The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ annual National Nutrition Month ® is here! This year’s theme is “Go Further with Food.” We all can take a step forward in preventing food waste in our own homes.
Here are 4 tips to go further with your food and reduce waste identified by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics NNM Presentation:
1. Plan meals with the food you have in house already and prepare meals in advance
- Base your recipes from these food and shop with a list
2. Purchase only the amount of food you can eat or freeze within a few days to reduce food waste
- Place produce within sight
- Ensure produce is stored properly if refrigeration is necessary
3. Add a creative twist to your leftovers
- Make leftover meals into soups, salads, or sandwiches
- If you have leftover meats or veggies, add them on top of salad greens or cooked whole grains
4. Practice mindful eating
- Start with smaller portions
- When out to eat, ask for a to-go-container before the meal, split a meal, or order smaller sizes of foods and drinks
Why would you want to reduce food waste? Not only are you wasting food, but you will be wasting money and nutrients! It not only affects your pocket, but it impacts the whole food supply chain, economy, and does not promote sustainability.
If you are not good at shopping with a list, try it a couple times to see if it helps. Want to be more creative in the kitchen? Experiment with the foods you have and see what you can make. When in doubt, give it a try! Figure out what works for you to help reduce food waste in your household and “Go Further with Food” this March during National Nutrition Month ®.
Source: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Need to pick up some whole wheat bread to eat with your leftovers?
Read more about Food Waste and National Nutrition Month:
- Waste Not, Want Not: Thinking About Food Waste
- National Nutrition Month Goes Back to the Basics With Healthy Eating
- It's National Nutrition Month: Stop to Savor Your Food
- USDA ChooseMyPlate.gov, “Let’s Talk Trash”
- U.S. Food Waste Challenge
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), "“Reducing Wasted Food At Home”
- EPA's Food Recovery Challenge
