Love Food, Hate Waste

Roughly 20% of the food we buy at the store never ends up on our plates. For the average family, that’s about $1,500 a year spent on food that goes uneaten.

This kind of waste often happens because we buy more than we need, don’t store it properly, or forget to use it before it spoils.

Reducing Food Waste at Home

Reducing food waste at home is an easy and effective way to save money, conserve resources, and help protect the environment. A little planning and smart storage can go a long way in reducing food waste at home. Use these simple tips below to waste less and save more:

Plan & Organize

• Plan your meals for the week and stick to your grocery list—only buy what you need.
• Before going to the store, check your fridge and pantry so you don’t purchase items you already have.
• Keep your refrigerator organized by moving newer items to the back and placing foods that need to be used soon at the front.
• Designate an “Eat Me First” box or bowl for perishables that should be eaten right away.

Store & Prep Smart

• Keep fruits like bananas, apples, and tomatoes that emit gases as they ripen separate from other produce, as they can cause nearby fruits and veggies to spoil faster.
• Freeze leftovers and fresh foods like bread, meat, cut-up fruit, and surplus seasonal produce to extend their shelf life.
• Wait to wash berries until you’re ready to eat them, as moisture can lead to early molding.
• Store prepared foods in clear, single-serving containers for quick and easy meals.

Be Thrifty & Save

• Get creative with leftovers by turning them into casseroles, soups, or smoothies.
• Shop your fridge and pantry before heading to the store.
• Save money by buying local produce and “imperfect” fruits and vegetables.
• Pay attention to product dates and know the difference between "sell-by," "use-by," and "best-by" to avoid tossing still-edible foods.
• When dining out, bring along your own reusable containers for leftovers. Your items will stay fresher and you won’t need any wasteful non-recyclable to-go containers.

Other Sources of Food Waste

Food waste happens at many stages of the food supply chain, not just at home. Here are some of the main sources of food waste beyond the home:

• Agricultural Losses: Food can be lost during harvesting due to pests, diseases, or bad weather.
• Post-Harvest Handling: Poor handling and storage can cause spoilage.
• Food Processing: Discarded by-products or rejected imperfect produce.
• Transportation Issues: Food can spoil during transport because of improper temperature control or delays.
• Retail Waste: Stores might end up with food past its sell-by date.
• Food Preparation: Food scraps from prep (like peels and trimmings) add to waste.