www.eatright.

org/nnm
11/5/2018
Objectives

•Define food waste.

•List three benefits of reducing food waste.

•Identify five ways to reduce food waste.

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What is Food Waste?

3
Why is reducing food
waste important?

4
Sources of Food Loss and Waste

F o o d S u p p l y C h a i n
Farms

Growing
Harvesting
Processors/Distributors

Processing
Wholesalers/Retailers Wasted
Food
Transporting Packaging
Food Service
Overstocking
Storing
Consumers
Improper Large portion
rotation sizes
Buying too
Quality Food much food
preparation
Confusion
about dates

5
Reasons to Reduce Food Waste

Wasted Wasted
Food = Money
&
Nutrients

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Ways to help prevent food waste:

•Plan meals based on foods you already have.

 Look in the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry first
for foods that need to be used up.
 Find recipes that use those ingredients.
 Write a list of the food items you still need.

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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.

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 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.
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More ways to help prevent food waste:

•Learn what food product dates mean.

 USE BY MARCH 31, 2018

 BEST BY MARCH 31, 2018
 BEST BEFORE MARCH 31, 2018
 SELL BY MARCH 31, 2018

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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).

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More ways to help prevent food waste:

•Get creative with leftovers.

 Transform meals into soups, salads, or
sandwiches.
 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.
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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.

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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.

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Food Waste Resources

https://furtherwithfood.org/

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Food Waste Resources
• USDA ChooseMyPlate.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-management-
food/food-recovery-challenge-frc
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