By Caitlyn Talbert, 2018 Dietetic Intern [Sodexo]
For week two of National Nutrition Month®, we bring you some words of wisdom about food sustainability, specifically as it relates to our grocery lists and purchasing habits. A lot of energy and resources go into the food we put on our plates, so it is important to make sure we try to use these items as efficiently as possible. Here are a couple tips and tools to encourage you to waste less.
Tip #1:
Consider what you already have on hand before you head to the store. You might have all the ingredients for a meal without even knowing it! Or, at least a good start. There’s a neat website we’ve found called SuperCook that allows you to enter in whatever you have hand and it will generate recipes for you to consider. Simply type in the item or check the boxes under the appropriate category. Give a try next time you need dinner ideas!
Tip #2:
Meal plan before you go to the grocery store. This one is very simple, but can make a huge impact. Even if you just plan weeknight meals, it can greatly focus your attention and keep you from those unnecessary purchases that sit at the back of your pantry for weeks on end. Try spending a few minutes with your favorite cookbook or favorite food websites, grab some inspiration and write out all of the ingredients to create a grocery list. This process can be as structured or relaxed as you feel is necessary; the point is that being mindful of these small efforts often make a big impact on both the waste we produce and the money in our pocket books – two things definitely worthy of our attention.
We hope you find these helpful!
