Skip to content

AHS providing tips to help Albertans reduce food waste

Alberta Health Services (AHS) says that roughly $31 billion in food is wasted in Canada each year. Almost half of all food waste takes place at the household level.
29360994_web1_210428-CRM-FOOD-WASTE-2-Landfill-HEAP_7
(File photo)

Alberta Health Services (AHS) says that roughly $31 billion in food is wasted in Canada each year. Almost half of all food waste takes place at the household level.

AHS said there are a few ways to waste less and get the most from your food.

• Plan a menu for a few days or for a week.

• Use your menu to make a grocery list. Having a grocery list makes it easier to buy only what you need, which can help reduce food waste.

If you do have extra food in the fridge, try some of these ideas to put it to use.

Vegetables and fruits

• Add zucchini, mushrooms or spinach to a pasta salad or use as a pizza topping.

• Mix mashed sweet potato or yams into biscuits, buns, muffins, or pancakes.

• Add tomatoes or peppers to a sandwich or wrap.

• Add fruit to cereal, cottage cheese, yogurt, salad or a smoothie.

• Freeze overripe bananas to use in loaves, muffins or smoothies.

Grain foods

• Add cooked barley, couscous, rice, or quinoa to a casserole, salad, soup, or stir-fry.

• Make breadcrumbs or croutons from dried (stale) bread. Use crumbs to coat chicken or fish. Add croutons to a salad, casserole, or soup.

• Use leftover cooked pasta in a casserole, salad or soup.

Protein foods

• Freeze small containers of yogurt to have as a frozen snack.

• Add milk, yogurt or tofu to a smoothie.

• Add beans, boiled eggs, chickpeas, fish, poultry, lentils, nuts or seeds to a salad.

• Add ground meat, poultry or tuna to pasta.

For more ideas, visit ahs.ca and search reduce food waste