Creative Ways to Reduce Food Waste at Home!

Let’s talk about something we don’t usually think about when we’re cleaning out our fridges: food waste. Did you know that in the U.S., nearly 40% of food goes uneaten? That’s almost nearly half our food being thrown away, and often just because we didn’t get to it in time, didn’t store it properly, or maybe just forgot it was there!

As someone who bakes and cooks a lot, I’ve become so much more aware of how much food ends up in the trash, and how small changes at home can actually make a big difference. Plus, reducing food waste doesn’t just help the planet, but it also means more people can access the food they need, especially when we get creative with how we use and share it!

Here are a few of my favorite realistic and doable ways to reduce food waste at home:

1. Turn your scraps into stock - Vegetable peels, herb stems, and even onion skins can all be stored in a freezer bag until you’ve got enough to make homemade veggie broth. It’s flavorful, super cost-effective, and way less salty than the store-bought kind.

2. Love your leftovers (for real) - Instead of ignoring leftovers in the fridge, try repurposing them. Say you've got leftover roasted veggies... why not turn them into a wrap or omelet? What about some extra rice? Make fried rice or rice pudding! It's a great way to get full use out of your groceries and get creative.

3. Embrace "ugly" produce - Just because a carrot has two legs doesn’t mean it won’t taste good! These "imperfect" fruits and veggies often go uneaten, but they’re just as nutritious as the standard looking ones (and usually cheaper!!)

4. Freeze it before you lose it - Are your bananas getting too brown? Slice and freeze them for smoothies! Stuck with a load of extra soup? Freeze it in some single-serving containers for a quick meal later. Who knew? Your freezer can become your secret food-saving weapon!

5. Share what you can - This is a big one for me. One of the reasons I started Munch with Mal was to help share food that might otherwise go to waste, whether that’s leftovers from events or prepackaged snacks from local stores. You can do the same by donating to community fridges or pantries!

Food waste may feel like a huge issue (because it is), but the good news is that small changes in your own kitchen can create these ripple effects that can contribute to making our world a better place. When we waste less, we feed more, and that’s what The Dancing Baker is all about!