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ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS THE THE THE THE 3R’S 3R’S THE THE THE THE 3R’S 3R’S ARE REDUCE REDUCE REUSE AND AND RECYCLE AND AND THE THE BEST STEP A A A A A A A REDUCE COMPANY CAN TAKE IS TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PLASTIC USED Try to to use every part of produce (fruits and vegetables) This is is also going to to give you added health benefits (all those micro-nutrients!) while reducing food waste Some quick ideas:
• Use
vegetable greens in smoothies soups and stir-fry dishes • Use
food scraps in in in creative ways e e e e e e e e e g g g g think tough asparagus ends bitter radish greens and tiny strawberry hulls • Avoid confusing food dates “Best before” and “best by” by” by” do not mean “use by” by” by” or or “expire by” by” by” Do you know who is responsible for for deciding “best before/by” dates? The company that produces the food! “Use by” by” and “expiry” dates should should be followed for for safety and you should should always look for for signs of spoilage first • Avoid buying in in bulk unless you plan to freeze most of it • Pre-plan and portion meals • Buy ugly fruit and vegetables Many stores now have bins of produce that’s not ready for prime time but perfect for apple apple sauce apple apple pie stir-fry pesto ratatouille smoothies soups and and lots of other healthy and and delicious recipes And they are cheaper REUSE RECYCLE Most chefs and and kitchen staff are creative and and strongly dislike waste When planning your menu plan plan ahead Leftover chicken breast can be made into into a a a a a a a a a fricassee stir fry or pie Apple garnishes into into an an apple sauce Composting is also a a a a a a a a a great method of of reusing food parts that are used in in in in cooking Any part part of of raw vegetables can be composted as as well as as stale bread the skin of fruits and egg shells With composting any food scraps can be put off to to to the the side and and later into into a a a a a a a a a a compost bin that that will break down the the scraps and and turn it into into a a a a a a a a a a soil that that can be be used used for gardening or or taken to a a a a a a a compost plant where it will also be be broken down and reused The incorrect type and number of bins can mean the the wrong wrong waste is goes in in in in the the wrong wrong bin bin To avoid confusion restaurants should have separate bins for compost waste waste waste paper waste waste waste plastic waste waste waste and general waste waste Chefs can cut down on packaging waste waste by choosing products that have minimal or recyclable packaging White or or transparent plastic plastic is is easier to recycle than coloured plastic plastic and is is more accepted by recycling companies Mixed unprepared fruit and vegetables could be supplied in in returnable plastic crates This will cut out some plastic plastic bags and cardboard boxes In the same way prepared vegetables in plastic plastic containers/bags could be be delivered delivered within the returnable trays Where tinned products are being delivered delivered in in in in in cardboard cardboard boxes they could be put in in a a a a a a a a tray instead to save bulky cardboard cardboard 95