Save Money and Reduce Food Waste with a Toddler (2024)

FAQs

Save Money and Reduce Food Waste with a Toddler? ›

Teach kids to take small portions.

(Science shows this works: This study found when a university cafeteria removed trays and required students to use only plates they could carry, students wasted less food.) At home, families might use smaller plates or create mottos around meals.

Teach kids to take small portions.

(Science shows this works: This study found when a university cafeteria removed trays and required students to use only plates they could carry, students wasted less food.) At home, families might use smaller plates or create mottos around meals.

Recycle Devon is highlighting how reducing the amount of food thrown away at home can help households save money and cut bin waste. A 2022 study in Devon found that nearly a third of black bin waste is food waste, 79% of which is avoidable.

Food neophobia: perceived by parents as selective eating, with the idea that children eat too little variety of foods. Neophobia is a natural stage of development, reaching its peak between 18 and 24 months. New foods begin to be accepted after repeated exposure.

Emptying the scrap pale into the pile, collecting "tea" from a vermicompost, turning the compost pile, and adding compost to your garden are all great activities for kids to learn about decomposition and the full life cycle of a food.

Let your kids come up with ways that they can work toward producing zero waste. Consider biking or walking to school (or work) in nice weather and making sure lights and faucets are turned off when you leave a room. Of course, pack waste-free lunches! Challenge everyone to follow the waste-free rules for a week.

Examples of avoidable food waste are leftovers from a meal, expired food, stale food, and blemished fruits and vegetables. Avoidable food waste can be prevented by taking food wastage reduction actions such as buying, ordering and cooking only what is needed and adopting smart food storage and preparation practices.

Benefits of Less Food Waste

Cost savings on labor through more efficient handling, preparation, and storage of food that will be used. Cost savings when purchasing only as much food as needed, and avoiding additional costs of disposal. Reduced methane emissions from landfills and a lower carbon footprint.

Check your fridge often to keep track of what you have and what needs to be used. Eat or freeze items before you need to throw them away. If you have more food on hand than you can use or you need, consider donating your extra supply of packaged foods to a local food pantry or a food drive.

Wasting less food leads to less garbage, is good for the climate, and can save you money.

Why do toddlers waste food? ›

Children are born intuitive eaters. They are built to self-regulate based upon their own individual hunger and fullness cues. Most kids remain intuitive eaters until their hunger and fullness cues become interfered with, like when we make them finish their plate or they don't have access to enough food.

Some kids start sneaking food because they fear they'll be judged for eating the foods they like. Or they may be eating to make themselves feel better. This can signal disordered eating. So, it's a good idea to discuss these issues with a physician or a mental health expert, especially if it becomes a pattern.

Too many distractions - toddlers are easily distracted and never more so than when it's time to eat. Tiredness - your toddler may simply be too exhausted to eat. Teething and illness- both play a part in effecting your toddlers appetite.