A diced apple lies on a cutting board

You’re already making a healthy choice by taking the time to meal prep. Good for you! Now it’s time to make healthy choices for the environment as you meal prep.

 

Sound like too much work? It only takes a little effort to reduce the amount of waste you produce when meal prepping.

  1. Prep for reduced-waste meal prep.
    Wasting less starts with your trip to the grocery store. Remember to take reusable bags along so you can leave the plastic ones behind the counter. As you shop, try to buy in bulk and avoid plastic packaging as much as possible. And do you really need to put that tomato in a plastic bag?!
  2. Switch to environmentally-friendly containers.
    If you’ve been using reusable or disposable plastic containers to meal prep, it’s time to ditch the ‘stic! Glass food containers are readily available at most grocery stores or wherever you buy your kitchenware. Not only is glass a better option for the environment, but it’s a healthier and safer option for re-heating food.
  3. Prep for success!
    Don’t forget about the potential food waste that can occur with meal prepping. Sometimes, in an effort to be our healthiest selves, we buy foods that are nutritious but don’t necessarily strike our fancy. Be honest with yourself when meal prepping and try to strike a good balance between nutrition and flavor. That way, you’ll be more likely to actually eat and enjoy the meals you’ve made for yourself throughout the week.

 

Monitor how well certain foods keep. If you keep your meals in the fridge, remember to eat meals with more easily-perishable ingredients earlier on in the week and save longer-lasting meals for the second half of the week.

 

For more waste reduction tips, click here.