With the prices of groceries these days, it’s wise not to waste anything. And yet, during the holidays we splurge, often on more food than we can eat.

The City of Santa Rosa offers some tips for reducing food waste, preventing it from ending up in trash cans and ultimately landfills.

The easiest way during the holidays is to plan a reasonable menu based on your guest list so you don’t buy or prepare too much food.

Once you know how much food you’ll need, go through your pantry and refrigerator and write down what you already have so you don’t duplicate them. Follow your shopping list and avoid impulse purchases.

Select unpackaged items and, if possible, bring your own bags and containers to avoid packaging waste.

Cook the whole vegetable

Using the whole fruit or vegetable, including the root and stem, the least consumed, avoids waste and extends your budget. Here are some ideas suggested by the city.

Add the celery leaves or carrot tops to the pesto and sprinkle on top.

Roast the pumpkin seeds with olive oil and salt for an appetizer.

Throw bitter beet greens into a salad with other lettuces and a sweet dressing.

Use leftover cheese stems, peels and rinds as a base for a soup stock.

Another solution to food waste is portion control. Serve buffet style or in serving bowls at the table and let guests fill their own plates with exactly what and how much they want to eat.

Guests can always come back for a few seconds if they want more.

Plan for leftovers

Having a plan for leftovers ensures that prepared foods are consumed. Half the fun of holiday meals is having leftovers for the next day’s meal or turning them into something new.

To get the most out of your leftovers, encourage friends and family to take leftovers home. Suggest guests bring their own containers to take their treats home.

Store leftovers properly in airtight containers in the refrigerator so they are ready to reheat.

You can also make soups, sandwiches and salads from leftover meats, vegetables, cheeses, fruits and more. And if you can’t eat leftovers like sauces, soups, and gravies right away, freeze them.

Compost

Compost your uneaten food.

If you don’t make your own compost, place your food scraps in the green waste bin to compost them at a community facility rather than placing them in the trash where they will end up in the landfill.

Let your holiday efforts be the start of new, more sustainable cooking practices in the new year.

Visit for more ways to achieve a zero waste vacation.

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