Zero Waste Cooking For Dummies. Rosanne Rust

Every little effort counts, and the goal is to move in the right direction of reducing, reusing, and recycling more often. Just do your best!

       Like any meaningful change in your behavior, zero waste cooking takes effort. You may sometimes buy food on a whim and not take time to store it properly, or ignore spoiling food in the refrigerator and throw out what smells the worst on garbage night. It may feel easier to do that rather than to perform weekly fridge checks, create a food waste plan for shopping, come up with a food storage plan, compost, and use up leftovers. However, like any positive change you make in your life, the rewards are almost always worth the effort. This book is here to help you establish eco-friendly behaviors even when you’re busy.

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE BEYOND YOUR KITCHEN

      I’m sure you’ve heard the jingle — reduce, reuse, recycle. These are considered the “Three Rs of sustainability.” Even if you’re busy, you can work on a few things to get started on the zero waste journey. The main goal of this book is not only to encourage you to waste less food but also to get you to think about your role in household sustainability.

      I know you can do your best to make a few easy changes in the ways you shop, use, and cook food and ingredients. However, you can also follow a few easy steps to take beyond the kitchen. Start small and begin working on a few ways to reduce all waste in general. Soon you’ll find that using fewer single-use and more reusable items allows you to more easily manage a sustainable household.

       Invest in a good reusable water bottle or tumbler to keep your beverages cold or hot. Then use them exclusively. This may seem like a no brainer, but it’s a great first step.

       Pack lunches for school or work in a reusable lunch box or bag instead of paper or plastic bags.

       If you use a car daily, keep an insulated bag with you. This can help save leftovers or other items for the trip home.

       Think twice when you wrap birthday or holiday presents. Consider reusing a gift bag or using a more biodegradable butcher paper.

       If possible, look for items that use sustainable packaging.

       Learn about the recycling and composting services in your area so you can recycle as much waste as possible.

       Choose glass or aluminum bottles and cans over plastic since they’re more recycle-friendly.

Part 2

      Waste Not, Want Not in Your Kitchen

IN THIS PART …

      Discover how to take inventory of the food you have and stay organized.

      Keep food budgets on track with planning and shopping tips.

      Uncover ways to make the most of your food budget with balanced choices.

      Streamline your storage and explore reusable options.

      Implement zero waste meal planning strategies.