Due to the realities of the past year, it’s likely that each of us carries our own story about an essential item gone missing from the shelves at our local market. Maybe it was toilet paper. Or disinfecting products. Perhaps it was boxed pasta, or even Grape-Nuts. No matter the shortage, many of us were forced to get creative with odds-and-ends dinners and DIY cleaning products. 

At the same time, a confusing conflict formed: while many markets placed limits on the number of milk jugs and egg cartons one shopper could purchase at a time, farmers nationwide were being forced to, literally, dump their fresh food down the drain. In fact, Dairy Farmers of America estimates that farmers were dumping as many as 3.7 million gallons of milk a day during earlier months of the pandemic. That’s a lot of spilled milk. 

Closed restaurants, schools, and hotels added to the food waste crisis on many farms, whose regular buyers were no longer in need of their crops. And even with an increase of people in the United States regularly eating at home, the tons of perishables meant for school lunchrooms and restaurant kitchens went untouched.  

Did you know that the U.S. discards nearly 80 billion pounds of food every year, a leading cause of which is food spoilage...which includes food that isn’t even spoiled... You heard that right: more than 80% of people in the U.S. discard perfectly fine food because they do not understand the expiration label. While wasting food “here and there” may not seem like a big deal, this unhealthy habit can really add up: the nation’s annual amount of waste breaks down to about 219 pounds per person. What’s more, millions of people in the United States do not have the privilege of careless buying and tossing. Pre-pandemic, 35 million people in the United States faced food insecurity. That number is expected to rise to as many as 50 million in 2021.  

But it doesn’t have to be this way.  

Every day, we can each take small steps to reduce the amount of food ending up in the garbage each year. Here’s a few tips on getting started: 

1. Avoid Overbuying and Panic Buying. During the pandemic, the term “panic buying” has risen in popularity. In fear of an essential item running low again, panic buyers stock excessively, leaving little supplies for other individuals and households. Not only does this disproportionately impact those who cannot afford to buy so heavily in advance, it also heightens the risk of spoilage. Instead, plan meals ahead of time and enter the market knowing exactly what you’ll need. Planning saves money, time, and might even raise the opportunity to prepare for putting new and exciting recipes into action.  

2. Understand Expiration Dates. There’s a high percentage of people in the United States throwing away fresh food because of an expiration label misunderstanding. “Sell by,” “Use by,” “Expires on,” and “Best Before,” are understandably confusing, but learning about these labels can help us differentiate between what’s spoiled, and what’s fresh. Here's a guide on expiration labels to help you out. 

3. Store Food Correctly. Freshest items, to the back! When we don’t keep a cycle in our fridges and pantries, we run the risk of forgetting about food and leftovers that have fallen victim to the far back corners of our shelves. By organizing fruits, vegetables, and other perishables from oldest to freshest, we remind ourselves of the foods at our fingertips, with the peace of mind that by the time we reach that last apple or avocado, it’ll be ready for us to enjoy. Plus, maintaining a proper storage cycle lessens the number of times we have to do the dreaded fridge-and-pantry-cleanout that must happen when organization attempts fall short.  

4. Make the Most of Leftovers. Instead of tossing leftover dinners at the end of the night, consider reworking some of their elements into the next day’s lunches. Leftover grilled chicken goes great tossed in a salad the following day, or in a wrap. Likewise, the main courses of Tuesday’s dinner almost always have some potential to reappear as a side dish of Wednesday’s.   

5. Freeze! Contrary to my beliefs prior to adulthood, the freezer can be used for more than Ben & Jerrys. Meat, bread, butter, and much more enjoys a longer life span when it’s kept in the freezer until it’s time to thaw and prepare. If you purchase chicken but aren’t sure of when you’ll use it, for example, consider freezing it until your plan is more certain. The same can be done with bread, and even coffee grinds. 

The reality is that little changes can go a long way, and that by taking steps to reduce food waste, we’re also taking steps to care for our planet, and to reduce food insecurity. It’s a win, win, win.  And that’s the best kind of adventure in kindness. 

If you’d like more adventures like these, check out the full Adventures in Kindness book for more!