Tossing leftovers is worse than you think… Every time you scrape scraps into the bin, it’s not just the food itself that is going to waste. It’s also the land, water, energy, labor, and everything else that goes into making that food and bringing it to you. That means, simply cutting down on food and beverage waste can prevent further contributing to methane emissions in landfills and pollution from the processing that goes into making a surplus, and disposing of it.

Plus, reducing waste — and the plastic that often comes with it — can help you save money, the planet, and be a good role model for your kids. So, we’ve created this guide to help you avoid unnecessary waste in a way that works for your family. Keep reading for our top ten tips to learn how!

#1 Purchasing

The first step starts at the store. Plan your grocery list in advance to prevent impulsively purchasing items you don’t need or won’t use and, wherever possible, avoid buying items in plastic containers. Remember, going to the store more often and buying less each time means you will eat fresher foods and save money too!

#2 Washing

While it might be tempting to store your food ready-to-eat, keep in mind that washing and only partially drying your produce can give bacteria and mold a better chance to grow, causing it to go bad faster. That’s why we recommend keeping produce dry until just before you eat it. However, there are a few exceptions… (more on this later)!

#3 Separating

Luckily, there are ways that you can store your food to keep it fresher for longer. For example, it is best practice to store fruits and veggies separately. Better yet, know which foods are ethylene producing (a gas that some produce emits, quickening the ripening process of nearby produce) and which are ethylene sensitive, so you can store those apart too.

#4 Storing

Just like keeping certain foods separated, some foods stay fresher longer if you store them in the right spot. For example, potatoes and onions like cool, dark places. Citrus, bananas, and tomatoes prefer to be out at room temperature away from sunlight. Celery, carrots, lemons, limes, and (full or half) ripe avocados, love to be in the fridge submerged in a container filled with water. Herbs on the other hand, prefer to be treated like flowers with just the cut end in water.

#5 Planning

One excellent way to reduce food waste is to plan your meals ahead of time so you know exactly how much you will need. Think about when you want to eat them and how long the food will last before and after being prepared. If you know you will eat out and are likely to have leftovers, plan to purchase less groceries, instead of sticking with your usual haul.

#6 Freezing

There’s one simple hack for reducing food waste that many people forget: instead of tossing it out, freeze it! There are so many items that you might not even think to freeze but will last a lot longer if you do. This includes breads, soups, produce, butter, and cheese. It’ll help to look each food item up online to find out it’s new (frozen) expiration date. For example, you can freeze butter and cheese from about 6 – 12 months, whereas bread and soup can last about 3 months. Tomatoes that are pureed can even be frozen for up to one year! We recommend labeling the container with a new best by date, so you can plan to eat what’s inside within the appropriate time.

#7 Cooking

Next time you’re tempted to throw things like mushy berries or wilted lettuce in the bin, do a quick internet search for a recipe that might help you use up your scraps in a way you’ll truly enjoy! Made too much coffee? Try out a tiramisu! Fruit that is going bad? Make jam or a sorbet! However, if something does start to rot, be sure to put your health first by tossing it in a compost bin instead!

#8 Composting

If you truly can't use your food waste, we highly recommend composting it. All it takes is a compostable paper bag or a bin to store food that you can no longer eat. You can compost at home, give your scraps to a neighbor with a green thumb, or take it to a facility where it will be properly processed. We recommend using it at home to create soil for healthy plants or start your own garden!

#9 Gardening

Growing your own food is one of the best ways to reduce food waste and all of the negative impacts that come along with it. Starting your own garden means you can save money and eat the freshest foods possible. Plus, you can even help your kiddos learn to appreciate what goes into putting food on the table. No space for a garden of your own? No problem! You can plant herbs or other small plants inside, all you need is a countertop or windowsill.

#10 Reusing

Far and away one of the most effective ways to reduce food waste and protect the environment is to preserve your food with the best reusable, eco-friendly products. Pura Stainless has 100% plastic-free water bottles and lunch containers, made entirely of stainless steel and medical grade silicone. Since each and every Pura product is Made Safe® Certified, free of over 80,000 toxins, you don’t have to worry about chemicals leaching into your foods when you’re trying to keep them fresh!

At Pura Stainless, our mission is to help your family and the planet stay as healthy as possible. That is why we work hard to provide the safest reusable water bottles and food containers on the market. We hope this guide helps you find ways to reduce food waste that fit seamlessly into your lifestyle. To get started, head to our website and shop our 100% plastic-free, eco-friendly products!