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Continuing this week's focus on storage, today we’re sharing some simple storage hacks to help you prevent wasting food.
The next set of raffle winners is included in this email! Are you one of them?
Learn about labels
The date labels on food packages are confusing, leading many people to toss food out while it's still good to eat.
Don’t be fooled by “expiration” dates. Baby formula is the only food product required by law to have a date label. All other dates are made up by manufacturers and are not based on safety, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Two common date labels on products are "Use by" and "Best if used by," which suggest when a product should be consumed for best quality or peak freshness.
Use your senses – smell, taste, sight – to check if a food is ok to eat. It’s also a good idea to write the date that an item is opened on the packaging.
Learn more about food labeling from the FDA.
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The most common reason participants reported wasting food during this challenge is because it got lost in the fridge. When you bring groceries home, take a few minutes to rotate older items to the front of your fridge, freezer and pantry and put newer items in the back. This gives you a better chance of eating them before they go bad. Learn more about practicing first in, first out from Food Hero.
Another good strategy is to make a designated “eat first” shelf or bin to remind yourself and other household members what food needs to be eaten up right away.
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If you want to try out some storage hacks to prevent wasted food, select these actions in the storage category:
- Rotate my foods
- Create an eat first area
- Be smart about food labels
To keep yourself accountable and see the impact add up for the work you have done, be sure to report your actions when you complete them. Open up your dashboard and scroll down to see the actions you selected. Click the button to mark as complete.
Raffle winners!
Congratulations to our next raffle winners, Madeline Summers, Stephanie Skarolid, Gabrielle Anderson, Lexi Cournoyer, Erin McDermott, Sarah Holmberg and Jared M! These winners were entered into our drawing for submitting their food waste audit or earning 100 points. Winners should email zwc@hennepin.us for more information on their prize.*
*Ramsey County and Washington County employees and their immediate family members are not eligible to receive a prize.
1200 On The Mall Association
Here’s what Stop Food Waste Challenge partner 1200 On The Mall Association had to say about why they care about preventing food waste:
"To become better at stopping food waste as a community."
Community Exchange for Change
Here’s what Stop Food Waste Challenge partner Community Exchange for Change had to say about why they care about preventing food waste:
"Community Exchange for Change is committed to reducing all waste in the Twin Cities through education and empowerment."
Everyday Environmentalists
Here’s what Stop Food Waste Challenge partner Everyday Environmentalists had to say about why they care about preventing food waste:
"Because it's important to help spread awareness about why food waste is such a big problem, and also how easy it can be to prevent it."
Northside Residents Redevelopment Council
Here’s what Stop Food Waste Challenge partner the Northside Resident Redevelopment Council had to say about why they care about preventing food waste:
"Our headquarters serves as a Demonstration Site for Healthy Living. This space is a catalyst for quality of life improvements for residents of our community and will further NRRC’s resident-driven initiatives to foster healthy, self-sufficient lifestyles. We also have a summer Youth Green Team. They are developing and expanding the Demonstration Site for Healthy Living and also participating in educational workshops on various sustainable living topics."
Wednesday, August 2: Get to know what you throw
Friday, August 4: Meal planning to waste less and save more
Monday, August 7: Keeping track of the food you buy
Wednesday, August 9: Lower your "foodprint"
Friday, August 11: Creating a grocery list and sticking to it
Monday, August 14: Buying just what you need
Wednesday, August 16: Cooking creatively
Friday, August 18: Make just what you need
Monday, August 21: Getting kids involved
Wednesday, August 23: Storing food to keep it fresh
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