By: Matt Beauchamp, Guest Contributor
One of the things my wife obsesses over the most in our home is our grocery bill. She’s constantly trying to find ways to stick to our budget and maximize what we get out of each shopping trip.
When Clara started eating solid food and we started giving her more and more meals we were taken aback at home much food goes to waste. I’ve brought this up with several parents I know and it seems we’re not alone.
Toddlers are the epitome of food wasters.
One bite out of a cheese stick. Fruit thrown on the floor. Sandwiches ripped apart only to have none of it eaten. Honestly, it’s probably one of my biggest pet peeves about feeding Clara.
Not only is this a monumental waste of food, but it can hit your grocery budget each month as well. Because of that, we’ve put together 10 things you can do to reduce food waste with a toddler.
Photo: Matt Beauchamp
- Serve small portions
This one makes the most sense, but actually took a concerted effort to do. When we were making up a dinner or lunch plate for Clara we were used to giving her what we were having but in a slightly smaller portion. Sure enough, most of it would go to waste and we would be frustrated. Instead, we now giver her super tiny portions of everything we’re serving. If she wants more, she will ask for it and we can get her seconds.
- Prepare weekly menus
This idea has been a big help in reducing impulse buys at the grocery store, and in making sure we use everything we have. We have a few easy staples on hand that we can whip together on those nights when we just don’t feel like cooking, but for the most part we stick to a weekly meal plan.
- Save leftovers for snacks
A part of me dies a little inside anytime I have to throw out something that Clara has only taken one bite out of. When possible, we now save food for her to have as a snack later.
- Institute a ‘meal window’ for dinner
We started introducing a ‘meal window’ for one hour before and one hour after dinner. During this time, Clara is allowed to snack but ONLY on the foods that we’re having for dinner. If we’re chopping up carrots, she can eat some carrots. If she didn’t eat all her dinner, but is asking for snacks 20 minutes later, she can have what she left on her plate. This meal window has reduced our guilt about letting her snack before or after dinner and has reduced the amount of food she wastes at meal time.
- Compost
Where we live we have city compost bins that get picked up weekly which makes composting super easy. However, even if you don’t, composting is a great way to reduce the impact of food waste and if you’re a gardener it’s a great way to help enrich your soil.
- Repackage large bags into smaller portions
A great way to plan meals out and to reduce food waste is to repackage large bags into smaller portions. We do this with chicken at home. We buy a large Costco size of chicken breasts then freeze them in smaller Ziploc bags that are perfect sizes for one meal. This works great for a variety of items that make it so you don’t have to use the whole bag in one sitting.
- Let your children serve themselves
This one can end up getting a bit messy, but we’ve found that when we involve Clara in prepping food or in serving herself she is a) more likely to eat what she takes and b) more likely to take portions that suit her.
- Maximize snacks when packing
A great way to cutdown on throwing out stale our bad food is to pack it as a snack when it’s about to go bad. Use that banana that’s slightly brown, or bring those crackers that are about to go stale. If there is no other snacking options when you’re out and about these things are more likely to get eaten.
- Teach your kids about food
The concept of food and where it comes from is an obscure thing even to some adults, so it’s understandable that kids would think it comes from the grocery store. Which, while technically true, certainly doesn’t give the whole picture. If you’re able, plant a garden in your backyard or visit a farm. We’ve started a raised garden bed with Clara and she loves playing in the dirt, and is excited watering and watching her food grow. When kids have an understanding of the process that got the food to their plate, they are less likely to waste that food.
- Use waste reducing recipes
Lastly, finding a handful of recipes that will allow you to substitute ingredients for whatever you have on hand is a great way to use up ingredients in your house instead of just throwing them out. I recommend starting here.
Matt Beauchamp – Photo supplied by author
Matt is a freelance writer and a stay-at-home dad who chronicles his adventures about raising his daughter and how he feels about fatherhood at Dashing Dad. Find him on Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter where he highlights fun activities for families as well as the misadventures of being a stay-at-home parent.
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