Every year, tons of food ends up in the trash even though it’s still edible. Food waste is a huge problem for the environment and our society. However, as students, we often have limited resources and limited time to properly plan and store food items. In this series of articles, we would like to share with you 8 tips on how to avoid food waste while you are studying.
1. Make a shopping list
Before you go to the grocery store, make a shopping list – having an accurate idea of what you need will help you buy the food you need and prevent overbuying and associated food waste.
2. Shop consciously
When buying food, be mindful of quantity and only buy as much as you actually need. Small package sizes and comparing prices will help here. It’s also worth buying foods that have a longer shelf life, such as pasta, rice and canned vegetables.
3. Store food properly
It’s important to store food properly to extend its shelf life. This includes the correct temperature in the refrigerator and freezer, but also that fruits and vegetables should not be stored together. Food that is close to its expiration date should be used up or frozen immediately.
4. Plan your meals
By planning your meals in advance and buying only what you really need, you can reduce your food spending while avoiding waste.
5. Recycle leftovers
Instead of throwing leftovers in the garbage, you can create new dishes from them, for example, make a delicious soup from leftover vegetables and meat, or take leftovers from the previous day to university for lunch.
6. Take advantage of community opportunities
Participating in cooking workshops, food sharing initiatives and other community outreach efforts can help you reduce food waste with others.
7. Educate yourself about best before dates
It is important to understand the differences between “best before” and “use by” dates and “use by” date Know what to buy to avoid food waste. Some foods can be safely eaten even after the best before date has passed.
8. Be creative
By looking for new recipe ideas, you can use up leftovers and create new dishes. In doing so, creative ideas don’t require expensive ingredients and can be a great way to minimize food waste.
An effective way to avoid food waste: Create a shopping list
As a student, it can be difficult to avoid food waste. Many foods often need to be purchased in bulk, which can quickly overload your refrigerator. To combat this problem, make a shopping list before you go shopping.