By Catherine Krolak – Dietetic Intern
This year’s National Nutrition Month Theme is “Go Further with Food”. I hope that during this month the Academy and health professionals can inspire others to spread the word that food waste is an environmental, social and financial problem that needs more of our attention. Approximately each year 30-40% of food goes to waste in America alone End Hunger.org. While at the same time, 1 in 8 Americans struggles to put food on the table (NRDC, 2018). The first ever national target to reduce food waste across the United States was announced by the Obama administration in 2015. Their target called for a 50% reduction of waste by 2030 (NRDC, 2018). Together, we need to make America’s food system more efficient and less wasteful. I am going to discuss 3 ways you can make a difference and start reducing food waste.
Plan meals ahead of time. Go into the grocery store with a plan and a list of the foods you wish to purchase. “The grocery store is where you commit to spending both money and the resources it took to grow the food, even if it doesn’t get eaten” (NRDC, 2018). Having a list in hand will save not only time, but money as well. A 4-person family loses approximately $1,500 a year on wasted food (NRDC, 2018).
Utilize the refrigerator and freezer – A simple way to preserve foods and increase their shelf life is to refrigerate or freeze foods. Removing meat and other products from their original packaging and storing in an airtight container or Ziploc bag will ensure a longer expiration date. It is important to label and date these items that are taken out of the original packaging to prevent forgetting what you stored.
Reviving Foods – Try these simple ways to revive foods instead of throwing them away:
- Soak wilted foods in ice water for 5 to 10 minutes to reinvigorate wilted herbs and vegetables such as Parsley, basil, lettuce, spinach, celery, etc.
- Toast stale chips, bread or crackers in the oven or toaster for 1-2 minutes to crisp them back up.
- For foods that are too salty, add vinegar, lemon juice, or brown sugar.
- If you find that you overcooked some vegetables, instead of throwing them away, add them to soups or sauces for extra nutrients.
What gets tossed each year: 
NRDC, 2018
If everyone made one change to the way they shopped, stored or prepared food, it would be a step in the right direction to reduce food waste. Just think that reducing food losses by only 15% would be enough to feed more than 25 million Americans each year (EndHunger, 2016).
Resources:
A Beginners Guide to Food Waste. (2016). Retrieved March 05, 2018, from http://www.endhunger.org/PDFs/2016/2016_Beginners_Guide.pdf
Material Impact Inc.
Food Waste. (2018). Retrieved March 05, 2018, from https://www.nrdc.org/issues/food-waste
