Michelle Devore
"To be food wise and save food and money in our household"
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 1,203 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0advocacy actioncompleted
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UP TO98food itemsproperly stored
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UP TO6,167gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO145poundsfood waste prevented
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UP TO3.3poundsfood waste recorded
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UP TO308pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO16zero-waste mealsconsumed
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UP TO8.0zero waste recipescooked
Michelle's actions
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.
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.
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 3 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 3 leafy greens.
Planning
Dinner Party Guest-imator
I will use the Guest-imator to plan how much food to make for my upcoming dinner party with 8 guests.
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
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.
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 3 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 6 potatoes.
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 5 bananas.
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 6 apples.
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 3 meals using leftovers.
Cooking
Swap This for That
Missing an ingredient for a recipe? Check this list to find the best substitutes.
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 3 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
Tap the Salad Bar
For recipes that call for small amounts of different vegetables, shop at the salad bar to get exactly what you need.
Shopping
Shop the Bulk Bins
Grains, nuts, and other dry goods are often sold in bulk bins that allow you to purchase only the quantity you need.
Shopping
Eat Before Shopping
Those who grocery shop on an empty stomach spend 64% more than not-hungry shoppers. Resist impulse buys by shopping with a full stomach. Eat a snack or a meal before going grocery shopping.
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
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 3 food item(s).
Planning
Meal Prep Mania
I will meal prep 5 meals.
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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Michelle Devore 12/15/2020 8:42 AMToday we meal prepped for the next three days. I was able to use food from all the meals to create less waste and was much easier. Planned the meals together to optimize ingredients and make purchasing easier. -
Michelle Devore 12/15/2020 8:38 AMToday was a good food saving day... we put some leftover scraps in a bag on the side/freezer. A friend mentioned using them for soups or compost. Going to try this out. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONPlanning Food DonationWhat are some of the barriers that prevent individuals, groups, or organizations from donating leftover food?
Michelle Devore 12/07/2020 10:26 AMWell our family eats most of our leftovers but on holidays, especially Thanksgiving, we make extra plates to give out. I know most people refuse to take leftovers, like they are ashamed. But honestly if given and packaged properly, it's a great option for food left. -
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?
Michelle Devore 12/07/2020 10:24 AMI typically frown but then I look at what it is. I think my initial reaction is because the "rule" is it is expired but I know that so many things can still be used. My husband does not want anything past the expiration date but to be honest, I have made several things he's eaten past the expiration date!!!! -
Michelle Devore 11/17/2020 11:20 AMChallenge is going well. Weighing what we are wasting is having us rethink what gets tossed or what can be recycled. Egg shells for example to make a compost. Try to use everything we can and use up leftovers instead of tossing them. -
Michelle Devore 11/09/2020 8:24 AMI think the challenge is going well. Our family is trying to implement some new eating habits at the same time so we are trying to be conscious of what we buy and use. A bit hard with two picky teenage boys who are growing and starving all the time but we're putting these new things in place.