Did you know in the US 40% of the food we produce is wasted? This waste stems from food waste at home to food at the grocery store being tossed because it is not aesthetically pleasing. Here are some tricks to help eliminate food waste in your life.
Food waste at home:
- Plan meals ahead of time.
- Grocery shop with a list.
- Store food properly.
- Save and eat leftovers.
- Manage your proportions.
- Compost leftover food.
- Keep track of what you throw away as a reference on how to reduce it in the future.
- Canning is a great way to preserve food, especially fruit. It can increase shelf life by months.
Food waste in your community:
- Support local businesses that use sustainable practices, such as composting food scraps or donating extra food.
- Encourage local grocery stores to donate their extra food.
- If you are at a local restaurant that does not compost, take your food scraps home and put them in your compost bin.
- Treat expiration and sale by dates as guidelines, not rules.
Say “No” to trash!
- Find a local community program or collection program for your food scraps.
- Use more of the food you buy. Transform carrot tops, broccoli stems, bread crust, and more into delicious dishes.
- Don’t be afraid to talk about food waste.
Join us on Friday, September 21 at 6:30 PM to talk more about food waste. Bring your friends and social change influencers for an exclusive film screening of “Wasted! The Story of Food Waste.” The film shows how food waste directly contributes to climate change and how small changes can solve one of the biggest problems of the 21st Century. Free Tiny But Mighty Popcorn and toppings provided in bulk from New Pioneer Co-op. Assorted beverages will be available for purchase.
After the film a panel of special guests will talk about food waste in the Corridor and what we can do to influence change. Panelists include: City of Cedar Rapids Sustainability Coordinator Eric Holthaus, Field to Family Food Hub Manager Giselle Bruskewitz, New Pioneer Food Co-op Marketing Specialist Genie Maybanks, Table to Table Executive Director Nicki Ross, and Linn County Solid Waste Agency Education Director Jason Evans.
Doors open at 6:30PM. The film starts at 7PM, with a panel discussion immediately following.