Do Just One Thing

With millions of pounds of food wasted every year due to spoilage or improper storage, we need all the tricks and tips we can get to help us do our part to throw away less. The website SaveTheFood.com is loaded with useful tips that cover everything from the proper way to store beans, nuts and proteins to what fruits and vegetables can be stored in the fridge, in the freezer or not at all! One great example: Don’t wash your veggies until you’re ready to use them. Any excess moisture on veggies speeds up the decomposition process.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

The more you can do to help bring dinner to the table more quickly, the better. The next time you’re boiling water for pasta, consider placing a metal steamer basket on top of the pot and then placing the pot’s lid on top of that. This action allows you to do double duty: You can cook the pasta and steam veggies or a protein like fish at the same time. Not only will this save time, but you’ll save energy, too. And remember, when the pasta water cools down, you can give your outdoor plants a healthy treat by feeding it to them.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

On major holidays like Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July and Christmas, hundreds of millions of pounds of food are thrown away due to too much being made for get-togethers and parties. Professional chefs and caterers have a simple rule to calculate how much food to prepare for a crowd. Per person, it’s around 1/2 to 1 cup of protein, 4 to 8 ounces of starch (think mashed potatoes or stuffing), and 4 to 6 ounces of a vegetable dish. For light to normal eaters, this a meal; for heartier eaters, double it. Planning ahead can ensure you don’t cook more than is needed, saving money and reducing food waste.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION