Reducing Food Waste at Home

In the United States, we throw out a lot of food. It is estimated that:
​

• Over 20% of the food supply is wasted after it is purchased
• On average, each person throws away one pound of food every day
• The average family discards almost $1600 in produce annually

​Here are tips to reduce food waste so that your money goes further at the grocery store.

Plan meals ahead and shop with a list. When you only buy what you need, you are less likely to have leftover ingredients at the end of the week.

Utilize your freezer to store leftovers, meats, fruits, and vegetables

Adapt your favorite recipes to use up leftover produce by swapping in similar vegetables:

• Green Vegetables: Zucchini, Broccoli, Green Beans, Brussel Sprouts, Asparagus 
• Leafy Vegetables: Spinach, Kale, Collards, Chard, Cabbage
• Sweet Vegetables: Corn, Red Pepper, Carrots, Peas
• Creamy or Starchy Vegetables: Eggplant, Yams, Butternut Squash, Potatoes

References:
Buzby JC, Farah-Wells H, Hyman J. The Estimated Amount, Value, and Calories of Postharvest Food Losses at the Retail and Consumer Levels in the United States. United States Department of Agriculture Electronic Journal. 2014. 
Conrad Z, Niles MT, Neher DA, Roy ED, Tichenor NE, Jahns L. Relationship between food waste, diet quality, and environmental sustainability. Plos One. 2018;13(4). 
Venkat K. The Climate Change and Economic Impacts of Food Waste in the United States. Int J Food System Dynamics. 2011;2(4):231-446.