Tag Archives: food

*ATTENTION* How to Save Money, Reduce Food Waste, Live Happier

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Let me start by saying.. I too am completely guilty of wasting food. And to be even more honest, I wasted a batch of kale last week due to lack of time. I know I know *enters cyber scold here :(* BUT there’s hope, and i’m pleased to say, I hardly waste food these days. Here are 5 QUICK and effective tips to help you save food, time, money, and the environment, applicable to everyday life. So if you love to save MONEY, love the environment, or simply want to be more efficient, read on my friend…

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I. Plan Ahead! Why?

When you buy food without a plan, you end up buying things you dont need, simple as that. By planning what youll purchase, you reduce the chance of OVER buying and wasting. So save your pockets, time, and money, and plan ahead. Make a list and stick with it!

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II. Dont stack your plate with food you wont eat! Why?

…because you can always go back for a second or third plate. Have you ever filled your plate, and gotten full grabbing your belly halfway? You cant put that food back in its dish so it goes to waste. Cut your plate in half, you can always go back for seconds.

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III. Freeze what you can!

At the end of the week, if you haven’t used your produce, freeze it. I often do this when it comes to smoothies and it works just fine. Last night I froze apple slices to use for a later time. Just find out if your food is freezable and for how long. Simple! 🙂

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IV.  “..but it’s on sale”

Raise your hand if youve ever bought food just bc its on sale? I see you.. Its fine, we’ve all done it. This one takes mental effort but I assure you, if you have no immediate plan for it, don’t buy it. It will be ok! haha. Yes, you save money, but you also save money that you never spend. To help, check whats on sale online ahead of time at your local grocer to incorporate that into your planning. Win/win!

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V. Donate food just sitting in your pantry.. Why?

Chances are, if you haven’t prepared your non-perishable food in 6 months, itll likely go to waste. So if you’ve fallen into the sale trap, just donate what you haven’t used and free up some space in your pantry. The kicker is, don’t let those foods pile back up. Be selective! win/win!

Waste reduction starts with US! Every time we waste food we are not only affecting ourselves, but the environment. In America, our food waste rots in landfills producing harmful emissions. Check out this article The Washington Post did on food waste in America 6 months ago ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/08/22/how-food-actually-gets-wasted-in-the-united-states/ ) Food waste is an issue on corporate levels, and personal. So lets all do our part. We literally have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Also visit, http://www.unep.org/wed/ to find out TONS about food waste, what we can do about it, and how to help the environment. This years World Environment Day theme is Think. Eat. Save. Check my next post for more tips.

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In the meantime, How do you reduce food waste? Were these tips useful? How do you think, to eat and save? Eat, to save and think? Or save, to eat and think? Let me know!

EASY HEALTHY EATING TIP: Anyone Can Do It

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Here is something quick and easy you can do to improve your diet. Once a week, commit to removing ONE bad thing from your diet… Yep just once a week.

 

Now this can extend to many different levels. If removing one thing a week is to tough you can start even easier. Lets say you eat out 5 times a week… Every week, take that number down by 1. Week 1, only eat out 4 times…week 2, 3 times a week… week 3, 2 times a week etc…. Essentially, limit the consumption of a particular food or bad habit but be specific. Another example, soda… You drink it everyday? same concept.. Pick a day/s where you wont have soda. Call it soda free Mondays or however many days you can do. The key is… COMMITMENT.

 

The regular way example would be biweekly. So, Monday through Friday, no chips.. Saturday or Sunday youre allowed a small bag as a reward, but don’t go out and buy the huge family style bag haha. The next week you can stick with chips or do no chips AND no soda… every week add on. Eventually, you can even cut off the weekend cheats. Weekend cheats are really just to appease those who really struggle and need a little motivation to keep going so dont do it if you dont have to. Now your vice may not be chips but whatever it is commit to removing it and be serious. After all, your health is on the line.

 

How is this a healthy eating tip? Simple.. The less bad foods you put in your body, the easier it is for your body to do its job properly. Improvements always = benefits. No one has to go from 0-100. Try it. Let me know how it works 🙂

PS: There are more ways to make this more challenging so if you need help on this, what to remove, or still dont know how to get started just let me know. Ill be glad to help.