This is part three of my reducing food waste series, where we go over four different ways we can reduce food waste in our homes.
Each one of these can make a difference on their own, but the more you implement into you routine, the less waste your kitchen will produce, and the more money you’ll save!
Here are Four More Ways to Reduce Food Waste:
Don’t miss out! You can read the other two parts by clicking the links below:
Save Bones to Make Delicious Bone Broth
Just like in part one of the Reducing Food Waste series, where we saved veggie scraps to make broth, we’ll be doing the same with bones.
Bone broth is full of minerals and nutrients that out bodies need. It can help support digestion, our immune systems, and even joint health!
I found it cheaper to buy a pack of chicken thighs with the bones and skins still on. I get these and (carefully) de-bone them myself, throwing the bones into a freezer bag and freezing for later.
Whenever I plan on making soup, I just put the frozen bones into the instant pot, cover them with water, add a little salt, and cook for 40-50 minutes. This makes a nutritious broth without any additives, or ingredients I can’t have.
You can even add some of those veggies scraps you were saving to get even more nutrients in your broth!
Learn to Preserve Food by Canning, Freezing, or Dehydrating
This is one of my favorite ways of reducing food waste in my home. I’m constantly on the look out for deals on food that I can preserve for later, and I often use these skills to prevent food from going bad.
You may have seen some of my posts about dehydrating before. This is one of my favorite ways to preserve food, as its easy and and saves on space. I highly recommend it, if you’re new to learning to preserve food!
Of course we do some canning in our house too (more and more every year), and we definitely take advantage of having space for freezers. The only down side to freezing a bunch of food is power outages, so keep that in mind if you’re looking to invest in a deep freezer.
As this blog grows, I will be posting more about different ways to preserve food, but in the mean time, check out this post about dehydrating apples! They make a wonderful snack and can save apples before they turn bad.
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Start a Compost
Composting is a great way to make use out of all of those other food scraps that we haven’t found a use for yet. It’s a process of breaking down organic materials, such as lawn clipping, leaves, and food scraps, and using it to build soil health.
This provides many benefits, including:1
- Improves structure and health of your soil
- Reduces the need for fertilizers
- Prevents Soil Erosion
- Conserves Water
- Helps Plants to Grow
You don’t necessarily need to have a garden to start a compost. If you have house plants, you can add compost to their soil, you can give some to those who do garden, or use it to spruce up your flower beds!
You can get really scientific with it if you want. What your compost provides, is determined by what materials you use. You can read more here.
Get the Most Out of Eggs Shells
I know that the prices of eggs are high right now, so why not get the most out of them?
Eggs shells are high in calcium and can benefit some plants if you use them in your garden. Some of these plants include: tomatoes, strawberries and squash.
Simply wash them out, let them air dry, crush them up and keep them in a container for later. When you’re ready to use them, just sprinkle them into hole the plant is going in.
Another way to make the most out of eggs shells is to use them as a supplement for yourself. If you’ve found yourself needing a calcium boost, you can save a lot of money by making your own calcium powder.
*Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist, or doctor. Make and consume at your own risk.
- Wash out your eggs shells and allow them to air dry.
- Once you have enough, add your shells to a pot of water and boil for 5-10 minutes.
- Drain them and allow them to air dry once again.
- The next day, bake the shells in a 200°F oven for 10-12 minutes.
- Now you are ready to grind them into a powder. Do this by Using a blender, spice grinder, or mortar and pestle.
- (optional) Sift out the larger pieces with a mesh strainer, and regrind.
- Store the powder in an air tight container.
Once you have your powder, it’s up to you how you use it! Add some to smoothies, put it in capsules, or sprinkle over meals.
Reducing waste, and being mindful of how we use things, is part of being a good steward of what God has given us. I believe it’s one, of many, ways we bring Him glory in our daily lives.
What are some ways you like to reduce waste in your home? Leave your comments below!
