Make the most of leftovers. Brian Roe, professor in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at the Ohio State University, conducted a study on the use of leftovers and says you don’t have to be perfect in planning meals if you get creative with repurposing food. “A little olive oil and panko can make miracles happen,” he says. Host your own food show challenge and ask kids to use leftover ingredients creatively. Veggies can be blended into pasta sauce, or protein can top a pizza. Or, browse the Fright Night app together to find “flexipes.” “When you ask kids for their ideas rather than telling them what to do, you give them autonomy,” Pflugh Prescott says. “They’ll learn more when they’re an active participant in the discussion.”
Get creative with veggies. Wharton says about 40 percent of food waste is fruits and vegetables. Still, parents need to repeatedly offer healthy foods as their kids’ palates grow and change. Try using frozen bags of vegetables like broccoli, doling out only what you’ll use for one small portion. That way, if a child refuses to eat, you’ve only wasted a few crowns. Another hack that works for Pflugh Prescott’s children is setting out fresh vegetables as appetizers. “When there’s no competition, the food put out first gets eaten,” she says. Bonus: This also buys you a little time when dinner is running late and the kids are cranky.
Compost if you can. Composting is a great activity for families with the space and energy to do it. “Residential services can also be a good option,” Babbitt says. But while composting is clearly preferable to the landfill, she adds that it’s important to emphasize that the real goal is not to have so much food left to compost.
Give yourself grace. “I think so many of us are optimists and want to cook every night to be good providers to our family,” Ellison says. “But the reality is, sometimes it’s just easier to order food.” Accepting that, we can plan for it, buy less at the store, and create less waste. Of course, save the restaurant leftovers for another meal.