Some Tips to Help Prevent Wasting Food

I am not a fan of wasting food - I never have been. I grew up in a family with 6 children and parents who survived the depression. We didn’t waste food, EVER. With recent food shortages and long lines at the grocery stores, I refuse to waste food.

How to prevent wasting food with type 2 diabetes

Here are some timely tips so you don’t waste the “good stuff" or your hard-earned money!

Cooked quinoa

According to the package, cooked quinoa is good for up to a week, but did you know you can freeze cooked quinoa? Yep, it’s true, you can! Place cold leftover quinoa in a ziplock bag and spread it out evenly and flat across the bag. This is key because it allows for easy portion control when it's frozen. Place the bag in the freezer and break off a piece to bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 250 degrees.

Milk

Notice that your milk is close to its expiration date and the carton is nowhere near being empty? No worries. Pour the milk in ice cube trays, freeze, and add a cube of frozen milk to your morning coffee, tea, or throw a few cubes into your breakfast smoothies!

Fruit and veggies

Speaking of smoothies, if your bananas and berries are starting to turn - dice and freeze for smoothies. And that last handful of raw spinach is staring right at you, but it's not quite big enough for a salad. Wash the spinach and spin it dry, then freeze to add to smoothies later.

Are your sweet peppers starting to look slightly dated? You got this. Slice up the peppers and zucchini and sauté them with onions in EVOO. Add chopped garlic in during the last 60 seconds of sautéing! Add the pepper and onion mixture to omelets, chicken, tofu stir-fry, served on top half a baked sweet potato, or serve cold and add to your salad!