www eatright orgnnm 11252020 Objectives Define food waste

www. eatright. org/nnm 11/25/2020

Objectives • Define food waste. • List three benefits of reducing food waste. • Identify five ways to reduce food waste. 2

What is Food Waste? 3

Why is reducing food waste important? 4

Sources of Food Loss and Waste Food Supply Chain Farms Processors/Distributors Wholesalers/Retailers Harvesting Processing Food Service Transporting Packaging Overstocking Growing Storing Improper rotation Quality Large portion sizes Food preparation Consumers Wasted Food Buying too much food Confusion about dates 5

Reasons to Reduce Food Wasted Food = Wasted Money & Nutrients 6

Ways to help prevent food waste: • Plan meals based on foods you already have. ü Look in the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry first for foods that need to be used up. ü Find recipes that use those ingredients. ü Write a list of the food items you still need. 7

Ways to help prevent food waste: • Buy only the amount of food that can be eaten or frozen within a few days. • Place foods that spoil quickly within sight. • Store produce properly. 8

Ways to prevent spoilage: – Buy only the amount you will use within a few days. – Wash produce right before using. – Learn which fruits and vegetables should be stored in the refrigerator. – Separate produce that is known to cause others to ripen too quickly. See the How to Keep Produce Fresher Longer – Infographic for more information. 9

More ways to help prevent food waste: • Learn what food product dates mean. Ø USE BY MARCH 31, 2018 Ø BEST BEFORE MARCH 31, 2018 Ø SELL BY MARCH 31, 2018 10

Always Practice Good Food Safety! • Don’t risk eating or drinking anything that you suspect has spoiled. • Eat leftovers within 3 to 4 day (or freeze for up to 3 to 4 months). 11

More ways to help prevent food waste: • Get creative with leftovers. ü Transform meals into soups, salads, or sandwiches. ü Cut up leftover meats and veggies. § Use them as a topping for salads or cooked grains. § Wrap in a tortilla or stuff into a pita for a satisfying sandwich. 12

Other ways to Go Further with Food : • Be mindful of portion sizes. • Order smaller sizes of foods and drinks when eating away from home. • Ask for a to-go container at the start of a meal. 13

More ways to Go Further with Food : • Learn how to properly can or dehydrate foods at home. • Donate extra foods that are still safe to eat to a local food pantry. • Consider composting. 14

Food Waste Resources https: //furtherwithfood. org/ 15

Food Waste Resources • USDA Choose. My. Plate. gov, “Let’s Talk Trash” https: //www. choosemyplate. gov/lets-talk-trash • “U. S. Food Waste Challenge” https: //www. usda. gov/oce/foodwaste/ • United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) § “Reducing Wasted Food At Home” https: //www. epa. gov/recycle/reducing-wasted-food -home § Food Recovery Challenge (FRC) https: //www. epa. gov/sustainable-managementfood/food-recovery-challenge-frc 16

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