{"id":105,"date":"2013-03-22T15:13:59","date_gmt":"2013-03-22T21:13:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/?p=105"},"modified":"2024-01-03T09:15:36","modified_gmt":"2024-01-03T16:15:36","slug":"in-the-trash","status":"publish","type":"newsletters","link":"https:\/\/uwyoextension.org\/uwnutrition\/newsletters\/in-the-trash\/","title":{"rendered":"$$ in the Trash"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

\u201cHow can I save more at the grocery store?\u201d\u00a0 Many people are constantly scratching their head asking themselves where they can save money in their monthly budget, and the food bill is what tends to get cut first.\u00a0 With the rising cost of food in our country this is happening in more and more households.\u00a0 Though thrifty shopping and menu planning are great strategies for saving money on groceries, let\u2019s take another spin on it.\u00a0 How much of your food ends up uneaten in the garbage?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Is Food Waste Draining Your Pocket?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Food\u00a0waste\u00a0in this country is growing.\u00a0 This not only has environmental concerns, but causes immediate strains on wallets as well.\u00a0 An average family of four people in the US throws away between $130-$175 of food each month.\u00a0 People arguably \u201cthrow their money away\u201d on many things each month, but I dare say anyone would take $150 and put it directly into their garbage bin or compost pile.\u00a0 This is in a sense, exactly what is happening when we pay for food that goes uneaten each week.\u00a0 Collectively, consumers are responsible for more wasted food than a combined total of food wasted by grocery stores, farmers and other parts of the food chain.\u00a0 Americans are wasting over 50 percent more food than we were 40 years ago.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Contributing Factors<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What has changed in the past few decades for food waste to increase to such an extent?\u00a0 We might not be able to point the finger at one direct cause but possibly many cumulative ones.\u00a0 Food availability has increased in every corner of our lives.\u00a0 We cannot go anywhere in our society today without being offered some sort of food or beverage.\u00a0 Portion sizes and kitchen wares are increasing.\u00a0 We have larger homes and refrigerators to store food in, and we have larger plates and utensils to consume food on.\u00a0 It has also been recognized, as of late, that awareness of where our food comes from and consciousness toward our food has diminished.\u00a0 When we do not value our food, and expect it to be cheap, we treat it cheaply and give less thought to throwing it away.\u00a0 Though food prices are increasing in the United States, American consumers still spend proportionally less of their income on food than the majority of the world.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Steps to Reduce Waste<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

So, how can one begin to save money and reduce food waste?\u00a0 The first step is becoming aware that it is an issue and noticing personal habits.\u00a0 How much money goes into food that simply ends up in the trash bin?\u00a0 Menu planning is a great way to buy food that will actually be made into meals and consumed.\u00a0 Learning various methods of food preservation that work for you and your family is another way to extend your food dollar.\u00a0 The highest percentage of food waste is from fruits and vegetables.\u00a0 In 2009 the United States threw away $32 billion of produce!\u00a0 Consider freezing or canning fruits and vegetables for later use.\u00a0 Or cooking vegetables that do not have much time left into a delicious and nutritious homemade soup!\u00a0 Check what foods you have on hand in your freezer and refrigerator before making an impulse trip to the store.\u00a0 Pay attention to food wasted at restaurants and bring leftover portions home to make a meal out of the following day.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Start Composting!<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This may also be the perfect time to consider starting a compost bin for produce scraps, eggs shells, coffee\u00a0grounds and tea bags.\u00a0 Even when biodegradable waste ends up in landfills it is not able to break down due to a lack of oxygen.\u00a0 Landfills are expensive for taxpayers to maintain, so even if it does not appear to affect your wallet today, it will surely affect it in the future.\u00a0 And with rich, healthy compost outside your back door it is possible to grow delicious food for the price of a seed packet without the high cost of synthetic fertilizers or store bought compost.\u00a0 All around your wallet wins!\u00a0 Paying attention to food waste can help save money and save the planet!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Sources<\/strong>:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n