Presbyterian for Earth Care
Monthly Promos and Creation Care Tips
Here are our monthly creation care tips. Please share them with your communications person for inclusion in your September newsletter or weekly bulletin announcements.(Let us know who your communication person is, and we can deliver this directly to their inbox.)
Food Waste, Food Labels, and Composting
In the U.S., Americans throw away nearly 120 million pounds of food every year, almost 40% of our country’s entire food supply. That equals 325 pounds of waste per person/per year.
Food spoilage is one of the major reasons that all food is wasted. 80% of Americans misunderstand food expiration labels such as sell by, use by, and best by. These labels have no federal standards and are confusing. Rather than risk food-borne illness, people throw away perfectly good food.
Most food date labels are about quality, not safety. They indicate when a product is at its peak flavor or quality, not when it becomes unsafe to eat. If you are still unsure, you can use the “look, sniff, taste test”. Does the food look OK? Does it smell right? Does it taste like it should? If you answer yes to all three questions, you can relax and enjoy eating your food. We had some jelly on the shelf that was well past its sell by date. It looked like the raspberry had lost some of its color, it smelled very bland and tasted the same. Was it bad? Probably not, but we threw it out and vowed to do better. Here is a link from the EPA about preventing food waste at home. The FDA also has tips to reduce food waste.
To shop smarter and reduce food waste, plan your meals, create a shopping list based on your plan, and buy only what you need. Prioritize buying fresh produce in smaller quantities and consider buying imperfect or ugly produce. Be mindful of bulk purchases and always check use-by dates. Here's a more detailed breakdown:
1.Plan Your Meals and Make a List:
Plan ahead:
Before heading to the store, plan your meals for the week.
Inventory check:
Review what you already have in your fridge, freezer, and pantry to avoid buying duplicates.
Create a targeted list:
Based on your meal plan, create a detailed grocery list with specific quantities to avoid impulse buys and overbuying.
Stick to the list:
Resist the temptation to buy items not on your list, even if they are on sale, as they may end up as waste.
2.Buy Only What You Need:
Fresh produce:
Buy fresh produce in smaller quantities, especially highly perishable items like berries or salad greens.
Consider frequency:
Opt for frequent, smaller trips for fresh produce to avoid spoilage.
Imperfect produce:
Don't hesitate to buy "ugly" fruits and vegetables, as they are often just as nutritious and can be cheaper.
Bulk buying wisely:
While trips to the big box stores and bulk buying can save money, ensure you can consume the items before they expire.
"By the aisle" tips:
Pay attention to how different foods are stored and their spoilage rates when making purchasing decisions.
3.Other Helpful Tips:
Read expiration dates carefully:
While "sell-by" dates are often suggestions, pay attention to use-by dates for food safety.
Storage matters:
Properly store your groceries to extend their shelf life and prevent spoilage.
Consider local and seasonal:
Buying local and seasonal produce can reduce food waste by shortening the distance food travels.
Utilize leftovers:
Plan meals that incorporate leftovers to minimize food waste.
Composting:
Compost food scraps to reduce waste and create nutrient-rich soil for your garden. Here is a printable list by CompostNow.org of what items are safe to compost.
The best thing that you can do to keep food waste out of the waste stream is to compost. You can compost in your backyard, use a composter, subscribe to a composting service, or take advantage of curb-side composting offered by your municipality (in cities like Portland, OR, San Francisco, Seattle, and Boulder). Encourage municipal composting in your area!!!
For those of you who like ice cream, here’s just one more reason to support Ben & Jerry’s. They are turning their own food waste into energy. See the link here.
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