It is estimated that in France, food waste represents around 10 million tonnes of products per year. This waste is a source of unnecessary extraction of natural resources, and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. What are we doing to limit food waste?
Food waste consists of throw away food that is still edible. It can intervene at each stage of the life of a food product, from production to its distribution, storage or consumption.
This waste of fresh and industrial food is unacceptable in view of the increase in food insecurity and the need to achieve carbon neutrality. Indeed, it is estimated that in the world, 14% of food produced is lost between harvest and marketing, and that 17% of global food production total is wasted.
so here’s 7 ideas and tips to help you limit food waste …
Well-organized cupboards and fridge
Perishable foods should be stored in the refrigerator to prevent the spread of germs and to ensure that they can be stored for as long as possible.
The refrigerator has different temperature zones, probably described in the refrigerator manual. Some varieties of fruits and vegetables (oranges, potatoes, etc.) keep longer if they are not stored in the fridge.
Foods keep longer when the fridge and cupboards are clean and organized, so always keep them clean, tidy and free of crumbs. And do not store other leftover food for avoid the spread of parasite on other foods.
Store your pasta, packets of rice, cereals, honey and sugar dry and at room temperature preferably in airtight containers.
Plan your purchases to avoid excess
Plan your meals, check what foods you still have and buy only what you really need.
Buying local products allows you to better understand the seasonal products, but above all to avoid long transport journeys, where agricultural products tend to deteriorate. It saves energy and does something good for the environment.
Pay attention to the cold chain
Many foods keep cold longer
- When shopping, make sure that fresh and frozen food is not not exposed to ambient temperature longer than absolutely necessary.
- On the way home, carry your food in an insulated bag. This way they stay cool.
- At home, correct sorting in the refrigerator allows keep food longer. Store foods with an earlier expiration date, in a clearly visible position, in front and consume them first.
And the dates of consumption
To limit food waste, it is important tointerpret expiration indications correctly. There are two main types of use date indications:
- ” best before… “ : after expiration of the use-by date, food may represent a health hazard. If this type of date has expired, the product in question is considered inedible and should no longer be frozen. Examples of this kind of products are fresh meat or fish.
- ” best before… “ : this type of consumption date is an indication from the manufacturer which means that the product will not lose quality or taste until the date mentioned. Foods with this type of indication are often still edible after the date has expired. Examples of this kind of food are pasta, coffee, rice, yogurt, etc.
Be careful with promotions
Only buy foods that have been reduced in price because they are nearing the best before date if you need to! Go for specials that allow you to pay less by buying more.
For example, go for “three for the price of two” or “+ 20% free content” products but only if you really need the quantity offered (or if you can freeze the product). Otherwise, in addition to wasting food, you will also lose money.
Make better use of your leftovers to limit food waste
To limit food waste, you can also make a special effort to recycle leftovers. These can often be reused for the preparation of other meals.
Let your creativity run free, it will enrich all your meals. Use damaged fruit to to make compote or leftover vegetables for prepare soups.
To illustrate this advice, here is a “special recycling” recipe to make you salivate …
Read also:
7 ideas to limit food waste
The 5 R rule to limit your waste
3 simple steps to take action for the planet at its level
Zero Waste: 3 simple tips to get started
Apple peel donuts recipe
Ingredients :
150 g of well washed apple peels,
250g of flour,
4 egg yolks,
2 dl of milk,
1 tbsp) peanut oil,
4 egg whites, 2 g of salt,
5 cl of rum,
20 g of sugar,
20 g of icing sugar,
cinnamon
Preperation :
- Roll each apple peel on itself to form a small bush.
- Avoid over-tightening it and secure it with a toothpick.
- Sprinkle the peelings with the 20 g of sugar and flavor them with the rum.
- For the dough, sift the flour in a basin and make a fountain.
- Stir in the egg yolks, oil and salt.
- Mix everything with a whisk without leaving lumps.
- Cover with a kitchen towel and let stand for 20 minutes.
- Just before use, beat the egg whites until stiff and gently incorporate them into the mass.
- Dip the peel rolls in the dough and let drain before frying at 150 ° C for 5 minutes.
- Let drain on absorbent paper and sprinkle with icing sugar, flavor as desired with cinnamon.
