There are many reasons to reduce food waste. Obviously, waste in general is bad. But in addition to wasting the food itself, the resources that went into producing the food are also wasted. And if the uneaten food goes to a landfill, it generates methane (a powerful greenhouse gas) as it decomposes. Food waste happens at many points in the process. Sometimes a particular crop cannot be sold by the farmer because it has been damaged by weather or uncontrolled insects. Grocery stores discard food that cannot be sold because it has spoiled before being purchased or because produce is “ugly” and no one wants to buy it. Another source of waste happens in homes and restaurants, when people do not eat all the food they buy. While most of us cannot control what happens at the farm or in the food processing chain, we can control what happens to the food we buy. Here are some ideas:
· Plan your meals before you go to the grocery store so you don’t overbuy. Then stick to your plan.
· Use your freezer for leftovers or if your eating plans for the week change. The frozen leftovers are great for lunches or those days when you don’t feel like cooking something new. Learn what can be frozen and what cannot.
· Keep an eye on the freezer, refrigerator, and pantry to make sure that items in the back are not getting too old to eat. Put new food in the back and bring the older food to the front where you will see it first.
· Shop the “last chance” section of your grocery store and watch for items that are on sale because they are nearing their “sell by” date. Be sure to eat them before they spoil.
· Learn the difference between “ugly” and “spoiled” produce so you know when it’s okay to buy. Ugly fruits and vegetables have blemishes that do not affect the quality of the item but reduce the visual perfection that consumers want. Spoiled produce is not “ugly” – it’s spoiled and should be thrown away or composted.
· Take your own reusable container to restaurants so you can take your leftovers home without generating the waste of a temporary “to-go” box.