As the holidays approach in these next few weeks, let us dive into how we can create a more sustainable food system by reducing food waste. According to Feeding America 38% of food in the United States goes unsold or uneaten, this is $473 billion worth of food that is thrown away every year. While a lot of that waste happens before you get the food, you can still make a difference by following some simple tips in your household. Reducing food waste is one of the most powerful ways to save money and lower your climate change footprint.

First, make a list with weekly meals and groceries that you expect to eat during the week. By planning out your meals you will be more likely to eat all the food you buy. Make sure to look in your refrigerator, freezer, and especially pantry to find those items that may have been forgotten about and need to be eaten! Once looking at what you have, then you will know exactly what you need to get at the store. You can also add amounts to your grocery list to help prevent overbuying, such as “chicken – enough for 2 meals”.

Use your freezer! Lots of different foods can be stored in the freezer for longer periods of time until you are ready to eat them. This includes fruits and vegetables, meats, bread, or leftovers. When eating out at a restaurant ask for a smaller portion so there is less leftover, or ask for a to-go box to take the food home with you to eat the next day.

Lastly, learn about the different types of food product dating that will help you to not throw away foods that might actually be safe to eat. There are many misunderstandings about what these different phrases mean, so here are some common ones found on foods in the grocery store:

• “Best if used by/before” – indicates when a product will be of best flavor or quality, it is not a purchase or safety date
• “Sell-by” – tells the store how long to display the product for sale for inventory management and is not a safety date
• “Use-by” – the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality, not a safety date except for when used on infant formula
• “Freeze-by” – indicates when a product should be frozen to maintain peak quality, it is not a purchase or safety date