| Americans waste a lot of food. It has been | | | | home. If you're going to use it up right away, you |
| estimated that as much as 1.3 pounds of food | | | | don't have too much to worry about close |
| per person per day goes to waste. Wasting less | | | | expiration dates, but if you know it will take a |
| food is better not only for the environment but | | | | while for you to use the entire package, watch |
| for your pocketbook. | | | | that date closely and get the best one possible. |
| Of course, some food waste is unavoidable, | | | | You should also learn to save and use your |
| especially if you have picky eaters in your family. | | | | leftovers better. If you have a lot of leftovers, |
| Sometimes you just can't get a child to eat | | | | they may freeze well. Then again, they could be |
| something you thought he or she would enjoy. | | | | tomorrow's lunch. |
| But many other forms of food waste can be | | | | You can also think about how much you eat. |
| handled better. | | | | Eaten food isn't wasted, as such, but it can go |
| Start off with how you handle your grocery | | | | straight to your waist when you don't want it to. |
| shopping. Think not only about how much you're | | | | Think about how much you're eating. If you |
| buying, but how soon it will go bad. Being realistic | | | | realize you're eating too much, try cutting back. |
| about what you and your family will consume in a | | | | Remember that much of your food waste does |
| reasonable period will cut back on what you | | | | not need to go into the trash. Much of it can be |
| waste. | | | | composted instead. Citrus and onions don't go in |
| Food storage can make a big difference. Some | | | | the compost so well, especially if you use worms, |
| fruits can stay out for weeks and not have a | | | | but other food remnants will do quite well. Then |
| problem. Others go bad in days, even in the | | | | you have great fertilizer for your yard and |
| refrigerator. The same goes for vegetables. | | | | garden. |
| Meats, of course, need refrigeration, but they can | | | | Wasting less food is one of the simplest things |
| also freeze quite nicely. If you separate your | | | | we can do for the world around us. You don't |
| meat out into the quantities you will need for | | | | have to go to great lengths to make a difference. |
| cooking later, you can buy meat in bulk, and | | | | Best of all, it's one of the few environmentally |
| freeze only the excess. | | | | friendly things you can do that is easier on your |
| Those sell by and use by dates can make a big | | | | pocketbook and might even help you get fit. |
| difference in how much food goes bad in your | | | | |