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Caroline Grothues's avatar

Caroline Grothues

Whale Hello There

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 397 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    13
    food items
    properly stored
  • UP TO
    756
    gallons of water
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    14
    pounds
    food waste prevented
  • UP TO
    2.3
    pounds
    food waste recorded
  • UP TO
    31
    pounds of CO2
    have been saved
  • UP TO
    2.0
    zero-waste meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    2.0
    zero waste recipes
    cooked

Caroline's actions

Cooking

Swap This for That

Missing an ingredient for a recipe? Check this list to find the best substitutes.

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 2 potatoes.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 2 avocados.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Dumpster Diving Discovery

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

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Community

Watch Save The Food San Diego Videos

I will watch 2 Save the Food San Diego videos.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Cooking

Fruit Smoothies

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

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Storage

Leafy Greens

Roll unwashed lettuce in a dry towel, then store in a sealed bag in the refrigerator. I will properly store 4 leafy greens.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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.

COMPLETED 0
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 0
DAILY 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.

COMPLETED 0
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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Planning

Portion Planning

Use a portion size guide to ensure appropriate portions when cooking. I will cook 5 portion-appropriate meals.

COMPLETED 0
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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Shopping

Keep it Local

Purchase local, seasonal produce, which will likely stay fresh longer as it was picked more recently than supermarket produce.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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 2 meals using leftovers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 5 food item(s).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Planning

Meal Prep Mania

I will meal prep 7 meals.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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?