17 Ways to Reduce Food Waste: Stop Letting Good Food Go Bad!

The other day, I stopped to clean out my fridge. (I had been avoiding it) Because dumping our food in the trash makes me angry. And with three kids and busy schedules, I’m embarrassed to admit that it’s harder than ever to stay on top of.

Food waste isn’t just costing you money. It’s a missed opportunity to eat better, simplify your grocery runs, and make a real difference for the planet.

So whether you you need a full overhaul or a gentle nudge to reduce food waste, this article is for you. With a few clever habits and easy tweaks, we can all cut back on waste without sacrificing convenience or flavor.

Let’s dive into the smartest (and simplest!) ways to keep your food fresher, longer. And finally stop throwing money in the trash.

10 Biggest Ways to Reduce Food Waste

First check out the most impactful actions to give you big results. Luckily, they’re pretty simple too!

1. Plan Your Meals

First, a plan is a MUST for buying the right ingredients and then using them. So, start with a weekly meal plan and stick to a shopping list to avoid overbuying.

Need more? Try a monthly meal plan or a rotating meal plan to make it even easier. (We waste far less food when I do a good job of mapping out what we’ll eat)

2. Plan a Leftover Night Into Your Weekly Rotation

While you’re meal planning, dedicate one dinner a week to clearing out leftovers from the fridge. This not only saves on food waste, but it gives you a night off of cooking, and saves money too.

3. Prep Smart

Tired of buying produce that spoils before you get to it? Chop and portion food as soon as you get home from the store so it’s ready to use. Once it’s ready to go, you’ll be way more likely to eat it.

4. Understand Expiration Dates

“Sell by” and “best by” don’t automatically mean the food is bad. Trust yours senses! Smell it and look at it to decide for yourself.

5. Freeze Leftovers

Don’t let extras go bad! Freeze them for a quick lunch or dinner later.

Pro Tip: Label and date those leftovers! Avoid mystery meals by noting when you cooked it.

6. Do a Regular Challenge

If you’re like me, it can be hard to remember what’s been in your freezer, fridge, and pantry for awhile. So, do an annual or semi-annual challenge to help inventory and clean out.

I’ve tried both a freezer challenge and pantry challenge. And they’ve both been incredibly useful for reducing food waste!

7. Cook in Smaller Batches

Yes, cooking big batches can be a time saver if you have a family. But that’s NOT true if no one will eat it. So, especially if your household is small or you hate leftovers, cook only what you know will get eaten.

8. Track What You Toss

Note what gets thrown out most often. That way, you can adjust future shopping and habits.

Organization Tips For Less Food Waste

Next, these simple storage tweaks can be surprisingly helpful to reduce food waste.

9. Use a “First In, First Out” System

Rotate older food to the front of the fridge or pantry so it’s used first. Keep the newer stuff in the back.

You can also use this strategy to help you eat healthier (Junk food goes in the back!)

10. Store Food Properly

Learn the best ways to store produce, dairy, and leftovers to extend shelf life.

Here are some great tips:

• Store fruits and vegetables separately: Some fruits and vegetables produce ethylene gas, which can speed up ripening and spoilage of other produce.
• Store ready to eat foods up top.
• Always keep raw foods below cooked foods to prevent cross-contamination.
• Use airtight containers: This helps prevent moisture loss and spoilage. 

11. Use Clear Containers

In my home, I can guarantee the food will be wasted if it’s not in a clear container. It only takes a day for me to forget what’s in there! Clear containers make sure food doesn’t get buried and wasted.

12. Keep the Fridge Clean and Organized

A tidy fridge helps you see and use everything before it goes bad. Try a weekly Sunday fridge clean out. Or use your leftover day to clean out the fridge!

Taking It a Step Further

Now that we’ve covered the basics, these easy steps can almost completely eliminate your food waste.

13. Compost Scraps

If you can’t eat it, compost it to reduce landfill waste and enrich your garden.

14. Involve the Kids

Let them help choose meals or snacks so they’re more likely to eat what’s made. This can be especially helpful if you have picky eaters!

15. Repurpose Overripe Produce

Just because something is ripe doesn’t mean it’s trash. Try using these in other ways:

Apples & Pears	Applesauce, smoothies
Bananas	Muffins, banana bread, smoothies
Citrus Peels	Homemade cleaners, spice blends
Soft veggies	Soups (spinach can be tossed into smoothies too)

16. Get Creative With Scraps

Use veggie peels for broth, stale bread for croutons, or wilting herbs for pesto. Many different foods can get a second life in a new way.

17. Cook With “Ugly” Produce

Finally, use bruised fruit or misshapen veggies in baked goods, soups, or smoothies. They’re still perfectly good (and often cheaper).

What’s Next?

What’s your favorite way to reduce food waste at home? Share in the comments so we can all learn!

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