One Way to Stop Food Waste: THRIVE

Well, at least how to curb food waste!

Photo Credit: Steven Depolo

One of the biggest benefits of using THRIVE on a regular basis is that it can help us eliminate some of our food waste. 

According to the USDA, about 25% of the food in our country -- about 96 billion pounds -- gets thrown in the trash each year.  Yes, some of this is leftovers and could be avoided by simply making less of a certain dish or casserole or by actually eating our leftovers.
But, much of the waste is of foods before they've been prepared as part of a meal.  According to a USDA study of the 96 billion pounds wasted,

• 20% of it was fresh produce.
• 18% was fluid milk.  
• 8% was meat and poultry.  
• 9% was canned fruits and vegetables.  
• 7% was cooking fats/oils.
• 10.5% was in the "other" category (mostly dairy)
• 15% was grains

Does your family throw away those products?  I can bet your answer is yes!

I'm certain that you (like me) have the best of intentions.  When I buy fresh produce, I fully intend to use it.  I want to b/c it is healthy and good for my family.   But each week, I would forget about at least some of the produce.  Or, maybe I just bought a bit more than we could really eat: eyes are bigger than stomach syndrome.  Either way, much of my beautiful, "fresh" produce ended up rotten and in a bag in the trash.

I was talking to my mom yesterday and she mentioned how good the THRIVE freeze dried pineapple is.  She talked about how well it hydrated and tasted on her Hawaiian Haystacks the other night.  Then she said that one of the biggest reasons she likes it was that she doesn't have to open an entire can of pineapple for just her and my Dad.  "Every time I do that, it just goes to waste," she said.

Right.  If you spend $1 on a can of pineapple, but only use half of it, you are actually spending $2 for every can of pineapple that you actually eat.  Plus you are filling up our landfills with waste that is bad for the environment.

But if you use THRIVE pineapple like my Mom does, you only hydrate and use what you need for that actual meal.  The rest stays good in your #10 can or pantry can for a whole year, just waiting for you to hydrate and use what you need the next time you eat Hawaiian Haystacks.  Plus it tastes much more like fresh than the canned stuff anyway and is far more nutritious!  And if you have more than one can?  Well they stay fresh for 25 years unopened! 

You save money, waste less food and get healthier, better tasting food!  Incredible.  

The USDA's 25% number is based on all wasted food: food wasted by grocers, farmers, consumers etc.  But they also say that 15% of the food we actually bring into our homes is wasted.  THRIVE can help!  It can help you reduce waste and save money.

Here are a few THRIVE products that have helped me eliminate some waste from my home.  Each can be measured out in usable portions (love that phrase from Tawny at THRIVE hive).  I use just what I need and leave the rest in the can for next time:


THRIVE freeze dried blueberries.
I use these in muffins, smoothies and pancakes.  They don't bleed! We also snack on them right out of the can.

THRIVE freeze dried blackberries, strawberries and raspberries
These are great in smoothies, sauces and toppings.  We also eat the strawberries and raspberries right out of the can.

THRIVE bell peppers, carrots, and freeze dried celery, onions,and potatoes.
I use these in soups, stews, casseroles and salads (like chicken salad sandwiches).

THRIVE tomato powder
No more wasted Ragu, tomato paste, sauce, or juice.  I use this as a base for many soups.  I use it for spaghetti sauce.  I use it as a thickener.  This one of my very favorite products.  It also takes up much less space than all those canned tomato products!

THRIVE freeze dried sweet corn, green beans and peas
I use these in soups and casseroles, but I also use them instead of canned or frozen produce as a side at dinner.

THRIVE freeze dried cheeses
I use these on pizza, in enchiladas, in soups....everywhere I use fresh cheese.

THRIVE instant milk
We don't actually use this to reduce waste as we go through milk faster than I can keep our fridge stocked.  Instead, I actually use it to save me extra trips to the grocery store.  I just make up a gallon whenever we run out instead of running to the store.  But, many people don't drink milk like we do and can't get through it fast enough.  In fact, some people spend more per ounce on milk by buying it in 1/2 gallons or even quarts just to avoid waste.  What if you could mix up just what you needed when you needed it?  I promise, it tastes just like fresh!

How about you?  What THRIVE products have you found are helping you to reduce waste in your home?  Any other tips for reducing waste?