Did you know that nearly a third of food in the US goes to waste? Save money and the planet by following these food waste reduction tips: Meal Plan. Plan meals for the week, and don't forget to account for any meals you will eat out. Consider meals that use overlapping ingredients, so you are not left with leftover food - for example, if one recipe calls for half an onion, plan another meal that uses the rest of that onion. Cook foods with the shortest shelf life first. Make a grocery list of required ingredients and stick to it! Be sure to take note of what you already have before going to the store. Use this smart shopping guide or check out available grocery list phone apps. Purchase "ugly" produce that may otherwise be thrown away at the store. Store food properly to extend its life. For example, store onions and bananas separate from other foods. Print our food storage guide and post it on the refrigerator for quick reference. Understand date labels. Many foods can be safely consumed past their best by dates. With few exceptions, this is an indicator of food quality, not safety. Learn more about the shelf life of various foods here. Utilize an "Eat First" box. Store foods that need be consumed soon in an easily accessible bin to prevent them from being pushed to the back of the fridge and forgotten about. Involve your kids in creating a colorful label for the box. Plan a leftovers night. Get creative using leftovers for soups, stews, sandwiches and more. Need recipe ideas based on the food you have on hand? Check out supercook.com Freeze foods that you will not be able to eat before they go bad, such as leftover hotdog buns. Freezing meals like burritos and stews provides you with a quick, ready-made meal in the future. Find tips for freezing foods here. Don't throw out that stale bread! Check out WM's Scrap Happy recipe cards for inspiration on how to make delicious meals with ingredients that would otherwise be thrown away. Buy less food more frequently. Do you notice fruit going bad before you can finish it? If you live close to a store or pass by the store on your way home from work, consider fitting smaller shopping trips into the week for foods that have a limited shelf life. Keep a food waste log. Note what foods you throw away, how much, and why to understand where there is the most opportunity to reduce waste. Challenge your household to minimize entries as you adopt these waste reduction tips. Download a food waste log here. View videos with additional food waste reduction tips and facts at FDA.gov Find more tools to reduce food waste at EPA.gov Back | Print This Page | Close Window