guidelines is key to reducing waste. When does the milk really become unsafe to drink? Many dates are in indication of quality, not safety. You can find an explanation to food dating here: Food Product Dating | Food Safety and Inspection Service (usda.gov)
Dana Mealing, R.D.N., L.D.N., is the community nutrition educator in the Tevis Center for Wellness.
Sources:
Food Waste in America in 2023: Statistics & Facts | RTS
Food Waste FAQs | USDA
Food Waste in America | Feeding America
Fuel for the Future: Academy Celebrates 2023 National Nutrition Month® (eatrightpro.org)
National Nutrition Month® (eatright.org)
carrollcountymd | :: Welcome to Enviro World ::
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