Almost half of food produced in the United States is wasted! Most of the waste is buried in the ground in a landfill. Food that is thrown away also wastes all of the land, water, and energy that it takes to grow, store, and transport it. We all need healthy food to live and grow, so let’s investigate how to waste less food and live more sustainably.
Now let's collect and analyze some data.
We can reduce food waste from the very beginning—where we buy our food! Buying food that has less packaging and only buying the foods we will use before they go bad can help reduce waste.
Where does your family get food during the week?
Source of foodYesNo
Composting is nature’s way of recycling food and yard waste. It is a natural process that happens when organic materials decompose and return to the soil. By composting at home, you help keep food waste out of landfills where they take up space and release methane, a greenhouse gas.
Does your family ever donate canned or packaged food that you’re not going to eat—before the expiration date? Donating canned or packaged food can help reduce food waste because someone else can eat it before it goes bad.
Today, pay attention to the food that is wasted every time you eat. Fill out the chart below by marking which meal it was, if there was any food thrown away, how much, and if the waste was composted.
