Tip Reduce Wasted Food

[David Hogan]

Avoid Wasting Food - Americans waste 40% of their food, enough to fill the Rose Bowl once every day (see CNN video at tinyurl.com/FarmToForkWaste or www.WastedFood.com). The consumer is responsible for about half this waste. By avoiding this waste we keep it out of the landfill where it can emit dangerous methane gas, and we preserve the resource for someone who could put it to a good use. Below are steps we consumers can take to reduce this waste (and the $1300 to $2200 we spend on it, source: tinyurl.com/GoodNewsIs):
* Shop smarter. Make a list to reduce your purchase of unnecessary items, plan meals, bring less food into your house. Since 25 percent is typically wasted, commit to buying 25 percent less food.
* Focus on sensible portions. Portion sizes have increased as have the diameter of dinner plates. Pay attention to what's on your plate and think about equating value less with quantity than quality. Split a restaurant order. Some restaurants realize they are serving (expensive) giant portions and will willingly provide for sharing it between two.
* Ignore expiration dates. OK, so don't ignore them but approach with a fair amount of skepticism. If something is spoiled, you'll know it by the way it looks or smells not by the date on its packaging. Also see: tinyurl.com/UsesForStaleBread.
* Love your leftovers. Don't just save them, eat them.
* Befriend your freezer. Use your freezer to plan a good time to use your leftovers.