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If you’re like me- juggling family life, work, and everything in between- reducing food waste can feel like just another item on the endless to do list. But here’s the thing: reducing food waste doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It can actually save you money, help your garden grow, and even contribute to a healthier planet. Plus, you get to feel like you’re doing something good for the environment, which always gives you a warm fuzzy feeling.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through simple, actionable steps you can take to cut down on food waste and use what you’ve saved to enrich your garden soil or compost pile. By the end of this post, you’ll feel empowered to tackle food waste in a sustainable way that works for your family.

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Why Reducing Food Waste Matters

We’ve all heard the statistics: the average American family throws away around $1,500 worth of food every year. That’s a lot of money going straight to the landfill and those landfills produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. On top of that, food waste also wastes the water, energy, and labor that went into producing the food in the first place.

But here’s the good news: you can help reduce food waste by making small, easy changes at home.

Start by Reducing Food Waste

Before you even get to composting or using food scraps in your garden, let’s focus on ways to reduce the waste you’re generating. I like to think of this as the first step in the process, because the less food you waste, the fewer scraps you’ll need to deal with later.

Here are some simple, family-friendly tips for reducing food waste:

1. Meal Plan Like a Pro

I know, I know- meal planning can feel like a chore, but hear me out. Planning meals in advance will save you time and reduce the likelihood of food sitting in the fridge, getting forgotten, and eventually going bad. When you meal plan, you can use up ingredients that are on the verge of spoiling before they get tossed. Plus, meal planning helps you shop with purpose, cutting down on impulse buys.

Mom tip: Make meals that can be repurposed. For example, roast a chicken one night and use the leftovers in a soup or salad the next day.

2. Embrace Leftovers

As a mom of two busy boys, I know that leftovers are a lifesaver. Instead of letting leftovers languish in the fridge, use them for lunch the next day or even freeze them for a quick dinner later. You can repurpose things like leftover vegetables, rice, or pasta into a stir-fry or casserole.

3. Store Food Properly

Proper food storage is one of the easiest ways to prevent spoilage. Keep fruits and veggies in the crisper drawer, but don’t crowd them, and make sure your pantry is organized so you can use older items before newer ones. Using glass storage containers instead of plastic can help keep food fresher for longer, prevent staining, and reduce exposure to harmful chemicals.

Mom tip: Keep a list of foods you have in your pantry, fridge, and freezer. This will help you avoid buying duplicates and ensure you’re using things up before they go bad.

4. Know What to Freeze

Freezing is one of the best ways to extend the life of food that might otherwise go to waste. If you have extra bananas that are ripening too quickly, peel them and throw them in the freezer for smoothies. If you’ve got extra vegetables or cooked grains, freeze them in portions for future meals.

5. Use Every Part of the Food

You’d be amazed at how many parts of your food can be used in different ways. For example, broccoli stems can be sliced into stir-fries, and carrot tops make a delicious pesto. Use potato peels to make crispy chips or roast them with olive oil and herbs for a tasty snack. Use the tops of your strawberries by soaking them in a mason jar with vinegar to make a strawberry vinegar that you can use in a homemade strawberry vinaigrette dressing. Really, the options and ideas are endless (look for a future post on this section soon!)

6. Practice the FIFO Method (First In, First Out)

When you get new groceries, place the older items at the front of the fridge or pantry so they get used first. This ensures you’re using things before they expire.

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Now, Let’s Talk About Composting and Gardening with Food Scraps

Once you’ve reduced the amount of food you’re throwing away, you can get creative with the scraps that are left over. Instead of tossing food scraps into the trash, consider composting them or even using them in your garden. It’s an easy way to recycle nutrients back into the earth, all while creating rich, healthy soil for your plants.

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Here’s how you can use food scraps in your garden or composting routine:

1. Start a Simple Composting System

Composting is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce food waste. You can compost a wide variety of food scraps, from vegetable peels to coffee grounds. Here’s a simple guide to get started:

• Choose a compost bin: There are a variety of composting bins available, or you can create your own pile in the yard. I like to use this compost tumbler from AMAZON because it makes turning the compost easy.
• Add a mix of materials: You’ll need a balance of “green” materials (like fruit and veggie scraps, coffee grounds, and grass clippings) and “brown” materials (like leaves, cardboard, and straw). This helps create the ideal environment for decomposition.
• Turn your compost regularly: Turning your compost will speed up the process and ensure everything breaks down evenly.
• Water it: Compost needs to stay moist, but not too wet. Think of it like a damp sponge.

What to compost:

• Vegetable scraps (peels, stems, etc.)
• Fruit scraps (cores, peels, pits)
• Eggshells
• Coffee grounds
• Tea bags
• Grass clippings
• Leaves

What NOT to compost:

• Meat, dairy, and oily foods
• Processed foods
• Weeds or plants that are diseased
• Pet waste

2. Use Food Scraps Directly in the Garden

If composting isn’t for you, you can still use food scraps directly in your garden. Here are a few ways I like to use food scraps in my garden:

• Banana Peels for Potassium: Instead of tossing banana peels, chop them up and bury them in the soil. They decompose quickly and provide a boost of potassium, which helps your plants grow strong and healthy.
• Eggshells for Calcium: Crushed eggshells are great for adding calcium to your soil, which is especially important for tomatoes. Sprinkle them around your plants to help prevent blossom end rot.
• Coffee Grounds as Fertilizer: Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, which is great for plant growth. You can mix them into the soil or add them to your compost pile.
• Vegetable Scraps for Mulch: Instead of tossing vegetable scraps, lay them directly on your garden beds as mulch. This helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and improve soil health over time.
• Check out our post: How I Use Coffee Grounds and Eggshells in My Garden (and Why You Should Too)

3. Create a Worm Bin (Vermiculture)

If you don’t have the space for a compost pile or garden, you can still recycle food scraps by creating a worm bin. Worms will eat food scraps and turn them into nutrient-rich compost, also known as worm castings. These castings are excellent for enriching your soil. This worm compost bin from AMAZON makes it easy to start.

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Tips for Teaching Your Kids About Reducing Food Waste

If you have kids, like I do, teaching them about food waste reduction can be a fun and educational activity. Here are some tips for getting them involved:

• Start with a food waste jar: Every time they don’t finish their food, have them place the leftovers in a jar. When the jar is full, use it to create a compost pile or feed it to the chickens (if you have them!). We use this kitchen counter top compost bin from AMAZON as our waste jar.
• Garden together: Involve your kids in using food scraps for gardening. Let them bury banana peels and eggshells, and watch how it helps the plants grow.
• Create a “composting challenge”: See how long your family can go without throwing away food. Make it a game and reward them for reducing waste.

Reducing food waste doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. By meal planning, using leftovers, and storing food properly, you’ll naturally generate fewer scraps. When you do have leftovers, composting or using them in your garden can be a simple, sustainable way to give back to the earth.

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Remember, you don’t have to do it all at once. Start small, and you’ll see how easy it is to make a difference. Plus, your garden will thank you for it with healthier, happier plants.

Let’s make a conscious effort to reduce food waste and teach our kids the value of sustainability, all while creating a greener, healthier home. And if you need any tips or inspiration, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Happy gardening, composting, and waste-reducing!

With love,

Bri & Cat

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