Читать книгу Zero Waste Cooking For Dummies - Rosanne Rust - Страница 14

Zero waste cooking focuses on shopping for what you need, not what randomly “looks good.” Grocery stores strategically set up their shelves and displays to entice you to buy more. They place seasonal items at your eye level, and companies pay a premium for the best shelf placement. But shopping only for what you need will ultimately help reduce your food waste. You’ll find lots of tips and strategies for sticking to your food budget and grocery list in Chapter 6.

A good shopping list makes trips to the grocery store more efficient. Your list should include everything you need to create meals for the next week or two. You might break your list into a big order or a few smaller orders, so think of your list as a running inventory as well. These are planned purchases that fit your budget and meal planning. Chapter 4 helps you analyze what you have, what you don’t use or need, and what may be ending up in your garbage can too often. Here are a few reminders to get you started:

 Use a list. Consider a digital app or keeping a running list on your smartphone.

 Delay a purchase. When you see that tantalizing endcap, tell yourself to make a note and think about it for your next trip. This will eliminate an impulse buy but not deny the possibility of putting the item into your cart next time.

 Don’t overspend. Have a budget in mind before you go and keep a rough total as you shop.

 Choose quality over quantity. In most cases, it’s worth paying more for a high-quality food product (say, cheese) than getting a larger portion of it (more than you may need or be able to use).

 Store food properly. Once you bring the food home, storing it properly helps preserve its quality and safety longer, thereby helping you reduce food waste. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 offer you lots of ideas and tips for making food and ingredients last longer. You may be surprised to find out what those best-by dates really mean, or why you shouldn’t store avocadoes near bananas.