7 Ways to Prevent Food Waste

Did you know that today is National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day? Cleaning out your refrigerator is a great way to reorganize, reduce food waste and become a smarter shopper!

Food waste in the United States is estimated at between 30-40 percent of the food supply. This estimate, based on estimates from USDA’s Economic Research Service of 31 percent food loss at the retail and consumer levels, corresponded to approximately 133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food in 2010. Food wasterefers to the decrease in the quantity or quality of food resulting from decisions and actions by retailers, food service providers and consumers.

I know the above statistic can seem alarming, but there is good news. You can work on reducing the amount of food waste by cleaning out your own fridge and todays the perfect day to get started.

Benefits of Reducing Food Waste

Interesting fact: 15% of food waste can feed 25 million Americans. Along with being able to feed more people, there are other benefits too.

• Saves money. When you shop smarter and only buy what you need, you end up buying less – thus saving money. It’s also best to buy fruits and vegetables in-season as they’ll be less expensive and the freshest.
• Reduces methane emissions. Wasted food is estimated to be equivalent to 3.3 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions, accelerating the impacts of climate change. Thus, limiting the amount of food going into landfills can help reduce your carbon footprint.
• Conserves energy and resources. When you limit your food waste, less food is ultimately needed to be produced, thus preventing pollution involved in the growing, manufacturing, transporting, and selling of food.
• Supports your community. Have leftover food that’s about to go bad? Donate untouched food that would have otherwise gone to waste to those who might not have a steady food supply.

7 Ways You Can Prevent Food Waste

Now that you know all about the benefits of preventing food waste, what’s your next step? Here are 7 ways you can work on reducing your food waste starting today!

1. Make your shopping list based on how many meals you’ll eat at home for the week. It’s also important to think of menu ideas for the week to help when creating your shopping list.

2. Find out the proper way to store fruits and vegetables so they stay fresh longer inside or outside your refrigerator. For example – sweet potatoes should be stored in a dark, cool place; vegetables like broccoli, spinach, asparagus, etc should be stored in the fridge.

3. Freeze, preserve, or can surplus fruits, vegetables and meat to use later if your dinner plans change.

4. Wait to wash berries until you want to eat them to prevent mold.

5. When you get home from the store, take the time to wash, dry, chop, dice, slice, and place your fresh food items in clear storage containers for snacks and easy cooking.

6. Shop in your refrigerator first! Cook or eat what you already have at home before buying more.

7. Have produce that’s past its prime? It may still be fine for cooking. Think soups, casseroles, stir fries, sauces, baked goods, pancakes or smoothies.

Don’t be afraid to get creative when it comes to leftovers as well! You can rework your leftovers to keep them interesting and further limit your food waste.

Your Turn To Action: Help eliminate Food Waste this November by cleaning out your refrigerator!

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