How to Reduce Food Waste - Part I
Do you ever think about the food that you throw in the trash? Many of us don’t even realize how much food we buy that never gets eaten. It is estimated that 30-40% of the food supply in the US is wasted. Today’s post is dedicated to discussing the causes and impact of food waste as well as some simple tips you can start using when grocery shopping to reduce food waste.
Causes
Each day, the average American throws away 1 pound of food. Food waste occurs at all levels of production. For example, a farmer may have to discard vegetables eaten by birds or rodents. Or maybe the fruit on a farm didn’t survive the extreme heat or cold and couldn't be eaten. Grocery stores or restaurants may order too much food so it ends up spoiling before it can be sold. Consumers may buy lots of vegetables with the intent of eating them all, but then end up eating out or forgetting about the spinach and broccoli in the back of the fridge.
Feeding America, a program that collects and distributes food that might otherwise be wasted and gives it to those in need, estimates that 119 billion pounds of food is wasted each year in the US. Commercial food waste makes up about 61% of all food waste, while residential food waste makes up about 39%.
Impact
According to the EPA, food waste is the most common material you’ll find in a landfill. Wasted food in landfills produces methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. If we stopped throwing so much food in the garbage we could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6-8%.
Additionally, it is estimated that the amount of food wasted in the US each year is the equivalent of 130 billion meals. According to the USDA, there are more than 34 million people in the US that are food insecure, including 9 million children. Food insecurity is when there is not enough food in a household to provide each person with enough food to live a healthy life. Wouldn’t it be great if the wasted food could go to those who are food insecure?
Prevention
So, how can you reduce food waste? Changing how you grocery shop can drastically reduce the amount of food waste you and your family may generate. Here are some steps you can start taking today:
Before you make your grocery list, review the items you have in your fridge, freezer, and pantry. Look for any items that are close to expiring and make sure your meal plan for the week will include them before they expire.
Create a grocery list and stick to it! Consider shopping for only a few days at a time if you often end up having more food than you can use before it goes bad.
Buying large quantities can save you money but only if you will actually use all of the product. If you can’t make it through an entire bag of spinach from Costco, consider getting a smaller size at another store even if it is the same price. This will prevent you from having to throw any spoiled spinach away.
Beware of deals and promotions like buy one get one free. You may end up buying more than you can eat before expiration. However, if you have space in your freezer, freeze the free item for use later!
Buy from bulk bins as this can allow you to purchase exactly how much of a food item you need instead of having to get a larger bag. Using reusable bags for your bulk items will also allow you to reduce waste.
Consider buying products that are close to expiring and on clearance, particularly meat, if you have ample freezer space. This will prevent the grocery store from throwing the food out and will save you money! Make sure you use the food quickly after thawing, however, to avoid it going bad.
As you can see, food waste is a huge problem that needs to be addressed. One person alone can’t fix the issue, but if we all start making small changes when grocery shopping, the small changes will add up. Be sure to come back for next week’s post about reducing food waste at home!
