Andrew Lerer-Marandino
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,100 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0advocacy actioncompleted
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UP TO64food itemsproperly stored
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UP TO9,560gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO30minutesspent learning
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UP TO215poundsfood waste prevented
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UP TO0.6poundsfood waste recorded
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UP TO450pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO172zero-waste mealsconsumed
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UP TO170zero waste recipescooked
Andrew's actions
Food Systems
Meet My Local Farmers
I will visit my nearest farmers market to find out who produces my food, and will learn about the quality of life of those who produce my food in other regions of the world to make better choices when I shop.
Storage
Veggie Snacks
Place cut carrots and celery in jars filled with water to keep them fresh, crisp and easy to grab for up to a week. I will properly store 5 veggie snacks.
Storage
Potatoes
Store potatoes with an apple to avoid early sprouting. Keep them away from onions and in a cool, dark place. I will properly store 2 potatoes.
Storage
Nuts
Without the shell, nuts like almonds, walnuts, and pecans can stay in the freezer for 2 years or more. Pack into tinted zip-top freezer bags and freeze. I will properly store 1 bags of nuts.
Storage
Leafy Greens
Roll unwashed lettuce in a dry towel, then store in a sealed bag in the refrigerator. I will properly store 2 leafy greens.
Storage
Herbs
Store fresh herbs just like cut flowers in a jar with 1-2 inches of water and covered with a plastic bag to maintain moisture. For woody or hardy herbs like rosemary, thyme, sage, and chives, arrange lengthwise on a damp paper towel, rolled up, then sealed in a plastic bag and stored in the refrigerator. I will properly store 5 herbs.
Storage
Berries
To keep berries fresh, place them on top of a paper towel in a sealed container to absorb excess moisture and reduce chances of molding. I will properly store 1 packs of berries.
Storage
Bananas
To keep bananas from browning quickly, break up the bunch and separate. Don’t store bananas with apples, which speed up ripening. If the stems came covered in plastic wrap, do not remove the plastic until ready to eat as this will slow the release of ethylene gas. I will properly store 4 bananas.
Storage
Avocados
Allow green, unripe avocados to ripen on the counter, then transfer to the refrigerator. Once cut, keep the pit in and rub with lemon or oil to reduce browning. I will properly store 1 avocados.
Storage
Asparagus/Celery
Trim the ends of asparagus and place them in a jar or glass with 1-2 inches of water, just like fresh cut flowers. Keep them in the refrigerator. I will properly store 2 bunches of asparagus/celery.
Storage
Apples
Store apples up to 7 days on the counter, then move them to the refrigerator. Keep them away from bananas and avocados as they speed ripening. I will properly store 5 apples.
Storage
Fridge Demystified
Did you know that milk should never be stored in the side door of a fridge? Learn where to properly store food in your fridge by checking out the Resource. I will properly store 1 cartons of milk.
Shopping
Scrutinize Deals
Five bananas for $1 is a good deal only if you eat all five. Many stores offer the sale price even if you buy less than the stated quantity.
Shopping
Keep it Local
Purchase local, seasonal produce, which will likely stay fresh longer as it was picked more recently than supermarket produce.
Shopping
Shop More Often
Grocery shop more often, and buy fresh foods in smaller quantities.
Shopping
Skip the Cart
Bigger carts make us feel like we need to fill them! Use a hand basket to improve grocery store discipline and prevent over-purchasing.
Shopping
Support Imperfection
20 billion pounds of fruits and veggies go to waste on farms every year, often because they don't live up to the cosmetic standards of grocery stores. Buy ugly produce at the grocery store, farmers market, or sign up for an ugly produce CSA box.
Shopping
Shop with Recipes In Mind
Create a shopping list with specific recipes and meals in mind. Purchase only what's on the list when you do groceries.
Planning
Eat Me First
I will create an "Eat Me First" area in my fridge to prioritize food that needs to be used right away.
Planning
Date Labels Demystified
I will not toss food once it is past the best buy date. "Expiration" dates misleadingly refer to quality, not safety. Use your senses and best judgement.
Planning
Fridge Inventory
I will keep a fridge inventory to stay up to date with what I have in my fridge before I go grocery shopping.
Planning
Food Donation
I will donate extra food. If you or your work place are hosting a catered event and have trays of extra edible food, there is no need to toss it. With a little planning your celebratory feast can help feed others.
Planning
Gleaning
I will glean backyard produce and create a recipe plan for full utilization, i.e. sharing with friends, canning, preserving, etc.
Planning
Eat the Leftovers
I will plan an Eat the Leftovers night by creating a tasty “smorgasbord" or using a recipe that repurposes leftovers. I will eat 5 meals using leftovers.
Planning
Portion Planning
Use a portion size guide to ensure appropriate portions when cooking. I will cook 5 portion-appropriate meals.
Planning
Befriend the Freezer
The freezer is your friend! Store any leftover food in the freezer for a quick weekday meal or freeze fruits that are getting ripe to use for a delicious smoothie later. I will freeze 4 food item(s).
Planning
Meal Prep Mania
I will meal prep 5 meals.
Planning
Dinner Party Guest-imator
I will use the Guest-imator to plan how much food to make for my upcoming dinner party with 2 guests.
Food Waste Tracking
Food Waste Tracking
Ready. Set. Record!
For each day during the food waste tracking week, record your food waste. This action accepts one entry per day, so be sure to enter one total for food waste across all of your meals, or weigh all of your food waste once at the end of each day. Please use ounces for unit of measurement.
Participant Feed
Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.
To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONPlanning Date Labels DemystifiedWhat is your first reaction when you see an item that is past its "Best By" date? Where do you think this reaction comes from?
Andrew Lerer-Marandino 1/30/2020 2:48 PMI think that I missed out and had to throw out the items. I try to make sure I use up by they expire