Food Waste: A Rising Problem You Can Help Prevent

Food waste reduction would have a significant impact on the environment. Food waste generates a huge proportion of greenhouse gas emissions amounting to approximately 8% worldwide according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

How Can You Help Reduce Food Waste?

A majority of food waste occurs in the household. This means that we as consumers are an important part of the solution. Here are some tips to get you started on your journey to reduce food waste: 

• Plan meals ahead and write your grocery list with the ingredients and quantities for your recipes so that you don’t over purchase food.
• Compare your grocery list with your fridge and pantry stock to prevent purchasing ingredients you have at home. 
• Properly store fruits and vegetables to prevent them from spoiling — view our blog post on keeping produce fresh.
• Freeze fruits, vegetables, meats, and breads that you are unable to consume before spoiling.
• Prep meals ahead of time and throw them in the freezer for easy meals to have on hand when you don’t have time to cook. 
• If you have leftovers in the fridge, prioritize finishing those meals before cooking a new meal. Any ingredients that have not been cooked can always be put in the freezer and utilized at a later time. 

Reducing food waste is a step in the right direction to help the environment and future generations to come. You can learn more about sustainable practices, meal prep, and food safety and storage by visiting the AZ Dietitians blog.

Written by: Lexi Nazzaro, Dietetic Intern

Sources: Information adapted from The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food& Nutrition Magazine (July/August 2019) and The Environmental Protection Agency epa.gov