The Tip To Limit Food Waste When Grocery Shopping For One Person

Cooking for one can be challenging, and shopping for one can be even more difficult. If you're flying solo, there's a way to keep both your budget and the planet in mind when writing out your grocery list. With a bit of intention and planning, you'll be able to walk out of your favorite supermarket with ingredients that contribute to delicious meals while also minimizing food waste.

While larger households often consider recipes for the entire family, it is more efficient for single chefs to consider portion sizes while shopping for ingredients. Though big box stores tempt customers with attractive bulk deals, people who cook for one are better off considering exactly what they need to make meals — as well as what can be reasonably consumed before products spoil and end up in the trash. Meal planning can be critical as you separate proteins into portion sizes suited for one. Furthermore, it can save what you won't use in tonight's dinner for tomorrow's lunch.

At smaller grocery stores and farmers' markets, it's often easier to purchase a handful of items or halved vegetables, like pumpkins and cauliflower. While many packaged and frozen meals are prepared with larger parties in mind, you can clear out space in your freezer to prolong the lifespan of ingredients. Similar to frozen peas and corn, bulk items and dried goods can be easily parceled out into smaller servings. Lentils, rice, dried pasta, and beans can be stored in air-tight containers and measured out for specific recipes. These kinds of ingredients keep for longer than fresh products. When stored on cool shelves, they also don't need to be frequently replaced due to spoilage, unlike produce.

The next time you head to the store, consider your meal portions to reduce food waste in your kitchen. You'll stay well-fed until the next grocery run, as long as you have enough storage containers to keep ingredients fresh for future meals.