‘Tis the season for a food drive! Although we urge you to gift items to your local food bank or Little Free Pantry all year round, chances are your work, school, or grocery store has made it really easy right now to donate by setting up a collection bin for the holidays. Thank you for filling it up! But the last thing you want to do is “help” by offering something that will be harmful in the long run. This is your opportunity to give people access to foods that are healthier for the human body, kinder to the planet, and more respectful to other creatures. And since we can’t offer fresh produce and scoops of plant foods from the bulk bins, here are some suggestions for the next best thing…
General Guidelines
- Go Shopping: Nearly expired foods from the back of the pantry that no one in your house wants are probably not going to be too exciting for the next family either. Double up at your next grocery trip so the food can last a long time on the shelf or better yet, be chosen and eaten quickly.
- Look for Whole Foods: Rather than products with a long ingredient list, give minimally processed foods that can be used as ingredients to create a healthy meal.
- Choose Organic: The fewer chemicals in the soil and the body, the better.
- Buy Brands You Would Enjoy Eating: Sometimes the store brand is so much cheaper it’s hard to resist the temptation to choose it so you can buy more and donate more. But have you tried it? They don’t always taste just like the name brand, and you don’t want to ruin someone’s supper.
- Make Sure the Packaging is Recyclable: Cans, cardboard, and #1/#2 plastic (only if you have to!) are always accepted at food drives and can also be recycled. Find out if glass items are allowed in the collection bin, and choose them if possible because they can be reused and recycled more times than the plastic. Individually wrapped snacks, prepared food pouches, and sometimes plastic packaging within an outer box just generate more trash.
- Avoid BPA Liners: Companies that are no longer using this harmful substance will usually announce it on their cans.
- Look for a “Vegan” Label: If the pre-made product is marked “vegan,” you can be sure there are no animals or animal products in the ingredient list.
- Check the Can Lids: Pop-tops are easier to open than those that require a can opener.
1. Vegetables
Look for “no salt added” when grabbing your favorites: corn, carrots, green beans, peas, mixed vegetables, potatoes, tomatoes.
2. Fruit
Oh how we wish fresh fruit could be donated to those in need! At least find the canned varieties in fruit juice or water instead of light or heavy syrup which has added corn syrup or sugar. An extra large can can be divided after it is opened by a family, so there is no need to invest in plastic fruit cups. Also, don’t forget dried fruits like raisins and dates which come in recyclable boxes. And if glass donations are allowed, unsweetened applesauce and jam/jelly sweetened with fruit juice are awesome! Some collections will also accept 100% fruit juice in bottles, but please avoid the juice boxes with individually wrapped straws.
3. Beans
Beans can be donated precooked and ready-to-go in cans or as a dried ingredient in bags (that can be recycled where plastic bags are collected). Black and pinto are easily used in dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and burritos. Chickpeas (garbanzo beans) can be smashed into hummus or used whole in curry. Lentils are an excellent addition to pasta sauce, and like navy, great northern, or kidney beans, they can be tossed into soups. Baked beans do come in a vegetarian variety, but most include sugar.
4. Pasta
Whole wheat pasta comes in all shapes and sizes and can be used in so many ways! Also look for gluten-free kinds that are now available made from corn, quinoa, lentils, and other vegetables. The box is recyclable as soon as the little plastic film window is torn out.
5. Nut/Seed Butter
This is perfect for a filling and easy sandwich when hungry. Try to find the spreads that do not include additional salt, sugar, or oil. There is plenty of fat in the nuts and seeds themselves, and a delicious jelly will sweeten it up!
6. Rice
Get the largest quantity brown rice you can in a box, container, or bag to reduce packaging waste. There is no reason to have individual serving sizes in little plastic bowls! If available, organic varieties grown in California, like the Lundberg brand, have been shown to contain the least amount of arsenic.
7. Oatmeal
Rolled oats are a sugar-free, whole grain breakfast choice that can be spiced up with cinnamon or flavored with fruit. Choose a huge tub instead of the individual packets and you will be donating more food and less trash. Although mostly recyclable, the lid of the tub usually has a plastic rim that has to be thrown out. But the great thing about this container is that it can be reused to hold all kinds of household things before actually being discarded!
8. Pizza/Pasta Sauce
The jars with no added sugar, low fat, and low sodium are your best bet. Also look for ones that include additional vegetables for a bonus nutritional boost instead of meat flavoring.
9. Salsa
Typically used as a dip for chips, salsa is really great at seasoning an entire dish when someone doesn’t have access to a lot of individual spices. Mix with a can of beans, can of vegetables, and some rice, and you have a great tasting meal!
10. Soup/Broth
The aisle of canned soups is almost overwhelming these days. You’re looking for something that is vegan, so watch out for meat broths, creamy milks, and egg noodles. There are still vegetable soup choices with beans and grains that are full of fiber to help people feel full longer, but you have to search for them. Also watch out for MSG and high sodium (the milligrams of sodium should not exceed calories per serving). If you like the idea of families making their own soups, find a delicious vegetable broth or vegetarian bouillon cube that can be mixed with water to serve as the base.
11. Plant Milk
Almond, soy, rice, oat, cashew, etc. can all be used in place of cow’s milk in recipes and on cereal. If the shelf-stable containers are not accepted for recycling in your community, then opt for the rolled oats donation instead, and people can make their own!
12. Flour
Whole wheat flour comes in a paper bag that can be recycled. Obviously used as an ingredient in all sorts of baking recipes, it can also be combined just with water to make simple breadsticks, tortillas, dumplings, biscuits, noodles, and lots of other filling foods.
13. Popcorn Kernels
Who doesn’t love this popped whole grain snack? Like rice, go for the highest quantity in the least packaging. Steer clear of the microwave bags which contain unhealthy toppings, dangerous chemicals, and lots of wasteful wrapping.
14. Spices
Don’t forget your favorite low-sodium, all-purpose seasoning that could be helpful to someone trying to make the most of donated ingredients.
15. Baby Food
Pureed organic fruits and vegetables will help those transitioning away from breast milk to develop healthy food habits right from the start!
What’s missing from this list? Comment below!
