The Benefits of Preventing Food Waste This Holiday
Every year, the holiday season in the U.S. seems to place a heavy emphasis on having more. More gifts, more food, and the purchasing of things in excess to create the perfect holiday experience. The problem with this arises after the holidays are over, when we realize that an alarming amount of what we purchased wasn’t actually needed and is thrown away.
In just one day (Thanksgiving), millions of pounds of food were discarded, resulting in further damage to our planet and the unnecessary depletion of other valuable resources like water, labor, and energy. Our Thanksgiving blog post dives more deeply into this and can be read here. You’ll also find some helpful tips on minimizing excess spending and saving money, proper food storage techniques, and recipes!
This month’s blog post focuses a bit more on the benefits of food waste reduction. We’ll explain how it positively impacts the world we inhabit as well as how it affects us on an individual level. We’ve also added an additional five creative and untraditional recipes to aid all you food waste warriors in getting rid of those holiday leftovers without throwing anything away.
How Food Waste Prevention Benefits the Planet
It provides food to underserved communities.
When we purchase only what we need, leaving behind the “just in case” cans of sauces and veggies or the extra “but, what if” dinner rolls and pies, those items are left on the shelf for others who need it. If the items are never purchased, several grocery stores will partner with organizations, like 360 Eats, giving us those surplus ingredients as food donations. Our chefs create super tasty dishes that enable food insecure families to enjoy a holiday feast of their own—something they may not have otherwise experienced.
On average, Americans throw away enough food to feed 150 million people each year. With 35 million food insecure individuals living here, food waste prevention could essentially eradicate hunger in our country. Being mindful of how much we’re purchasing and wasting positively benefits everyone by providing nourishment to those in need and creating a more equitable food system. (Source: EPA.gov)
2. It saves vital resources.
Reducing food waste positively impacts us by redirecting precious resources away from the harvesting and transporting of food (that never gets eaten) to places where it can be of better use. The amount of water and energy potentially saved each year from food waste prevention could provide electricity and water to more than 50 million homes, according to the EPA.
How Food Waste Prevention Benefits You
It saves you money.
Our Thanksgiving blog post mentioned that the average family of four wastes $1,500 on food that gets thrown away. That’s a good chunk of change! Some simple meal planning and list creating could put hundred of dollars back in pockets. Who doesn’t love saving money?
2. It could create healthier eating habits.
If you’re consciously trying to avoid wasting food, you’re more likely to eat the perishable items that spoil quickly, like fruits and vegetables. You can let your inner chef free, finding creative new ways to combine those perishable ingredients with your household staples. You may even find yourself less likely to eat out knowing there’s food at home that you don’t want to go bad. Saving money, having fun in the kitchen, and improving health? We see no downsides here.
Leftover Holiday Recipes
Leftovers can be a drag, especially holiday leftovers. Once the festivities are over you never want to eat another turkey or can of cranberry sauce again. But with the help of allrecipes.com and aheadofthyme.com, we were able to find five awesome recipes to help you enjoy finishing off those leftovers without dread. These recipes are easy, delicious, and best of all aren’t just sandwiches or casseroles stuffed with everything in your fridge.
1.Turkey Tom Kha Gai - Allrecipes
Here’s an untraditional and tasty-looking recipe for coconut soup using leftover holiday turkey. With 20 minutes of prep time and 35 minutes of cook time, you’ll have a healthy, light dinner ready in under an hour. Goodbye, turkey.
2. Mashed Potato Pancake - Allrecipes
If you’ve managed to gobble up the bird and got stuck with side dishes, here’s a nice way to switch up the texture on those mashed potatoes, making them more appetizing. If you’ve got potato starch (or cornstarch) and an egg, you’re set. Paired with some protein as the main entree and greens on the side, you’ve got a nice well-balanced meal.
3. Shredded Potato Quiche - Allrecipes
A flavorful quiche is a great way to combine multiple leftover dishes. This recipe uses ham, vegetables, and potatoes to help you eliminate that holiday food fast.
4. Leftover Turkey Stuffed Bell Peppers - AheadofThyme
This is another great option if you’re trying to eat lighter following your holiday feast. This nutritious recipe only asks for roasted turkey, vegetables, herbs, and cheese. Who knew preventing food waste could taste so good?
5. Cranberry Sauce Parfait - AheadofThyme
We couldn’t leave out the cranberry sauce and this recipe requires very little effort. Greek yogurt, granola, and honey are the only other ingredients, but surely there are countless other items that could be added or substituted to create the perfect parfait for you. Leftover cranberry sauce? Gone.
One Habit At a Time
We know firsthand that completely eradicating food waste is a massive project. No one expects you to singlehandedly save the world, but we can accomplish far more as a community. A simple change, such as making and sticking to a grocery list, or meal planning for the week will save food, time, and money. If this is your first step toward reducing food waste in your household, consider us your virtual support system, cheering you on as you attempt to establish better habits one step at a time.
Joining communities that share your beliefs and values also helps solidify those new habits. At 360 Eats, we have a network of sponsors, partners, donors, and volunteers all fighting for a more sustainable and equitable food system. You can be a part of our mission to bridge the gap between food insecurity and food waste by becoming a donor or volunteer. You can also check our website blog each month for new tips and interesting facts on food waste or reach out to us at info@360eats.org with any questions or comments.
Happy holidays to all of our food waste warriors!
