Fighting Against Food Waste and Elimination

Did you know that 80 million tons of food are wasted in the United States per year? This equates to 149 billion meals and 444 billion dollars’ worth of food annually! Shocking, isn’t it?

You may be wondering, what exactly is food waste, and how can I help improve some of these staggering statistics? Well, you have come to the right spot as we are about to answer those hard-hitting questions!

What is food waste? And why does it matter?

Food waste is when consumable, high quality food is thrown away rather than eaten. This can happen for a variety of reasons. Below are just a few!

• Challenges occurring during food transportation and manufacturing.
• Over buying and throwing out uneaten food at home, stores, and restaurants.
• Farmers leaving unharvested crops in the fields due to low pricing and over production.
  • Canning and processing companies reject crops if they don’t meet their requirements.
• Restaurants and retailers reject food that doesn’t meet appearance, color, or safety standards.
• Not knowing how to use and/or cook certain types of foods.

Think about it, have you ever had food in your refrigerator find its way to your trashcan because maybe you weren’t sure how to use it or other food items sounded more appealing? I mean it’s no secret that stale bread, soft apples, and limp broccoli stalks are not on our high list of appetizing foods! But appetizing or not, finding ways to use these less desirable items is very important.

Why may you ask? Well, let’s look at it this way. Resources that go into one year of food loss and waste in the U.S. include:

1. Enough water and energy to supply for than 50 million homes.
2. The amount of fertilizer used in the U.S. to grow all plant-based goods for U.S human consumption.
3. Greenhouse gas emission of more than 42 coal-fired power plants.
4. An area of agriculture land equal to California and New York

Also – it is estimated that reducing 15% of food waste, 25 million Americans could be fed each year!

What can you do to help?

There are many practices we can engage in to help fight against food waste! Here are a few tips:

• Freeze food before the best by date to preserve quality.
• Store fruits and vegetables in the high humidity drawer of the fridge for longer holding time.
• Plan your meals out for the week before going grocery shopping.
• Purchase imperfect produce – it may not be pretty, but it is just as safe and nutritious.
• Understand date labeling phrases (e.g., “best if used by”, “sell by”, use-by”)
• Make a purchase with Good Measure Meals. By supporting GMM, individuals not only nourish themselves but also contribute to a broader mission of community wellness and social responsibility, as every 2 meals purchased provides 1 equally nourishing and delicious meal to an Open Hand client, free of charge.
  • In a world where food waste and hunger coexist, initiatives like GMM offer a pathway to meaningful change. By making conscious choices about what we consume and supporting initiatives that prioritize sustainability and social impact, we can collectively work towards an equal food system.

Now that we have discussed a few ways to help, I encourage you to try some of these practices at home! Although it may seem overwhelming initially, incorporating even one of the tips above can make a huge difference in our environment. Like I always say, a little goes a long way when we work as a team!

Looking for more ways to help? Click here for more tips to fight against food waste!