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David DiDonato's avatar

David DiDonato

Team Chula Vista

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 4,295 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    4.0
    advocacy actions
    completed
  • UP TO
    4.0
    documentaries
    watched
  • UP TO
    130
    food items
    properly stored
  • UP TO
    19,550
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    1,075
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    400
    pounds
    food waste prevented
  • UP TO
    16
    pounds
    food waste recorded
  • UP TO
    837
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved

David's actions

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 10 food item(s).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED 67
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED 59
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED 114
DAILY ACTIONS

Shopping

Shop More Often

Grocery shop more often, and buy fresh foods in smaller quantities.

COMPLETED 77
DAILY ACTIONS

Food Systems

Smart Seafood Choices

I will visit seafoodwatch.org or download the app and commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.

COMPLETED 86
DAILY ACTIONS

Cooking

Fruit Smoothies

Freeze fruits nearing their end and use in smoothies. You can even try freezing avocados (see Resource)!

COMPLETED 113
DAILY ACTIONS

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 cartons of milk.

COMPLETED 134
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Compost

I will compost my food scraps.

COMPLETED 125
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED 52
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED 62
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED 130
DAILY ACTIONS

Community

Dumpster Diving Discovery

Watch this video and get a glimpse of what is actually getting thrown away in our trash cans and dumpsters.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Watch John Oliver Food Waste Episode

Watch a Last Week Tonight with John Oliver episode on the topic of food waste and learn about the scope and scale of the issue.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Policy to Action

I will read about about state and federal legislation that can impact food waste reduction and recovery.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food Systems

Stay Connected

Sign up for the San Diego Food System Alliance Newsletter to stay up to date on what's happening in the region

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food Systems

Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty

I will watch 2 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 2 veggie snacks.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 4 potatoes.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Enroll in a Composting Workshop

I will sign up for a free composting workshop and learn more about how to get started composting.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Let's Get Social

I will share a Save The Food social media post.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Storage

Leafy Greens

Roll unwashed lettuce in a dry towel, then store in a sealed bag in the refrigerator. I will properly store leafy greens.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 apples.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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?


  • David DiDonato's avatar
    David DiDonato 5/26/2020 6:39 PM
    Just added some beautiful backyard compost to my vegetable garden. #improve your soil

  • David DiDonato's avatar
    David DiDonato 2/08/2020 7:30 PM
    Love the John Oliver Video!

  • David DiDonato's avatar
    David DiDonato 1/13/2020 11:32 AM
    Happy Monday everyone! Remember to track your food waste starting today.

    Wednesday is the quarterly meeting. Sarah will be there from 12:30 - 1:30 to answer any questions.

    Dave

  • David DiDonato's avatar
    David DiDonato 1/09/2020 12:55 PM
    Get ready! Monday (1/13) we start measuring and logging our food waste.

  • David DiDonato's avatar
    David DiDonato 1/01/2020 6:37 PM
    Happy New Year!

    Ready for the next week of measuring your food waste beginning January 13th? Sarah from SD Food System Alliance will be visiting us that week as well. Stay tuned for more info.

    Dave

  • David DiDonato's avatar
    David DiDonato 12/12/2019 3:26 PM
    Happy Holidays Team Chula Vista. Our next week for measuring our food waste starts in January. Until then, you can check in each day for points and look at food saving planning and storage tips. 

  • David DiDonato's avatar
    David DiDonato 11/25/2019 9:01 AM
    Don't forget to check in each day!
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Planning Date Labels Demystified
    What is your first reaction when you see an item that is past its "Best By" date? Where do you think this reaction comes from?

    David DiDonato's avatar
    David DiDonato 11/25/2019 9:00 AM
    I have drank milk that was still good a week past it's "best buy" date. Freshness or spoilage all depends on proper storage. 

  • David DiDonato's avatar
    David DiDonato 10/02/2019 9:57 PM
    Day 2, remember to track your food waste!

  • David DiDonato's avatar
    David DiDonato 10/01/2019 1:05 PM
    Day 1! Lot's of excitement!