盤中餐皆辛苦:4個方法減少食物浪費
How’s this for an astonishing statistic: 40 percent of all food produced in the U.S. is wasted. At first glance, it’s easy to interpret this to mean that we’re talking about food that consumers and restaurants throw away. Upon further investigation, though, I found that the number represents all food produced in the U.S. that is wasted somewhere between farm and table. That’s billions of dollars of food never consumed, not to mention 40 trillion liters of water used in food processing that goes down the drain, according to a Stockholm International Water Institute study. Let’s not forget the methane created when perishables just sit in landfills, either. In order to figure out if you’re part of the problem, think about your own practices.
這項驚人的統計數據感覺如何：美國生產的所有食品有40%被浪費了。乍一看，很容易將其理解爲我們在談論消費者和餐館扔掉的食物。但經過進一步調查研究，我發現該數字代表着所有美國生產的食品在農場和餐桌的某處被浪費掉了。這是從未消耗的數十億美元食物，更不用說40萬億公升用於食品加工的水進入下水道，據斯德哥爾摩國際水資源研究所的研究發現。我們也別忘了易腐物品僅在垃圾填埋場就能產生的甲烷。爲了找出你是否是該問題的一部分，思考一下自己的行爲。
Here’s how to not only reduce waste, but save thousands of household dollars
這不僅關乎如何減少浪費，也是節約成千上萬的美元開支。
Plan Proactively
Before going to the grocery store, make your shopping list by doing a quick inventory of what you have. Note expiration dates and perishables that are beginning to overstay their welcome and then build your next meal around that forgotten eggplant or head of broccoli. Practice the same process but think longer shelf life for pantry items bought in bulk.
去雜貨店之前，通過快速清查你所擁有的東西製作你的購物清單。註明過期日期和將要開始超過保質期的易腐物品，然後思考你忘記茄子或西蘭花的下一餐。練習相同的流程，但爲散裝買的處理品考慮更長的貨架期。
Remember to Rotate
When unpacking groceries, be sure to use the FIFO Method (First in first out) in the cooler and the cupboards alike. Slip new items into the back of your fridge and finish the last of the OJ before you open that new container. Remember to rotate canned goods, too.
在取雜物時，在冷卻器和櫥櫃裏確保使用先進先出法。把新物品放在你冰箱的後面，在你打開新瓶時要喝完剩下的橙汁。也要記得擰緊罐頭。
Save Spare Ingredients for Additional Meals
Plan to use the whole quart of buttermilk (or sour cream or heavy cream) you buy when you need just one cup for the biscuits you’re making. You can double the recipe and freeze half the biscuits and then make pancakes with the rest. Remember to keep your eye on your eggs’ expiration date. Coming close? Make a quiche and pop it in the freezer.
當你製作餅乾只需一杯牛奶時要計劃用完你買的全部酪乳(或酸奶或奶油)。你可以製作雙份，一半餅乾冷凍，然後把剩下的製作煎餅。記得盯緊你雞蛋的過期日期。快了嗎？做個乳蛋餅放在冰箱裏吧。
Get It to Go
Although restaurants can legally donate qualifying excess food to organizations like City Harvest and Feeding America, you own the food you order and it isn’t going anywhere. Since many restaurants serve enough for two on each plate, don’t be shy about ordering a second appetizer instead of an entrée, sharing an entrée with your dining partner, or taking half of your food home to make a second meal. The one exception to this rule is if you’re at a business meal…doggie bags and business don’t mix.
儘管餐廳可以將多餘的達標食物合法捐贈給“城市豐收”和“哺育美國”那樣的組織，但你自己點的食物屬你所有，它不會去任何地方。既然許多餐館爲兩個人的餐盤提供足夠的食物，不要羞於沒點主菜卻點了第二份開胃菜，和你的就餐者一起共享一份主菜，或將一半的食物帶回家當作第二餐。這條規則的一個例外是，如果你在生意桌上…打包袋和生意不要混爲一談。
