How do I keep it from going to waste?

Food is getting increasingly expensive, and it can be difficult to balance food freshness and cost. While food storage and leftover use are important, meal planning is the easiest way to reduce the food waste you create and save you money, while helping the environment, too.

Try these simple meal planning tips to help you cut down on food waste:

• Take an inventory of what you have left over before you go to the market: finding ways to use produce and dried goods that you already have on hand can reduce food spoiling.
• Plan around flex days: no plan is perfect and if you expect to follow your meal plan every single day, it might disappoint you! Making plans for meals that are based on frozen or dried foods or things you can make ahead of time lets you put off those meals until later if something comes up.
• Give yourself space to figure it out: it might be difficult to change routines or try something new and if you get discouraged, you can stop trying before really figuring it out. Give yourself the time and space to try and find what works for you. That’s your best path to success!

If you like these tips and want to learn more, consider joining one of our Spill the Beans: Unpacking Your Food Waste programs! They’re free at locations around the city and online. Check greencalgary.org/food for details. Good luck!