 In the United States, we throw out a lot of food. It is estimated that:
Here are tips to reduce food waste so that your money goes further at the grocery store. Plan meals ahead and shop with a list. When you only buy what you need, you are less likely to have leftover ingredients at the end of the week. Utilize your freezer to store leftovers, meats, fruits, and vegetables Adapt your favorite recipes to use up leftover produce by swapping in similar vegetables:
References: Buzby JC, Farah-Wells H, Hyman J. The Estimated Amount, Value, and Calories of Postharvest Food Losses at the Retail and Consumer Levels in the United States. United States Department of Agriculture Electronic Journal. 2014. Conrad Z, Niles MT, Neher DA, Roy ED, Tichenor NE, Jahns L. Relationship between food waste, diet quality, and environmental sustainability. Plos One. 2018;13(4). Venkat K. The Climate Change and Economic Impacts of Food Waste in the United States. Int J Food System Dynamics. 2011;2(4):231-446.
1 Comment
The humble peanut often takes a backseat to trendier nuts. However, peanuts also offer healthy fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals, typically at a lesser cost. In fact, per serving peanuts contain more protein than any other nut.
Eating nuts – including peanuts – has been linked to a reduced risk of death from heart disease. Opt for a small handful of nuts for a snack. Instead of deli meat, try one or two tablespoons of nut butter in a sandwich. (Bored with plain old peanut butter? Try this.) Also, save those skins. Some studies have found preserving the peanut skin (found on in-shell and Spanish peanuts) can almost double the antioxidant concentration. Try this recipe. But what about aflatoxin? Yes, peanuts – like most nuts – are susceptible to this toxin. However, outbreaks seldom occur in the U.S. thanks to mandatory testing. Keep all nut products in the fridge to extend their shelf life. References: Aflatoxin Program. United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service. Accessed May 2019. Arya SS, Salve AR, Chauhan S. Peanuts as a Functional Food: a Review. J Food Sci Technol. 2016;53(1):31-41. Go Nuts (But Just a Little!). American Heart Association; 2015. Accessed April 2019. 'Going Nuts' May Help Heart Health. American Heart Association; 2015. Accessed May 2019. Kumar P, Mahato DK, Kamle M, Mohanta TK, Kang SG. Aflatoxins: a Global Concern for Food Safety, Human Health and Their Management. Front Microbiol. 2016;7:1-9. Sotos-Prieto M, et al. Association of Changes in Diet Quality with Total and Cause-Specific Mortality. N Engl J Med. 2017; 377:143-153. Zheng W, Shu XO. Prospective Evaluation of the Association of Nut/Peanut Consumption with Total and Cause-specific Mortality. JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(5):755-766. |
TOPICS
All
Archives
February 2025
|
RSS Feed