Don't Waste Food!

No one likes to waste food. Wasted food is wasted money. And when we throw spoiled food in the garbage, it goes to a landfill where it releases methane gas that contributes to global warming.

To reduce food waste at home, the key is to plan meals carefully, shop with a list, store food properly, use leftovers creatively, and compost food scraps when possible; this includes taking inventory of what you already have, buying only what you need, and prioritizing older items in your fridge to use them before they spoil.

Here are some helpful hints:

• Plan your meals:

Make a weekly meal plan based on what you have in your refrigerator and pantry and create a shopping list to avoid buying unnecessary items.

• Proper food storage:

Organize the refrigerator and pantry, keeping perishable items in front and using clear containers to easily see what you have.

• Use "use by" dates wisely:

Understand the difference between "best by" and "use by" dates. A "use by" date indicates when a food product may no longer be safe to eat and should be discarded, while a "best by" date signifies when a food is at its peak quality in terms of taste and texture, meaning it's still safe to consume after this date, but may not be at its best quality.

• Buy in appropriate quantities:

Avoid buying in bulk unless you are sure you can use it all before it spoils.

• Utilize leftovers:

Be creative with leftovers by turning them into new dishes or freezing portions for later use.

• Use the whole vegetable:

Don't throw away vegetable peels or stems; use them to make broth or add them to smoothies. Or eat vegetables with the peel on to increase your daily fiber intake.

• First In, First Out:

Always use the oldest food in the refrigerator first to prevent spoilage.

• Freeze for later:

Freeze excess produce, leftovers, or ingredients you will not use immediately to preserve them for future use.

• Learn proper food storage techniques:

To extend the shelf life of produce. Freeze, pickle, dehydrate, can, or make jam/jelly from surplus fruits and vegetables.

• Compost food scraps:

Compost any food scraps like vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and fruit cores that can't be eaten.  Sign up for the City’s curbside program. www.collegeparkmd.gov/foodscraps