Wasteless Resources

Weekly Meal Planner

Planning your meals and snacks for the coming week ensure that buy groceries more strategically, and use all of what you buy. This cuts down on waste, and cuts down on the amount of money you spend on food.

Start by checking what ingredients you already have in your fridge, freezer, and cupboards for inspiration, and build meals around that. Be sure to schedule leftovers into your weekly menu as ready-to-go lunches, or quick and easy suppers. Lastly, freeze leftovers right away if you don’t plan to eat them in a day or two. You can schedule them into future weekly menu plans!

Freezer Inventory

Fresh food can only last so long. Your freezer helps you store food long after you would have had to throw it out. Freezing food can help you get the most out of fresh local produce, fish, and meat while it’s in season.

Still, frozen food is best when consumed within 6 to 9 months of being frozen. Keeping your freezer organized, and tracking what you have in there at a glance will help you cut down on food waste. It’s good practice to place newer frozen foods towards the back, and bring the older items to the front or top, so that they’re easier to remember, access, and use up. Also, keep in mind that an overstuffed freezer can prevent proper air circulation and temperature control, leading to needless spoilage.

Grocery Shopping List

A grocery list — especially when used to shop for a meal plan — will ensure you’re only buying as much food as you need. This will save you money and lower your household food waste, so try to stick to the list when you shop.

Post your grocery list in a high traffic area, like the front of the fridge, and add items to it throughout the week as you plan your meals, and as you use up any basic ingredients you like to have on hand.

Take a copy of the list to the grocery store to make sure you remember all of the items you need. We’ve all gotten home from the store to find we missed that one key ingredient.

Visit our Wasteless program page to learn more about our 2019 work on food waste in N.L.